Chords are an essential element of guitar music, enabling faster song playback while giving your guitar its unique sound and setting it apart from other instruments.
Guitar chords are constructed by stacking ascending THIRDS (two or more non-consecutive scale notes) together to form triads.
These chords, known as open chords, can be strung cleanly by beginners. Learn them all and practice regularly to build finger strength.
1. C Major
C Major is an ideal starting chord as it does not require too much finger stretching and it is frequently featured in songs – making learning it all that much simpler!
Commonly found chord is the barre chord at the eighth fret on all strings, which may be difficult for beginners but definitely worth practicing – stretching helps with playing it better. Slanting fingers helps with this too!
2. D Major
D is an ideal chord to begin your music with as it makes chord progressions easy to build upon. Plus, its sound works great for singer-songwriter work as well as more aggressive settings such as emo or djent bands.
Enhancing D7 with an additional minor seventh C creates an audacious sounding chord which seems to lead into G major chord.
3. G Major
Beginners can quickly master this simple chord, as many songs employ chord sequences (or progressions) with which beginners will become very familiar.
As beginners guitarists begin learning the instrument, it is advisable to begin playing open chords first since these don’t require too much finger strength or dexterity to play, making chord changes simpler later on.
4. E Major
E Major chords don’t require too much strength to press down all the strings, making them an excellent way for beginners to practice.
When playing this chord, ensure your fingers are placed atop the frets with arched fingertip. Otherwise, sound can become muffled. Listen carefully to every string and note separately in order to assess their sound quality.
5. F Major
F Major chord can be challenging for beginner guitarists. In this video, Anna shows you an easier version that’s simple to master while sounding great.
Your first task should be to use your index finger to fret the initial note in F major pentatonic scale on low E string before moving on to using your ring and pinky fingers for additional fretting.
6. A Major
A Major is an essential chord shape to add to your repertoire. Like F Major, it consists of the first, second and third notes of a major scale – make sure not to mute the high E string when strumming this chord; practice curving your fingers upwards so as to not drag or muffle other strings with them.
These basic open chords can be found in hundreds of songs. Learning them will enable you to transition more smoothly into advanced chord shapes in the future.
7. B Major
B major is an ideal chord to start off with for beginners. Though initially challenging to play, its use in music theory shows how every major key contains its own network of chords that form the B major chord.
As is true with many of the open chords we’ve discussed so far, this one uses a barre chord technique – something which may cause your index finger to ache if it’s unfamiliar to you.
8. C Minor
C minor chords are an integral component of many music genres and provide a melancholic sound, adding emotion and texture.
As well as its application in ballads and songs about ex-partners (Rolling in the Deep by Adele is an excellent example), understanding different methods to play this chord will allow you to expand your repertoire and compose songs with emotional depth.
9. D Minor
The D minor chord is an ideal beginner guitar chord to master as its formation is easy and it appears in many songs. Additionally, its sound features an attractive jangly quality.
The open version of this chord crosses three frets on the highest strings and requires guitarists to place their pinky and ring fingers in an unconventional position – not intuitive for novice players.
10. E Minor
E minor chords possess a reflective quality, often classified as downers; however, they can actually add emotion and tension in your music compositions.
Try playing these chords with different dynamics to observe their change with volume and phrasing. Try practicing with backing tracks to work on timing and groove, using slides or vibrato for expressive purposes.