If any of these chords seem difficult to play or sound strange, take a good hard look at where your fingers are placed on the keyboard. If they’re over, under or at an odd angle it will make the chord difficult for you.
Try playing each string and note separately so you can identify if any fingers are touching other strings and muzzling their sound. This will enable you to detect whether your fingertips have come in contact with another string that has muffled its sound.
C Major
C major chord is an invaluable addition to your repertoire, providing muscle memory training for upcoming changes and often being combined with minor sixth (C6) chords to form triads.
Use your thumb to fret the middle C string for a fuller sound and avoid muted strings by keeping your fingers close to the fretboard and without muted any.
D Major
D Major is one of the easiest open string chords for beginners to master, providing excellent opportunity to develop muscle memory and hand dexterity necessary to play other open string chords as well.
Place the index finger firmly down on the first string (high e) and put your middle finger at string three’s second fret, before strumming out a chord to ensure no extra notes have appeared that don’t belong there.
E Major
E Major is often one of the first chords learned by beginners. Additionally, it can be an enjoyable chord to strum along.
To play an E chord, place your index finger across each string at fret 12. Muting the 5th string will help the chord sound more open; experiment with hammer-ons using finger 1. You could also try A shape barre chord variations of this chord!
G Major
G Major chord is another ideal beginner chord to accompany C Major Seven for creating a dreamy V – I progression. Be sure to fret the strings using only your fingertips; as closer you are to the frets, the clearer sounding notes you will experience.
If the open G chord with three fingers proves challenging for you, try switching over to four-fingered barre chord. While this requires additional stretching of your fingers, it may prove more comfortable overall.
A Major
The A chord is an easy major chord to learn that can be applied across various songs. However, its use requires three fingers, which may prove challenging for beginners. To ensure clean playing experience keep fingers close to frets.
Chord diagrams usually utilize circles or other geometric figures to represent each string and fret, with an X used to represent any unplayed notes/strings/notes that don’t make up a chord.
B Major
B Major is one of the more difficult guitar chords for novice guitarists as it requires a bar chord and can be difficult to align your fingers properly. If this proves challenging for you, consider opting for a simplified version which might be easier on your fingers.
Practice changing this chord shape a few times every day and then gradually increase its speed; this will build your finger strength.
C Minor
Beginners often start off learning open chords before moving onto barre chords – C minor bar chord is an excellent place for beginning guitarists to begin learning barre chords.
This soft and melancholic key can add depth and emotion to songs, and is used in some of the world’s most iconic musical works, including Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Eye of the Tiger!
D Minor
D Minor is a classic chord that adds dark, melancholic hues to songs. Beginners should press down with index and ring fingers on all but the two smallest strings while leaving low E and A strings open.
Try this shape, then move up the neck using barre chords with fingers two, three and four for an exciting percussive strumming exercise!
E Minor
E minor is one of the most frequently employed guitar chords, appearing in songs across multiple genres and making a powerful statement about any given musical genre. It features a deep, moody sound which fits seamlessly with many musical genres.
To play this chord, begin with your index finger placed on string E at fret 7 before moving it over to string B at fret 8 followed by your ring finger on G at fret 9 before strumming all nine strings simultaneously.
G Minor
Although not commonly heard in mainstream music, G minor stands out with its distinct sound and can add something special to your guitar voicing repertoire. For optimal results, try playing it as a barre chord on the 3rd fret.
Beginners who lack the strength necessary for full barre chords have other means of playing this chord.