Guitar chords are comprised of groups of two or more notes played together. There is much more music theory behind chords, but for now you should focus on learning their shapes (rather than which notes make up each chord).
If a chord diagram contains an X above a string, this indicates to mutes it. Thick black lines representing multiple strings indicate bar chords.
1. C Major Triad
As soon as you begin playing guitar, one of the first skills you will learn is how to construct chords. This involves stacking basic shapes together until larger chords form. Chords can usually be identified by their root and type – for instance a C major chord would be called Cmaj or just C – while another method involves roman numerals which refer to its scale pattern of tones and semitones.
Triads, composed of three notes constructed in thirds, should be one of the first chords learned by beginning guitarists. Triads can be played all across the fretboard and may easily replace full chords as replacement chords.
To play a triad, simply adjust the open chord shape up or down a fret (or both). For instance, shifting a D major chord up one semitone produces an E minor or Eb chord while up another semitone produces an A or B diminished chord.
2. G Major Triad
G major is an extremely powerful chord, well-suited to almost any song and easily adaptable into different triads and chords – from Gadd6 (doubling of second note in G major triad) to adding 7ths for G7(Dom).
Chord quality can often be determined by comparing intervals that appear in a scale to one another, for instance major and minor triads will produce very different sounds: major has an upbeat feel while minor chords will often sound downcast and sorrowful.
Open chords offer another great way to expand the sounds produced by G chords, as these combinations use open strings alongside fretted ones. Beginners may find this approach easier as strumming can become more intuitive without worrying whether too hard strokes have created buzzes in the strings.
3. E Major Triad
First chord most guitarists learn is an E Major Triad; its simplicity makes it accessible and useful in understanding how triads can be utilized to form various chords.
Each triad chord has its own individual sound that’s defined by the intervals between its lowest note and each of the scale notes above it; for a Major Triad chord this could mean E – B being an example.
Root of any chord is E, and once you understand how to build triads, its variations are infinitely adjustable. Simply move this note up or down an octave using black notes below as needed to produce other versions. When moving this E up a semitone (C becomes A chord, Eb becomes Dm chord etc). The possibilities become limitless once you learn how to construct these intricate triads!
4. A Major Triad
The A Major Triad chord is one of the most widely played on guitar. Not only can it provide an exciting guitar playing experience, but there are so many variations to it as well!
As with other triad chords, A Major can either be major or minor depending on the quality of interval between its root and third note (note interval 1 above).
Change the quality of a chord by shifting its notes up or down by one semitone – this alters its sound while remaining within its key.
Once you are comfortable with major triad shapes, try moving them up and down the fretboard. Also experiment with altering notes within each shape for different variations – for instance you could move C# up a semitone to C and create an am chord or lower it to C and create an A diminished chord.
Chords are groups of notes played together and come in two varieties, major and minor chords. To recognize them easily, simply look at their name – major chords are marked with capital letters while minor ones use lowercase’m’s as identification marks.
This article will introduce nine basic guitar chords that are ideal for beginning players regardless of musical genre or preference.
1. C Major
C Major is one of the primary chords most guitarists learn and can be seen across a wide spectrum of music from classic rock songs like Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” to new wave synth pop such as Bloodhound Gang’s “Bad Touch”.
C Major is one of the best chords to learn because there are numerous ways of playing it. One easy approach is playing it open position; simply place your index finger across all strings at the third fret and strum away!
Bar chords (bar chords) offer another exciting way to play C Major chords, requiring slightly more hand movement but sounding higher and thinner than their traditional versions.
2. D Major
D Major is one of the first chords most guitar players learn, making it a versatile one that can help create multiple styles of music.
To play D Major, place your index finger on the fifth fret of string two; your middle finger on string three’s second fret; and your ring finger on string five’s fourth fret – this forms what is known as a second position D chord or “bar chord.”
Your pinky can be added at the third fret of string one for an open D Major sound, adding an exciting vibrancy. However, this shape requires extra flexibility and strength from your ring finger in pressing down three strings simultaneously – be patient!
3. E Major
E Major is an especially beloved key among vocalists, particularly in contemporary worship music like Hillsong Worship’s “One Headlight”. This powerful, deep tone and dynamic lyricism is perfectly complimented by chords and scales of this musical key.
Music theory categorizes every note into specific scale degrees (tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant leading tone/chord and octave). Within each degree there will also be related sets of chords called diatonic harmony that fit over it.
Marty’s lesson below shows how to play both an E and an Am chord using the same hand shape – plus provides tips for increasing muscle memory so chord changes become smoother and faster. Also don’t miss his series ‘Ten Songs with Two Chords’!
4. G Major
Written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers for their 1945 Broadway musical Carousel, You’ll Never Walk Alone has become an enduring and meaningful symbol of hope and resilience. If possible, try learning this chord early as its popularity and universal message could serve you well in life.
G major is one of the first beginner chords most people learn, though it may not be easy. Stretching across the fretboard with your first three fingers requires significant concentration; therefore, to make things simpler try this open variation which uses a barre across two strings to make this chord simpler to learn.
Or if you want something a bit jazzier, add your ring finger to the top string for Gadd9 chord. This gives it more of a jazz feel while maintaining all of its basic G chord essentials.
5. A Major
The open A chord is often one of the first major chords guitarists learn, serving as a cornerstone to build upon as they progress with their repertoire.
Barre chords (so-called because you bar your index finger across five or six strings at once) can be an extremely versatile musical tool, as they allow for quick up and down neck changes for fresh variations. This simplified version of an A barre chord removes one string for more manageable fingering.
Beginner guitar players may find fingering difficult at first due to being constrained within such a small area; however, don’t worry as there are several ways of fingering chords on a guitar and it is perfectly acceptable for them to experiment until they find what works for them.