Session 5: The E Major Chord

Duration: 50 minutes

Breaks: Put the guitar down for 5 minutes at the end of Segment 2 and again at the end of Segment 3. No stretch of playing is then longer than 15 minutes, and the session takes about an hour by the clock.

You know two minor chords — Em and Am. Today you learn your first major chord: E major. Major and minor are the two main kinds of chord: major sounds brighter, minor darker. With Em, Am, and E you can already hear and play the difference between major and minor. D, A, G and C follow in Sessions 7 to 11, and together those seven chords cover a great many songs. You will also add upstrokes to your strumming, and put the new chord and the new strum together in the Em to E major strumming study.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

1. Play the E major chord cleanly with all six strings ringing
2. Hear and describe the difference between Em (minor) and E (major)
3. Strum using a D/U (down-up) pattern at 60 BPM
4. Change between Em, Am, and E major with a new chord every 4 beats at 60 BPM (the change test from Session 3)
5. Play the Em to E major strumming study (end-of-week target: 65 BPM)

Materials Needed

• Your Saga SF-600C-BK guitar
• A guitar pick
• A clip-on tuner or phone tuner app
• A metronome
• A phone that can record sound (for one self-check)
• Handout for this session: Strumming Mechanics
• Handout for this session: Understanding Chords
• Reference sheets: Chord Chart, Tab Notation Guide and Glossary

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Segment 1 — Warm-Up and Stretch (5 minutes)

Hand Warm-Up

Open and close both hands loosely five times. Circle each wrist five times each way. Touch your thumb to each fingertip in turn. Shake the hands out.

Tune Your Guitar

Tune all six strings (EADGBE).

Warm-Up Exercise

Play the “Come As You Are” riff (Session 4) twice through (the pick-up and 4 measures) at 50–60 BPM, two notes per click. Then play Em → Am → Em → Am at 65 BPM, one strum per click, 2 measures each chord. This warms up both your picking and strumming skills.

Play the Session 4 exercise on strings 1 and 2 (“Walking Up and Down”) once at 60 BPM, one note per click, alternate picking.

In the first weeks you will need to look at your fingers. Keep the guitar upright against your body and tip your head forward to see the edge of the neck. Do not lean the guitar back to see the fretboard: that bends your fretting wrist.

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Segment 2 — Technique Focus: Upstroke Strumming and D/U Patterns (10 minutes)

The strumming symbols used below (D and U) are also listed in Tab Notation Guide, under “Strumming Pattern Notation”.

The Upstroke

Until now, you have strummed with downstrokes only. An upstroke (U) is the reverse — your pick sweeps upward from string 1 (thinnest) toward string 6 (thickest).

Key differences from downstrokes:

• An upstroke naturally hits fewer strings — typically strings 1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4. You do not need to reach all 6 strings on an upstroke. This is normal and actually sounds good.
• The upstroke is lighter and thinner-sounding than the downstroke. This creates a pleasing contrast.
• The motion should flow naturally: down → up → down → up, like a pendulum. Your forearm swings a short way from the elbow and your wrist stays loose and follows.

If the pick turns, slips or catches in the strings: put it back in place, show less of the tip, and use a lighter stroke.

D/U Strumming Pattern

The most basic strumming pattern in guitar is alternating downstrokes and upstrokes:

Count:  1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
Strum:  D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U

Each downstroke falls on the beat (1, 2, 3, 4). Each upstroke falls on the “and” (&). This gives you 8 strums per measure — one per eighth note.

Down on the numbers, up on the &s. Your hand keeps swinging down-up even when it does not touch the strings.

Practice the D/U Pattern

Play Em at 60 BPM, strumming D/U (down on the click, up between clicks):

Chord:  Em                                  Em
Count:  1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   |   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
Strum:  D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   |   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U

What to focus on:

• Keep the swing even — do not pause between D and U
• Downstrokes should be slightly louder than upstrokes (this happens naturally)
• Count aloud: “one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and”

Practise this for 4 measures on Em, then 4 measures on Am.

