Our first chord will be an E minor chord, using only two fingers in a way that allows all four strings to sound clearly.
When playing chords it’s essential that your fingers stay close to the fret wire; this ensures no string mutes or buzzes. Although this may take some practice to become second nature.
C Major
This chord is an all-purpose rock chord, making an impressionful statement with any tone. Additionally, its accessibility makes it a favorite on electric guitar. Be wary not to accidentally strike the bottom E string – which will cause a percussive sound! If this happens to be your case then simply use palm muting – resting your thumb over strings you aren’t playing to prevent unwanted notes from sounding out.
This variation on C major is slightly more challenging to play than its simple open C counterpart, yet sounds fuller and can provide an interesting change from just playing an open C chord. It is frequently employed in songs requiring transitions between C and G chords and can add depth without stretching your fingers too far apart.
D Minor
D Minor is an invaluable chord to know because of its dark and dismal sound; it adds depth and story-telling power without words.
Playing this chord is straightforward for even novice guitarists. Simply place your index finger on the 1st fret of the high E string (1st string), followed by middle finger on 2nd fret of B string (2nd string), with final placement being your ring finger at 3rd fret of D string (4th string). Be careful not to strum 5th (A) and 6th (low E) strings!
To explore variations on the D minor chord, use the same formula used to find triads. Remember the chord shapes you find and memorize them for future use when writing music compositions.
E Minor
E minor, or Em, is a simple chord with a deep and melancholy quality. It makes an excellent starting point when learning barre chords (requiring multiple fingers across strings at once). Furthermore, Em can often be found as part of heartbreak tunes.
An E minor chord can often be played using a bar shape, with your pointer finger at the second fret of A and middle finger on D strings – an arrangement often seen in songs by Steve Earle such as Ashes to Ashes or Alanis Morissette such as 20/20.
For optimal sounding guitar chords, ensure your fingering is precise and you aren’t hitting any strings that should remain open (which could result in buzzing). Begin strumming the chord slowly at first before gradually increasing its tempo until switching between this chord and other easy guitar chords should not cause issues.
A Minor
The A Minor chord is an ideal one to learn as it’s utilized in numerous songs and can also help improve barre chord technique (in which multiple fingers must be placed simultaneously on multiple strings).
This chord is similar to an open A minor, except your fourth finger is placed on string D at fret 7. Make sure each time you play this chord that your fingers do not come into contact with any other strings or cause buzzing or dead/muted notes in its sound.
Beginning guitarists often find the A7 chord difficult to master as it requires you to squish three fingers tightly together and line them all up on one fret at once. Although initially it may require strength and dexterity to perform this chord correctly, once mastered it becomes much simpler to play.