Guitar chords are groups of notes on the fretboard strung together with an instrument or fingerpick and strumming to form songs. Guitar chords serve as essential starting points for beginning guitarists.
Understanding music theory can help songwriters create more captivating chord progressions. But this does not reduce songwriting to a formula.
A Major
The A Major chord is an elementary major chord composed of its root note in key, three notes placed a third apart (triad), so when strumming this chord all five strings ring out at once.
Strum this chord using your left hand’s pinky (5th finger) on an A note an octave below Middle C, your index (2nd finger) on B, and thumb (1st finger) on E.
A Minor
As with the A Major chord, this minor variation can be achieved by dropping finger four down one fret – giving it a more expectant tone that works especially well when used after playing minor seventh chords.
Strumming all five strings except the low E string (muting it with your thumb is also an option) will enable you to experience how a chord works together, so play melodies over it and observe.
C Major
C Major is often one of the first chords a guitarist learns, and can be played either open or barred.
To play this chord, place your index finger on the second string at 2nd fret and your middle and ring fingers below or above respectively.
Make sure that your fingers stay close but not on the frets to help avoid being too tight and injuring the hand. This will also prevent overtightened fingers that could potentially pinch and strain.
C Minor
This chord is very straightforward to play and serves as an excellent gateway for beginning guitarists. It consists of five strings which you can strum using your left hand and fingers, making for an accessible start for those newer to the guitar.
Chords are the foundation of all music. Learning a few chords can go a long way toward understanding this genre. Musicians also rely on chords as part of the creative process when crafting songs using chords.
D Major
D Major is an open chord commonly employed by guitarists from all styles. You’ll find it featured in many songs from Bach to Led Zeppelin that use it.
To create this chord, place your index finger on String 3 at its second fret and middle finger on String 2, at their third frets respectively, with both fingers resting upon one string each while using your thumb to mute out any open A strings. Strum these strings while simultaneously mutes all other open A strings with your thumb.
D Minor
D Minor is an easy and accessible beginner chord to start off with, making for an excellent introduction into music theory and harmony. To play it, place your index finger on the second fret of G string and mute with thumb muting it with thumb.
This chord features a perfect fifth that gives it a more harmonic and stable sound than a major chord without one, giving your music more resolution and comfort.
E Major
E Major is one of the fundamental open chords for guitarists and can be found in music of every style and genre.
Note that music is written in “measures”, with each measure separated by vertical bars known as bar lines to make reading the score easier. Therefore, strumming at an even pace throughout each measure is critical in maintaining its meaning.
E Minor
E minor is one of the first chords introduced to new guitar players by beginners. Its simplicity makes it suitable for learners of any level to master.
Doing this slowly will allow you to quickly build up your technique and fingering speed while also understanding the relationship between major and minor scales.
F Major
F Major is another difficult chord for guitarists to master, yet it remains an essential chord for songwriting and adds a jazzy, summery element to songs.
To play this chord, bar all six strings with your index finger (or just the first three frets). This sounds great and provides a good challenge for beginners; however, strumming and switching chords should also be practiced regularly to achieve maximum results.
F Minor
F Minor is a three string chord played in second inversion. Unlike E Major chord, which uses all six strings simultaneously, this shape utilizes just three string.
Triad chords are one of the easiest types to construct. If intervals are new to you, read up on them here in this article – they will help make the fingerings below more clear!