Have you ever come across an intriguing chord in one of your favorite songs and wanted to emulate it, yet were unsure how? Chord transitions can be especially tricky until they are embedded in memory.
1. C Major
As a beginner learning guitar, C major should be your starting point since all white keys fall within this scale and contain no sharps or flats.
To create a chord, simply take three notes from the scale and place them a third apart – that will form a triad!
2. D Major
D is an easy and useful chord to master as it appears in many popular songs. Additionally, learning D can help develop transitioning skills between G (or A) and D shapes.
This PDF file includes basic chord triads in D Major; each position starts from another step of the D major scale and only utilizes notes that originate in this key.
Enhancing chord progressions by including extensions and inversions adds interest and difficulty to them.
3. G Major
G Major is one of the easiest keys for beginners to learn as it contains only one sharp. Furthermore, its signature has the lowest number of sharps among all sharp keys.
G7 chords can add a cool, melodic element to rock songs like Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Additionally, they work well in summertime classics such as Sublime’s “What I Got.”
Skoove offers a built-in metronome to help you practice chord shapes. Get real time feedback and take advantage of a free trial version.
4. A Major
Though A Major chord progressions don’t feature often in popular music, both Here, There and Everywhere by the Beatles and You’ve Got the Music In You by New Radicals use them successfully.
However, A is less often used as it contains three sharps! Though, it does boast a minor scale.
5. B Major
B Major is an intricate chord, which requires strong finger strength to play effectively. Therefore, practicing various fingering patterns to build dexterity and strength should be part of your regular practice routine.
This version utilizes a barre chord, in which your index finger rests across every string except the low E and is strung five strings down from the A string, making it an effective means of transitioning from E to B.
6. C Minor
C minor is often associated with sadness; however, it can actually be an excellent key to get acquainted with as it opens up your playing to more possibilities.
C minor chords are diatonic; therefore all the fingering techniques you have learned for major chords will apply here as well, with only minor modifications necessary.
7. D Minor
The D minor chord is associated with serious and even religious music. Like all triad chords, it consists of a root note and its perfect fifth; however, its position should always be seven frets higher (three and a half tones higher) than its root note.
D minor is the relative major key of F Major, making it an excellent way for musicians and artists looking to evoke suspense and resolve.
8. E Minor
The E minor chord, also referred to as Em or Emin, comprises three notes – E, G and B – in its structure as a minor triad – meaning it contains both a minor third and perfect fifth note.
To help embed this voicing of the Em chord into your memory, take four beats off before placing them back on, until it becomes part of your finger muscles. Repeat until it becomes part of your daily practice routine.
9. F Major
F Major chords have earned themselves the reputation of being challenging to learn, even for experienced guitarists. When beginners struggle, swearing can quickly ensue or guitars even being broken in frustration!
This smaller barred version makes playing simpler; just ensure the tips of your fingers touch the strings for optimal results and to reduce fatigue in both hand and finger joints. This also helps avoid finger and hand strain.
10. G Minor
G Minor is an elegant key that has been utilized in numerous musical masterpieces. This versatile key can express everything from heartbreaking pathos to exhilarating joy.
Practice writing melodies in G Minor and experiment with its rhythms and phrasing. Additionally, transpose one of your songs to see how it sounds in this key.
Explore this key by studying the circle of fifths.