Starting to play chords of any key is straightforward. Just follow these easy instructions, strum each chord, and build muscle memory!
Start by strumming the first five strings without hitting the low E string, and repeat these chords over and over until they sound clear and you are comfortable playing them.
A Major Scale
Learning the A Major Scale is essential to expanding your guitar playing abilities. This scale can be used to create chord progressions and arpeggios; to begin practicing it on each string start by practicing single octave patterns on all strings.
Keep in mind that one whole step on the fretboard equals two notes, while half steps represent only one note – this pattern applies across all major scales.
A Minor Scale
A Minor Scale is one of the earliest natural minor scales. Its relative major is C major and shares its key signature (no flats or sharps).
This scale features both whole and half steps, making it simple and accessible for newcomers alike. Furthermore, its lower third, sixth, and seventh chords create chords with mysterious and distinct characteristics in this key.
B Major Scale
B Major is an accessible scale to learn, with chords easily being formed from any of its notes.
The scale degrees include tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, and leading note/tone.
Below is the fingerings for a one octave B Major scale, making sure that it becomes natural to you over time. Through practice and repetition of these patterns will eventually feel intuitive and natural to you.
B Minor Scale
The B Minor Scale is a seven-note scale with its root note being B; also known as natural B minor scale.
Chords in this key typically feature what is known as a barre shape, meaning you must fret multiple strings simultaneously with just one finger at a time. Although initially challenging, this technique will become easier with practice.
C Major Scale
C major is often the first scale that beginner guitarists learn, as it doesn’t contain any sharps or flats. Songs written in major keys often use chords from this scale as chords from C major will likely feature prominently.
A scale is formed from patterns running along the guitar fingerboard. Each pattern is spaced a certain number of frets away from its root note to form its structure.
C Minor Scale
C minor scale contains three flats, making it a minor key. When singing in this key, a song could draw upon chords from other keys (or use an alternative starting note) to achieve harmony and create its own tonic note or chord progressions.
C minor chords possess an expressive softness, often used to evoke feelings of melancholy or sadness in songs about unrequited love or loss.
D Major Scale
D major scale is one of the most frequently utilized guitar chords, consisting of D, F and A notes.
To play this chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the D string while your middle and ring fingers on its third and fourth frets respectively.
Always ensure you do not strain your fingers as this may muffle the sound of the strings.
D Minor Scale
The D Minor Scale is a diatonic diatonic scale with one flat (B). Its relative major key is F Major.
Practice ascending and descending the D minor scale with equal care, paying particular attention to smooth transitions between notes. A metronome will also help develop your rhythm and timing skills – so take time out of each day to practice! You will thank yourself later; D minor offers many chord possibilities!
E Major Scale
E Major Scale is one of the more popular scales to learn when starting to play guitar, as its combination with G, C, and D chords found in most three chord songs makes learning it easy.
E major works perfectly with A mixolydian chord, a common progression found in John Mayer’s music, due to its four sharps and three white notes.
E Minor Scale
E minor chord progressions are frequently featured in songs. Its key represents short-term sadness without turning into despair.
To play in this key, it is necessary to master the E minor scale – consisting of notes E, F#, G, A and B – as it will enable you to create more expressive music. By practicing it regularly in various positions on the fretboard you will develop your understanding of this key and add emotion and depth to your performances.