Phase 1 Checkpoint: First Notes

Sessions covered: 1–6

You have completed the first six sessions of your guitar journey. Six sessions ago, you had never held a guitar. You did not know what a fret was, what EADGBE meant, or how to hold a pick. Now you can play three chords, read TAB, pick melodies on individual strings, and perform two real riffs from songs you know. That is remarkable progress — take a moment to appreciate it.

This checkpoint helps you confirm what you have learned and identify anything that needs more practice before moving to Phase 2.

How to use this checkpoint: Work through each item below. For each skill, try it right now — do not guess from memory. Play it, listen, and honestly assess yourself. If you have a phone, record yourself so you can listen back.

What You Have Learned

In Phase 1 you covered:

Guitar anatomy, sitting position, and how to hold a pick
String names (EADGBE) and fret numbering
Three chords: Em, Am, and E major
How to read guitar TAB (string + fret numbers)
Single-string melodies on strings 1 and 2
Alternate picking (downstroke and upstroke)
Three strumming patterns: basic downstrokes, D/U (down-up), and D D U U D U
Two songs: “Come As You Are” riff (Nirvana) and “N.I.B.” riff (Black Sabbath)
The difference between major and minor chord sounds

Skills Checklist

For each item, mark your self-assessment:

Mastered — You can do this consistently and confidently
Needs Work — You can do it but it is inconsistent or rough
Not Yet — You cannot do this reliably

Guitar Basics

1. Tune your guitar using a clip-on tuner or phone app

Mastered — All six strings are in tune within 10 seconds per string. You know the string names (EADGBE) and can tune without hesitation.
Needs Work — You can tune but it takes a long time or you mix up string names. Review Session 1, “Tune Your Guitar” section.
Not Yet — You cannot tune reliably. Go back to Session 1 and practise tuning daily until it becomes automatic.

2. Sit in correct playing position with the guitar

Mastered — Guitar rests on your right thigh (or left if left-handed), neck angled slightly upward, back straight, both feet flat on the floor.
Needs Work — Your posture drifts during playing — hunched shoulders or guitar slipping. Review Session 1, sitting position section.
Not Yet — You are unsure of the correct position. Re-read Session 1 and Guitar Guide.

3. Hold and use a pick correctly

Mastered — Pick held between thumb and index finger, firm grip without tension, pointed tip strikes the strings.
Needs Work — The pick slips or rotates during playing. Review Session 1, pick grip section. Practise strumming open strings for 2 minutes daily.
Not Yet — You frequently drop the pick or cannot strum evenly. Return to Session 1.

Chords

4. Play the Em chord — all six strings ring clearly

Mastered — Strum all six strings. Every string rings with no buzzing or muting. You can form the chord in under 2 seconds.
Needs Work — One or two strings buzz or are muted. Check finger placement: fingers 2 and 3 on frets 2 of strings 5 and 4, pressing just behind the fret wire. Review Session 2.
Not Yet — The chord sounds unclear or you cannot form the shape. Return to Session 2 and drill the chord shape slowly.

5. Play the Am chord — strings 5 through 1 ring clearly

Mastered — Strum strings 5 to 1 (avoiding string 6). All five strings ring clearly. Chord formed in under 2 seconds.
Needs Work — Some strings buzz. Check that fingers arch over adjacent strings. Review Session 3, Am chord section.
Not Yet — Cannot form the chord reliably. Return to Session 3.

6. Play the E major chord — all six strings ring clearly

Mastered — Strum all six strings. Bright, full sound with no buzzing. Chord formed in under 2 seconds.
Needs Work — Sounds muddy or some strings are muted. Review Session 5, E major section. Compare with Em — notice the finger that moves.
Not Yet — Cannot form the chord reliably. Return to Session 5.

7. Transition between Em and Am within 2 beats at 60 BPM

Mastered — At 60 BPM, you can switch between Em and Am on the beat with no gap in sound.
Needs Work — You can switch but there is a noticeable pause or a beat of silence. Practise the “pivot finger” technique from Session 3 — finger 2 stays on string 4 fret 2.
Not Yet — Transitions are very slow or chords are unclear after switching. Return to Session 3 and practise the transition 20 times slowly.

