LESSON PLAN: Changing Chords From A to D
Objective
Students will be able to use the A and D chords to play one of the most popular chord progressions in today’s music.
Resources
Handout for the A chord, handout for the D chord, song charts for Home by Phillip Phillips, You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones, and Imagine by John Lennon.
Procedures
- Choose a fingering you prefer for the A chord. Both choices are used by lots of guitarists; one of them makes playing the A chord easier while the other one makes switching chords easier… (Figure A)
- Practice switching chords. Use a stop watch and ask students to see how many times they can switch in one minute.
- Leave early to arrive on time: strum the A chord on beat one then put the fingers in position for the D chord while counting beats 2, 3, and 4. Strum the D chord on the next beat 1 and put the fingers in position for the A chord while counting beats 2, 3, and 4 (Figure B). Repeat going back and forth.
- Strum on beats 1 and 2 leaving beats 3 and 4 to change to the next chord.
Try playing a rock strum pattern while changing chords after students feel it is getting easier.
National Core Arts Standards (Music)
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Example: General Music MU:Cr2.1.6 b.Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or audio/video recording to document personal simple rhythmic phrases, melodic phrases, and two-chord harmonic musical ideas. Anchor Standard 6: Convey Meaning through the presentation of artistic work. General Music MU:Pr6.1.2 a. Perform music for a specific purpose with expression and technical accuracy. (applies PK-5) Common Core Correlations: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.