Your Final Challenge: Welcome to Your Graduation Performance!
You have come so far, and all of your practice is about to pay off in this final lesson. You've mastered the key four chords and learned to apply a versatile rhythm. Now, you will prove your versatility by learning a new chord progression with a totally different feel, solidifying your status as a true guitarist.
A New Sound: The 'Epic' Em-C-G-D Progression
Just by changing the order of the chords you know, you can create a completely different mood. The Em-C-G-D progression is a powerhouse in pop and rock music, creating an epic, anthemic, and slightly more serious feel than the G-D-Em-C progression. It's a sound you've heard in countless stadium anthems.
Your Graduation Song: "Giants"
To celebrate your achievement, let's learn to play "Giants." It uses your new progression and the same Campfire Strum, but we'll try to play it with a bit more power and confidence.
Verse 1
(Em) We were young, (C) we were bold
(G) A story to be (D) told
Chorus
(Em) We could be giants, (C) standing in the sun
(G) We could be heroes, our (D) journey's just begun
Verse 2
(Em) The world was ours, (C) we held it in our hands
(G) Made a lot of noise, with our (D) rock and roll bands
Performance Guide: Playing with Power
- Drill the New Progression: Loop the Em-C-G-D progression with the Campfire Strum. Notice how starting on Em gives the music a sense of drive and determination. The G to D change at the end is a classic, powerful sound.
- Strum with Confidence: This is a rock anthem! Try to strum a little harder than you did on the last song. Let the chords ring out. Your strumming should be confident and strong.
- Sing it Loud: Once you have the progression down, sing the lyrics with energy. This isn't a quiet folk song; it's a declaration.
- Your Final Performance: Put it all together and play the song from start to finish. Don't be afraid to make a little noise!
Verse 1 → Chorus → Verse 2 → Chorus
You've Graduated! What's Next?
An enormous congratulations to you! By completing this lesson, you have finished the beginner's curriculum and built a solid foundation of skills. You have the chords, the rhythm, and the experience to start learning hundreds, if not thousands, of popular songs. Your real guitar journey starts now. Explore our other songs, start learning new chords, and never, ever stop playing. You've earned it!