8. Transition between Em and E major within 2 beats at 60 BPM

Mastered — Clean switch with no gap in rhythm.
Needs Work — Slight hesitation. Review Session 5, Em to E transition section. Practise switching 20 times at 50 BPM.
Not Yet — Cannot switch reliably. Return to Session 5.

Strumming

9. Play basic downstrokes in time with a metronome at 60 BPM

Mastered — Even, steady downstrokes on every beat. No rushing, no dragging.
Needs Work — You drift off the beat after a few measures. Practise with a metronome, counting aloud “1, 2, 3, 4” while strumming. Review Session 2.
Not Yet — Cannot maintain steady tempo. Return to Session 2 and practise with a slower metronome (50 BPM).

10. Play the D/U (down-up) strumming pattern at 60 BPM

Mastered — Consistent down-up pattern where downstrokes hit on the beat and upstrokes hit on the “and.” Sounds even and controlled.
Needs Work — Upstrokes are uneven or you lose the pattern. Review Session 5, D/U strumming section. Focus on keeping your strumming hand moving constantly.
Not Yet — Cannot maintain the pattern. Return to Session 5 and practise on a single chord (Em).

11. Play the D D U U D U pattern at 70 BPM

Mastered — The pattern flows naturally on Em, Am, or E. You can maintain it for 8 measures without breaking.
Needs Work — You lose the pattern after a few beats. Say the pattern aloud: “Down Down Up Up Down Up.” Review Session 5.
Not Yet — Cannot play this pattern. Return to Session 5 and learn it at 50 BPM first.

Picking and Melody

12. Play a single-string melody using alternate picking (down-up)

Mastered — You can pick individual notes on strings 1 and 2 with alternating downstrokes and upstrokes. Each note rings clearly.
Needs Work — You sometimes double-pick (two downs in a row) or hit adjacent strings. Review Session 4, alternate picking section. Practise on one string at a time.
Not Yet — Cannot alternate pick reliably. Return to Session 4.

13. Read and play a simple TAB passage

Mastered — Given a TAB with notes on strings 1 and 2 (frets 0–3), you can play it correctly without help.
Needs Work — You can read TAB but occasionally confuse string numbers or fret numbers. Review Reading Tab.
Not Yet — TAB notation is confusing. Return to Session 2 (TAB introduction) and Session 4 (melody TAB).

Songs

14. Play the “Come As You Are” riff (Nirvana) at 60 BPM

Mastered — The riff is recognisable, notes are clean, and you maintain the tempo throughout.
Needs Work — Some notes buzz or you lose the rhythm partway through. Review Session 4. Practise the riff in two-bar chunks.
Not Yet — Cannot play the riff from memory. Return to Session 4 and relearn it slowly.

15. Play the “N.I.B.” riff (Black Sabbath) at 65 BPM

Mastered — The Em–E chord riff sounds clear and punchy with correct strumming.
Needs Work — Chord transitions are rough or strumming pattern breaks down. Review Session 5. Drill the Em–E transition separately.
Not Yet — Cannot play the riff. Return to Session 5.

Ear Skills

16. Distinguish between a major and minor chord by ear

Mastered — When you play E major then Em (or any major/minor pair), you can hear the difference: major sounds bright, minor sounds dark.
Needs Work — You sometimes confuse them. Play E major and Em back-to-back 10 times. Say “major” or “minor” before checking. Review Session 6.
Not Yet — Cannot hear the difference. This develops with time. Keep listening. Review Session 5 and Session 6.

Overall Phase Assessment

Count your “Mastered” items: _____ out of 16

Result	What It Means
13–16 Mastered	You are ready for Phase 2. Move on with confidence.
10–12 Mastered	You are nearly there. Spend 2–3 extra days on your “Needs Work” items, then proceed to Phase 2.
7–9 Mastered	Review the sessions listed next to your “Needs Work” and “Not Yet” items. Give yourself a week of focused practice before starting Phase 2.
Below 7	Go back through Sessions 1–6 at a relaxed pace. There is no rush. Every guitarist builds at their own speed.

Encouragement

You picked up a guitar and made music. You learned three chords, played two songs, and started reading a musical language (TAB) that you had never seen before. Your fingertips probably hurt during the first few sessions — and you kept going. That takes determination.

Phase 2 brings new chords (D, A, G, C), power chords, the 12-bar blues, and songs from three different musical traditions. Everything you learned in Phase 1 is the foundation for all of it. You are ready.