PLECK Next Level Prep

Beginner Guitar

PLECK lesson 49 · suggested week 10, day 4

Quarter-note downstrokes

Objective. Demonstrate this observable music task: Play C on four quarter-note downstrokes, then Am on four, and repeat that two-bar sequence once; notate eight downstroke marks.

Enlarge/print text, speak or dictate written responses, use parent scribing, quiet practice and a visible score. Left-handed hand roles are equivalent. A hearing/one-hand or temporary-instrument limitation can use an explicitly documented alternative target; do not claim an unobserved auditory or two-hand playing skill. Parent may consult an appropriate music/access professional; no medical diagnosis is made.

Start any clip at a low comfortable volume. No headphones or amplifier are required. Pause and tell an adult if it is uncomfortable. A download is not browser playback, and the clip is not a recording of a person playing.

About 45 minutes. The due date is chosen by a parent.

Materials: An available ordinary six-string acoustic/classical/electric guitar in standard tuning; no amp required, Pencil/paper or on-site text area, A nearby parent/teacher for live observation OR an optional private recording device, Optional existing pick, dry cloth, free reference tones/tuner or metronome; no purchase or account required.

Comes after GTR-L048.

C major contains C E G and G major contains G B D. The supplied full shapes are C x32010 and G 320003. A reduced C/E xx2010 or G/D xx0003 still contains all chord pitch classes, but its lowest note changes and should be labeled. A chord strip runs strings 6 to 1; the TAB runs top 1 to bottom 6. Downstrokes travel from lower toward higher allowed strings. In 4/4 each full bar contains four quarter beats; one whole chord attack can fill a bar, or multiple attacks can divide those beats. Plan both the fretting change and the correct starting string. A rest added for access must be written as an adaptation rather than hidden in an uncounted gap. Today: A downstroke travels from lower-pitched allowed strings toward higher-pitched strings. Keep the motion small and count all beats. Let the returning hand pass without striking until upstrokes are introduced. Use fretting/plucking hand roles for either handedness; string numbers stay fixed. Play in short comfortable blocks with breaks. Stop for pain, numbness or unsafe peg uncertainty; tell a responsible adult. No forced stretch, amp, purchases or new account is required.

Worked example

Original worked score GTR-EX049 (c-am). First event: string 5 fret 3 (C3), string 4 fret 2 (E3), string 3 fret 0 (G3), string 2 fret 1 (C4), string 1 fret 0 (E4), lasting 2 quarter beats. Sound each event once, allow its duration to pass, and count rests without a new attack. Numbers aligned within a column belong to the same event. The following duration row, not character spacing, specifies time.

Bar 1 (4/4, quarter=1 beat)
beats |  2    2  |
1 E4 |--0----0--|
2 B3 |--1----1--|
3 G3 |--0----2--|
4 D3 |--2----2--|
5 A2 |--3----0--|
6 E2 |----------|
r=rest in all strings; dash=do not attack that string; each column is one event.
Bar 2 (4/4, quarter=1 beat)
beats |  2    2  |
1 E4 |--0----0--|
2 B3 |--1----1--|
3 G3 |--2----0--|
4 D3 |--2----2--|
5 A2 |--0----3--|
6 E2 |----------|
r=rest in all strings; dash=do not attack that string; each column is one event.

Bar 1, event 1, 2 beats, string/fret 5/3 sounding C3; string/fret 4/2 sounding E3; string/fret 3/0 sounding G3; string/fret 2/1 sounding C4; string/fret 1/0 sounding E4 Bar 1, event 2, 2 beats, string/fret 5/0 sounding A2; string/fret 4/2 sounding E3; string/fret 3/2 sounding A3; string/fret 2/1 sounding C4; string/fret 1/0 sounding E4 Bar 2, event 1, 2 beats, string/fret 5/0 sounding A2; string/fret 4/2 sounding E3; string/fret 3/2 sounding A3; string/fret 2/1 sounding C4; string/fret 1/0 sounding E4 Bar 2, event 2, 2 beats, string/fret 5/3 sounding C3; string/fret 4/2 sounding E3; string/fret 3/0 sounding G3; string/fret 2/1 sounding C4; string/fret 1/0 sounding E4

