The eight-week plan
Each week has one new skill, two or three chord changes to drill, and one or two songs. Start whenever you like. Starting in early November puts the carols (weeks 5–7) in Advent.
| Week | New skill | Changes to drill | Songs | Ready when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Tuning, posture, C and G7; one down-strum per beat | C ↔ G7 | He's Got the Whole World | 30 changes a minute, every string ringing |
| Week 2 | F (easy); slow 6/8 strum | C ↔ F, F ↔ G7 | Silent Night; Jesus Loves Me | Silent Night played straight through without stopping |
| Week 3 | Am and G; the 3/4 "boom-strum-strum" | C ↔ Am, F ↔ G, C ↔ G | Amazing Grace (key of C); Joy to the World | Key of C complete |
| Week 4 | D and Em: the key of G | G ↔ D, G ↔ C, Em ↔ D | Amazing Grace (key of G) | Same hymn played in both keys |
| Week 5 | A7; bass note on beat 1 | C ↔ D, A7 ↔ D | Away in a Manger; O Come, All Ye Faithful; The First Noel | Three carols in 3/4 or 4/4 at a steady tempo |
| Week 6 | 4/4 "down, down-up" strum; singing while playing | Em ↔ Am, D ↔ Em | Hark! the Herald Angels Sing; Angels We Have Heard on High; Go Tell It on the Mountain | Sings and plays without looking at the left hand |
| Week 7 | Leading: pitch, count-in, capo | Review | Choose three carols | Leads a three-song set for family, a small group, or a Zoom session |
| Week 8 | Hymns for ordinary Sundays; optional Dm and D7 | G ↔ Em, Em ↔ C, C ↔ D | Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Shall We Gather at the River; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms; Doxology | Five hymns for ordinary Sundays |
If someone falls behind, keep them on the current week's changes rather than moving them forward. The songs in weeks 5 and 6 reuse earlier chords, so there is room to catch up there.