Time to open your ears.

In case you're wondering, it does not matter at all if you play acoustic or electric guitar for these exercises. They do sound a little different but the actual notes are the same.

The key to learning music well is to use your ears. Don't forget that music is about sound and listening, so this part of your guitar study will help you a lot more than you will realise initially.

REMEMBER to stop the vid right after the chord you are trying to identify because...

The Last Thing You Hear, Stays In Your Ear!

Take it slow and don't expect results too quickly, it will take some time develop your listening skills.

Also note that many people will find some of these exercises harder than others. This is quite normal. It's normal to find this stuff difficult, but as with many things in life, it's the harder things—those that take the most effort—which are the most rewarding. So get stuck in and work hard at them and you will reap the benefit further down the line: working out songs on your own, which is a way cool skill.

Chord Quality Recognition (CQR)

Now we have to work on working out whether the chords I'm playing are major or minor. I will only be playing either A or Am and you have to work out which is which, so all I want you to write down is 'major' or 'minor'.

Sound Palette: Major or Minor (static root note)

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Single Sound Recognition (SSR)

Now it's time to work out which chord I am playing, just like we did last time. Grab your guitar and get ready. Your chord palette is a little bigger now, so there are six possible chords that I might be playing. Remember to pause after the first play of the chord and then try and figure it out. I play each chord three times, so you can have a few goes. Try and play your guess along with me on the last strum and check that you have it right

Chord Palette: E, A, D, Em, Am, Dm

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Chord Progression Recognition (CPR)

Just as last time, you have to work out what I play in each of these chord progressions. Remember that our palette is a little larger now—so it will be a little bit harder—but I'm sure you can do it! Again, I'm playing four down-strokes in each bar.

Chord Palette: E, A, D, Em, Am, Dm

1. |__________|__________|__________|__________|
2. |__________|__________|__________|__________|
3. |__________|__________|__________|__________|

You'll find the answers here :) but no cheating.

Moving On...

All that is left now is to check what stuff you should be practising and for how long in Stage 2.