Guitar chords are groups of notes that come together to form songs on guitar, sometimes known by strange names that can be confusing for beginners.
Each vertical line on the fretboard represents one string, while its horizontal lines represent frets. An “x” above any fret indicates that you should forgo playing that particular string.
A minor 7
The minor 7 chord is an essential piece for beginners to master. Its versatile nature enables it to be used in many songs and creates tension within chord progressions, often used for acoustic songs or funk music by giving its music an internal beat without using drums.
All 7th chords can be created by adding and subtracting intervals from a stack of 3rds, creating major, minor, and dominant seventh chords respectively. Playing around with adding or subtracting intervals gives different flavors to each chord resulting in various colors that highlight its qualities.
Minor 7 chords may not be used often in pop, rock, and jazz music; however they’re an effective way to add power to your playing and give songs an emotional twist between hope and despair.
C major
An understanding of chords in the key of C can assist with learning songs more quickly, reading music more easily, improvising, and learning scale positions like C major scale will prove to be extremely valuable in helping your fingers move around the fretboard more effortlessly.
Beginner guitar songs that are easy to learn in the key of C, such as Nirvana’s “A Girl Like You”, include four chord songs like Nirvana’s “A Girl Like You”.
No Woman No Cry by The Proclaimers offers an opportunity to practice basic strumming patterns. Additionally, Run-Around by Def Leppard provides an ideal platform to practice key C chord progressions.
D minor
D minor is a widely used chord that’s often employed to add melancholic and expressive qualities to songs, often across genres and styles – an indispensable asset to any guitarist’s repertoire.
To play a standard D minor barre chord, place your index finger across all six strings at the fifth fret in an “X” formation and gently apply firm pressure without excessive force to form an arch shape. Regular practice is key for producing clear sounds from all six strings.
Fingers 1, 2 and 3 can also form a Dsus2 barre chord for an easier D minor chord fingering experience, particularly if their guitar action is set too high. This fingering may make it easier for beginner guitarists who struggle with playing low E strings and A strings (mute these). It may be beneficial if their guitar action is set too high if this variation proves helpful when learning guitar for beginners.
E minor
E minor is one of the easiest guitar chords for beginning players, making progressions smoother while providing you with experience to handle other minor chords in later songs. Understanding its fingering will allow for smoother progressions.
“What’s the Frequency Kenneth?” by R.E.M is another excellent song to practice this chord with. Featuring four chords that are easy for beginner guitarists to play along with one G/B chord using an alternate note (B instead of G), until comfortable just play regular G and strumming back and forth along your neck to experience what sounds best in each position.
G major
G major is an excellent place to begin; its bright, upbeat sound makes for an engaging start. Used across genres including classical, country and rock music – and both British and New Zealand national anthems use it.
G chord is the central motif in “Sweet Home Alabama”, an accessible song to learn for beginner guitar players. Additionally, The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey” by uses this G chord well; it provides an ideal opportunity for beginning guitarists to familiarize themselves with using slash chords–notes played simultaneously using first and third fingers on both hands–for their first steps as guitarists.
If you’re struggling to master bar chords yet, try ChordBank’s free app – it will listen as you play and offer guidance, finger by finger.