Break: 5 minutes. Guitar down.

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Segment 3 — New Learning: E Major Chord (15 minutes)

The E Major Chord

E major uses three fingers, like Am, but produces a bright, powerful, full sound. All six strings are played.

Chord Diagram:

E

OOO

1

2

3

EADGBe

Step-by-step:

1. Place your index finger (1) on string 3 (G string), fret 1.
2. Place your middle finger (2) on string 5 (A string), fret 2.
3. Place your ring finger (3) on string 4 (D string), fret 2.
4. Strum all six strings.

Sound check: Pluck each string:

• String 6 (E): Open — clear
• String 5 (A): Fret 2 — clear (finger 2)
• String 4 (D): Fret 2 — clear (finger 3)
• String 3 (G): Fret 1 — clear (finger 1)
• String 2 (B): Open — clear
• String 1 (E): Open — clear

Tuner check: pluck each string of the chord slowly, thickest first. A tuner (in the mode that shows any note) shows E, B, E, G# (say “G sharp”), B, E.

If a note buzzes: (1) move the fingertip right up behind the fret wire; (2) stand the finger on its tip; (3) only then add the smallest extra pressure that clears the buzz.

Em vs E — Hear the Difference

Strum Em once. Let it ring for 3 seconds. Now strum E major once. Let it ring for 3 seconds. Do this 5 times back and forth.

• Em sounds dark, sad, introspective
• E major sounds bright, confident, resolved

This is the difference between major and minor. Same root note (the note the chord is named after: E), completely different mood. The only physical difference: E major adds finger 1 on string 3 fret 1. That one note changes everything.

Three-Chord Transition Practice

You now know three chords: Em, Am, and E. Practise transitioning between all pairs:

Em → E: This is easy — E major is Em plus finger 1 on string 3 fret 1. To go from Em to E, just add your index finger. Fingers 2 and 3 stay exactly where they are: they are anchor fingers (fingers that stay pressed down while another finger moves).

E → Em: Lift your index finger off string 3 fret 1. Fingers 2 and 3 do not move.

Em → Am: (Review from Session 3) Fingers 2 and 3 keep their side-by-side shape and move together one string towards the floor, while finger 1 lands on string 2 fret 1 at the same moment. Nothing stays down.

Am → E: The whole shape moves together one string towards the ceiling, and the frets stay the same: finger 2 moves from string 4 to string 5 (fret 2), finger 3 from string 3 to string 4 (fret 2), and finger 1 from string 2 to string 3 (fret 1). Nothing stays down.

Drill: Cycle through Em → Am → E → Em → Am → E at a slow, steady pace. One strum per chord. No metronome — focus on clean placement. Do 10 complete cycles.

Metronome drill: 60 BPM. Em | Am | E | Em, a new chord every 4 beats. Strum on beat 1 and let it ring; move during beats 3 and 4. 8 measures. If you cannot land on beat 1, drop to 50 BPM.

Break: 5 minutes. Guitar down.

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Segment 4 — Workshop: Em to E Major Strumming Study (15 minutes)

About This Piece

Piece: Em to E major strumming study Type: A study: an original exercise written for this course. It is not a song. Not yet play-tested. Credits: Written for this course. What you are learning: Two measures of Em and two measures of E major with the D D U U D U pattern: the two chords whose relationship you just explored.

Tempo: In this session, play it slowly, without the metronome. On your practice days, start at 50 BPM and work up to 65 BPM, D D U U D U pattern; 65 BPM is the end-of-week target. Strumming pattern: D D U U D U (per measure)

Strumming Pattern Breakdown

Before applying it to the study, learn the pattern on Em alone:

Strum:  D     D  U     U  D  U
Count:  1     2  & (3) &  4  &

On beat 3 your hand still moves down, but it misses the strings: a silent downstroke. That keeps the hand swinging down on every number and up on every &.

