Major chords are typically the first guitar chords beginners learn, since they’re the easiest and simplest to play.
Chords are represented on a chart as horizontal lines representing frets. An “X” denotes unplayed strings while “O” circles or zeros indicate open strings.
E Major Slide
A E major slide is a variation on a standard major chord that involves barring your index finger and fretting the second string three frets away, creating a sound commonly found in popular songs such as those by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Creedence Clearwater Revival such as Sweet Home Alabama or Bad Moon Rising.
Most major chords are known for having happy sounds that evoke positive associations through music. If an E is seen above a music notation, that indicates an E major should be played there.
Minor chords are the opposite of major chords and convey more melancholic emotions. Open minor chords are identified with an “m” after their name and often feature a dominant 7th (m7) or alternatively you may find sharps or flats added between brackets (for instance D13(#5b9) or C13(b5#9) voicings with sharps/flats within brackets for example D13(#5b9)/C13(b5#9); some minor chords will omit the root note altogether thus making learning both major/minor scales an essential skill!
F Major Slide
Major triads are among the most ubiquitous chords, composed of three notes that can be found across the fretboard. Like E major slide chords, major triads can also be played using standard or drop D tuning tuning systems.
Fingering this chord requires some special considerations; in particular, using your index finger on the sixth string to reach for and play the third fret (please refer to tab below for details). This change makes remembering its fingerings harder.
Practice this chord along with a drone to develop fingerings and sliding techniques, or try this chord using different types of slides (glass style used by Jimmy Page for Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying”)! Don’t be afraid to experiment with various sounds by switching out slides – this process will continue throughout your lifetime but with practice you will only become better!
A Minor Variation
A minor chord is one of the first ones most guitarists learn, typically in its open position. This variant mutes both low E and A strings, which may prove challenging for guitarists with larger fingers.
A Minor Variation 2 is easier to play as it only uses four strings – with your index finger on the second fret of D string, middle, and ring fingers placed underneath; simply strumming those four strings will produce this chord.
This A minor chord contains a major sixth to create a jazzy sound and can often be found in rock songs like My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless”.
C Major Variation
An alternative variation on an open C chord is by adding a fourth finger on string 1, fret 3. This results in what’s known as a major-seventh chord (commonly referred to as G suspended chord).
This chord is a triad, consisting of three notes. These include C – its root note; E – its major third two steps from its origin; and G – a perfect fifth three and a half steps away.
This chord is easy to play and only requires you to mute the low E string so it won’t ring out. If you are new to major chords guitar chart, this may prove challenging at first but just keep practicing until it comes naturally. From there on out, add more notes to this chord while mutes them appropriately until eventually you will be ready to learn some progressions.