By Ben Makes Music

Congratulations! You’ve made it to week 5 of your guitar journey. This week marks a significant milestone, showcasing all the skills you’ve learned over the past month. Week 5 is all about pulling everything together—solidifying your technique, refining your rhythm, and feeling confident in your ability to play full songs. This final week is a time to celebrate your progress and continue building a solid foundation that will support your future as a guitarist.

Consolidating Core Skills

By week 5, you’ve learned various chords, strumming patterns, and even some basic picking techniques. Now, the goal is to strengthen these core skills and make them feel second nature.

Tips for solidifying your core skills:

• Chord Mastery: Spend a few minutes each day reviewing the chords you’ve learned. Focus on smooth transitions and accuracy.

• Refining Strumming Patterns: Continue practising different strumming patterns, incorporating dynamics (playing softer or louder) to add character to your rhythm.

• Picking Exercises: Picking techniques, such as alternate picking and basic arpeggios, should feel more comfortable. Practise these at different tempos to build control and precision.

Playing Complete Songs

One of the biggest achievements in week 5 is being able to play full songs confidently. Choose a few songs that incorporate the chords and techniques you’ve practised over the past weeks. Playing complete songs from start to finish is incredibly rewarding and a great way to see how far you’ve come.

Songs to try this week:

• “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King): A simple yet timeless song that reinforces chord transitions and rhythm.

• “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan): This song uses a familiar chord progression and is perfect for building confidence.

• “Riptide” (Vance Joy): A popular song that combines basic chords with a memorable rhythm, making it a fantastic choice for beginners.

Tip for learning songs:

Start by breaking each song into sections (e.g., verse, chorus) and practise each part individually. Once you feel comfortable with the sections, put them together for a full playthrough.

Recording and Self-Assessment

Recording yourself is a powerful tool for tracking progress and improving your playing. Listening back allows you to identify areas that need more work and celebrate how much you’ve improved since week 1.

Steps for effective self-assessment:

• Listen for Consistent Rhythm: Notice if there are any spots where your timing feels off. Practise those sections with a metronome to tighten up your rhythm.

• Check Chord Transitions: Pay attention to how smooth your chord changes sound. If they feel rough, slow down and focus on mastering each transition.

• Look for Dynamics and Expression: Adding dynamics to your playing will give it more depth. Practise playing certain sections louder or softer to create an expressive performance.

Expanding Your Chord Knowledge

Now that you’ve mastered basic chords, it’s time to add a few more to your repertoire. This week, try learning some major 7th and minor 7th chords, which add a unique sound to your playing.

Chords to explore:

• Cmaj7 and Gmaj7: These major 7th chords provide a warm, jazzy feel and are widely used in many genres.

• Am7 and Dm7: Adding minor 7th chords can make your playing sound more sophisticated and versatile.

Improving Picking Control and Speed

If you’ve enjoyed the picking exercises from previous weeks, try pushing your skills further by practising at faster tempos. Developing picking speed and control is a valuable skill that will help you tackle more complex songs down the road.

Picking exercises for week 5:

• Speed Drills: Practise alternate picking on each string, gradually increasing the tempo as you gain confidence.

• Playing Arpeggios Faster: Increase the speed of your arpeggio patterns, focusing on keeping each note clear and evenly timed.

Setting Goals for the Future

Week 5 is a great time to think about where you want to go next with your guitar learning. Reflect on the areas you’ve enjoyed the most—whether that’s strumming along to songs, picking, or exploring different chords. Use this milestone as a foundation for setting new goals.

Suggestions for next steps:

• Try Learning Barre Chords: Barre chords open up many new songs to play. Start practising the F and B minor barre chords for a new challenge.

• Experiment with Fingerstyle: If you’re interested in a more intricate sound, try learning basic fingerstyle patterns. Fingerpicking adds a whole new dimension to your playing.

• Explore New Genres: Experiment with songs in different genres, like blues, folk, or rock, to expand your range and find your personal style.

Celebrate Your Progress!

Reaching week 5 is a huge accomplishment. Take a moment to appreciate how much you’ve learned, from understanding chords and strumming patterns to confidently playing songs. This journey has equipped you with a solid foundation, and from here, the possibilities are endless.

Reflect on Your Achievements:

• Increased Confidence: You’ve moved from basic chords to playing complete songs with ease.

• Enhanced Rhythm and Timing: Practising with a metronome has improved your sense of timing and rhythm control.

• Broadened Chord Knowledge: Learning a variety of chords has given you a versatile base for many types of music.

Final Thoughts

This 5-week journey has set you on the path to becoming a confident guitarist. With consistent practice, you’ll continue to grow and build on everything you’ve learned. Remember, learning guitar is a lifelong journey. Stay curious, keep exploring new techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the music you create.

Whether you’re aiming to master new styles, play for friends and family, or eventually write your own music, the foundations you’ve built in these five weeks will serve you well. Keep practising, stay motivated, and look forward to seeing just how far you can go on this musical adventure!

Week 5: Reaching a Milestone in Your 5-Week Guitar Journey

5 Guitar Hacks to Instantly Improve Your Playing

Week 4: What to Achieve in Your Fourth Week of Learning Guitar