How it works:

• Beat 1: Downstroke
• “And” of 1: miss the strings (your hand comes back up without touching them)
• Beat 2: Downstroke
• “And” of 2: Upstroke
• Beat 3: miss the strings (your hand goes down without touching them)
• “And” of 3: Upstroke
• Beat 4: Downstroke
• “And” of 4: Upstroke

Your hand never stops its down-up swing; the pattern comes from the two strokes you leave out.

Practise this pattern on Em slowly, without the metronome, until your hand keeps swinging through the two missed strokes. Count aloud: “1, 2-and, (3)-and, 4-and.” Say the bracketed 3, but do not strum on it.

The Study

Structure: 2 measures Em, 2 measures E major, repeat

Four measures, repeated. Each measure has eight counts, and the chord is strummed on six of them.

Measures 1-2 (Em)
Chord:  Em                                  Em
e|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
B|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
G|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
D|------2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|---2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|
A|------2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|---2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|
E|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
Count:  1   &   2   &  (3)  &   4   &       1   &   2   &  (3)  &   4   &
Strum:  D       D   U       U   D   U       D       D   U       U   D   U

Measures 3-4 (E major)
Chord:  E                                   E
e|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
B|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
G|------1-------1---1-------1---1---1---|---1-------1---1-------1---1---1---|
D|------2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|---2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|
A|------2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|---2-------2---2-------2---2---2---|
E|------0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|---0-------0---0-------0---0---0---|
Count:  1   &   2   &  (3)  &   4   &       1   &   2   &  (3)  &   4   &
Strum:  D       D   U       U   D   U       D       D   U       U   D   U

The TAB shows all six strings on every strum to keep it simple. On the upstrokes you need only catch strings 1 to 3 or 4.

Repeat: Play measures 1–4, then repeat from the beginning. The study loops. Twice through (8 measures) is one complete run.

How to Learn This

Step 1: Play the strumming pattern (D D U U D U) on Em only, slowly, without the metronome. 4 measures.

Step 2: Play the pattern on E major only, the same way. 4 measures.

Step 3: Alternate — 2 measures Em, 2 measures E. The transition from Em to E is adding finger 1. The transition from E to Em is lifting finger 1. This is the easiest chord change you will ever make.

Step 4 (practice days): Add the metronome and raise the tempo gradually — 50, 55, 60, 65 BPM. Move up only when you can play the four measures twice without a pause at the chord change.

What it should sound like: Steady and even. The Em measures are dark; when E major arrives the sound brightens, like stepping from shadow into light. Hearing that change is the point of the exercise. Two checks you can make alone: (1) say the count aloud as you strum, “1, 2-and, (3)-and, 4-and”, for all four measures without losing your place; (2) on a practice day, play the four measures twice with the metronome: you never stop and you finish with the click.

Performance tip: Make the downstrokes a little stronger than the upstrokes. For more volume, use a bigger, faster strum with the same loose grip. Loud does not mean tense. Keep it firm, not delicate.

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Segment 5 — Review and Practice Plan (5 minutes)

This session has more new material than most. If your end-of-week check is not all ‘yes’ after one week, take a second week on this session before you move on. The course then takes a week longer, which is normal.

What You Learned Today

• The E major chord (finger 1 string 3 fret 1, finger 2 string 5 fret 2, finger 3 string 4 fret 2)
• The difference between major (bright) and minor (dark) chords
• Upstroke strumming and the basic D/U eighth-note pattern
• The D D U U D U strumming pattern
• Em ↔ E major transition (add/remove finger 1)
• The Em to E major strumming study

Common Mistakes

1. Missing string 3 fret 1 in E major — Finger 1 is the only difference between Em and E. Make sure it presses cleanly without touching strings 2 or 4.
2. Upstrokes too loud or too harsh — Upstrokes should be lighter than downstrokes. Let the pick glide through strings 3 to 1 only (the thinnest, nearest the floor).
3. Losing the strumming pattern — D D U U D U is tricky at first. If you lose it, stop, reset, and start again from beat 1. Saying the count aloud helps: “1, 2-and, (3)-and, 4-and.”
4. Rushing the Em → E change — Even though it is just one finger, take time to place it accurately. A buzzing E major sounds worse than a slightly late clean one.
5. A tired or aching strumming hand — An ache means tension. Stop for today, and next time loosen your grip on the pick. Pain rule: tender fingertips are normal. Pain in the wrist, forearm, thumb joint or knuckles, numbness or tingling, any sharp pain, or pain that lasts into the next day means stop. The full rule is in START HERE.