Quarter-note downstrokes — play, record and check

  1. 1. Is the silent return motion an extra attack?
  2. 2. How many quarter-note beats are in bar 1 of the supplied worked score? Show the sum of its printed durations.
  3. 3. Play C on four quarter-note downstrokes, then Am on four, and repeat that two-bar sequence once; notate eight downstroke marks. Actual playing: a parent hears the live guitar, or a private clip under 4 MB. Writing this answer does not replace the playing.
  4. 4. Spiral review from GTR-L034: perform only bar 1 of its supplied worked score once at a comfortable pulse. Name one location or timing feature you remembered; if playing is unavailable, record that performance is pending rather than claiming it. Actual playing: a parent hears the live guitar, or a private clip under 4 MB. Writing this answer does not replace the playing.
  5. 5. Record three things for this lesson: (1) actual task and chosen tempo or count method, (2) one specific audible/observed result, and (3) one safe next action. If already accurate, name a checked feature instead of inventing a mistake. Label support, adaptation or missing performance; do not invent minutes. Practice record. Text, a photo, or paper is enough for the log.

Feedback bands. R-THEORY. Music/instrument understanding. Answers the exact supplied question; Correct string/fret/pitch/rhythm or safety meaning; Clear labels distinguishing sounding/written pitch. 0: No relevant evidence yet. 1: Partial recognition with a material confusion. 2: Meaning mostly accurate with a correctable labeling gap. 3: Requested facts/calculation are accurate and clearly labeled. R-PERFORM. Actual guitar playing. Pitch/chord/string choices required by the visible task; Counted rhythm, rests and continuity at an agreed comfortable tempo; Clear intentional sound/phrasing within the stated task; Safe feasible movement and honest support/adaptation labels. 0: No usable observed/audible playing evidence yet; pending or access-adapted, not inferred from text. 1: Some assigned sounds evident; substantial location/time support needed. 2: Required task mostly recognizable with a few gaps and labeled supports. 3: Required notes/chords and rhythm are clear, with intentional starts/ends and safe control at the chosen tempo. R-ARTIFACT. Readable notation, design and original music. Exactly the features/counts visible in the task; Usable string/fret and duration/form labels where assigned; Consistent bar totals and actual performed version; Original/arranged/source and adaptation labels. 0: No inspectable artifact. 1: Some relevant work but key requested labels/counts missing. 2: Mostly reconstructable with limited inconsistencies. 3: Visible task complete, readable and musically reconstructable; labels honest. R-PRACTICE. Honest practice and reflection. Names actual task/attempt and tempo/count method; Specific observable result; Feasible safe next action. 0: No relevant record. 1: Vague record with little inspectable evidence. 2: Specific observation and plausible next step. 3: Clear evidence-linked observation and a feasible safe next action.

Acceptance checks

  • Complete the explicitly numbered tasks and label the submitted score/version and support used.
  • Meet only the note/chord/count/form/features stated in P1; diagrams and model examples do not add hidden quotas.
  • Provide actual parent-observed live or audible private playing for the playing components. Paper/text/photos alone are not guitar competency evidence.
  • For any assigned listening, label independent/replayed/supported/visual-alternative status honestly; do not infer hearing from reading.
  • A slower safe attempt, accurately labeled complete reduced voicing, split evidence route or resubmission is allowed; exact notated bass changes require an explicitly adapted chart.

A student may explain aloud to a parent. Written/diagram tasks: on-site text, readable photo, print-and-hand-in or private scan. Playing: a parent hears actual live playing and logs the named task/bars, or submit short private audio/video clips each strictly below 4 MiB (4,194,304 bytes), using an app-supported format. Split by labeled phrases; check actual bytes. No face, legal name, home view, public account, ZIP or code upload is required. Actual upload formats/UI are unverified; use the live-parent route if unavailable. Text/photos alone do not establish playing. Label adaptations/support and allow resubmission.

Optional extra. Optional, not a grading requirement: make one new two-bar variation of the c-am model using only already taught notes/chords and its meter; explain one changed rhythm or ending, or increase tempo slightly only if still relaxed.

Turn in a typed answer, a JPEG, PNG, or WebP photo, a PDF scan, or an MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, or WebM file up to 4 MB. A parent can log paper. One https address is stored as text and is not opened or run. Zip and code files are refused.

  • Triads

    Optional public written reference for this unit; original lesson remains sufficient. Do not buy linked products or create an account.

    · Opening this link does not submit the lesson.
  • Simple Meter and Time Signatures

    Optional public written reference for this unit; original lesson remains sufficient. Do not buy linked products or create an account.

    · Opening this link does not submit the lesson.
  • Left Hand Position Lesson

    Optional public written reference for this unit; original lesson remains sufficient. Do not buy linked products or create an account.

    · Opening this link does not submit the lesson.
  • Online metronome

    Optional public written reference for this unit; original lesson remains sufficient. Do not buy linked products or create an account.

    · Opening this link does not submit the lesson.

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