Self-Check Questions

1. Can you play E major with all six strings ringing clearly? Check: pluck the six strings one at a time, three times in a row, with no buzz and no dead string; a tuner shows E, B, E, G#, B, E. If not: use the three buzz fixes under the sound check in Segment 3, and try again the next day.
2. Can you pass the change test (Session 3) at these targets: Em-E and Am-E with a new chord every 4 beats at 60 BPM, and Em-Am with a new chord every 2 beats at 50 BPM? Check: all 8 chords land on their click with every string that should sound ringing, twice on the same day. If not: drop the metronome by 10 BPM and climb back 5 BPM at a time, and try again the next day.
3. Can you play the D D U U D U pattern on Em for 4 measures at 60 BPM without losing the count? Check: say “1, 2-and, (3)-and, 4-and” aloud as you play and finish with the click, three times in a row. If not: go back to 50 BPM for two days, then try again.
4. Can you say in your own words how Em and E major differ in sound, and which finger makes the difference? Check: strum Em, then E major, and say which is darker and which finger you added (finger 1 on string 3 fret 1). If not: repeat “Em vs E — Hear the Difference” in Segment 3, and try again the next day. (You will test your ear properly with the recorded card test in Session 6.)
5. Can you play the Em to E major strumming study twice through (8 measures) at 60 BPM? Check: you never stop and you finish with the click. Then record it once and listen for one thing: is there a gap at the change between Em and E major? If not: go back to 55 BPM for two days, then try again.

Practice Plan for Week 5 (each practice day, 22 minutes)

Block	Time	Activity
Warm-Up	3 min	The warm-up from this session’s Segment 1, then tune
Chord Review	3 min	Strumming D/U at 60 BPM (down on the click, up between clicks): 4 measures on Em, stop, 4 measures on Am, stop, 4 measures on E. Repeat until the time is up
Transition Drill	4 min	Em, Am, E, Em: a new chord every 4 beats at 60 BPM. 8 times round. Then Em and Am alone, a new chord every 2 beats: start at 40 BPM, then 45, then 50. Repeat until the time is up
Em to E Study	8 min	Practise the study at your comfortable tempo: start at 50 BPM and raise it 5 BPM at a time. Work toward 65 BPM. Focus on the strumming pattern. Repeat until the time is up
Come As You Are	4 min	Maintenance: play the riff from Session 4 at 50–60 BPM, two notes per click. Keep your picking skills sharp. Repeat until the time is up

This is your plan for the whole week. The end-of-week check is in Weekly Plans Phase 1 2, Week 5.

Steel-string note: By now you have been pressing steel strings for a few weeks. Soreness usually eases after two to four weeks of regular playing, and by Phase 2 most people can play a whole session in comfort. Skin differs from person to person: go by how your fingertips feel, not by the calendar. Short practice on most days toughens your fingertips faster than occasional long sessions. A rest day does not undo it. If your fingertips are raw or blistered, rest them: the pain rule comes before the schedule.

Guitar Tip — Saga SF-600C-BK

Your Saga’s dreadnought body produces a naturally loud, full sound. When playing the Em to E major strumming study, the dreadnought projection means you do not need to strum hard to fill a room. Focus on control and even strums rather than force. The guitar does the heavy lifting on volume.

After the session (not part of the 50 minutes)

• Read: Strumming Mechanics, the sections “The Strumming Motion” and “Level 2 — Down-Up Strumming (From Session 5)” (5 minutes).
• Read: Understanding Chords, the section “Part 1 (After Session 5): Major and Minor” (10 minutes).