Johnny B Goode is one of the first songs many guitarists learn, as it serves as an excellent showcase of some of Chuck Berry’s fundamental techniques used in his playing.
This song boasts some tasty barre chords, strumming patterns, and string bending that should make playing enjoyable for most players. Plus, its easy key (B Major) makes this an accessible composition to learn.
C Major
C Major is often one of the first chords guitarists learn. It is similar to an open A major chord but moves one string up the fretboard.
Keep an ear out for this chord in country classics such as Johnny B Goode or Huey Lewis and the News’ One Love; its upbeat dance rhythm may also feature it. Alternate shapes may also create different tones from this chord.
D Major
D major chord is an ideal addition to any player’s repertoire and features classic blues licks used by everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Gary Moore.
The bottom left version of this chord shape can be a difficult one to play, and can quickly lead to sore fingertips. If this occurs, take a break!
E Major
The E major guitar chord, commonly referred to as an Emaj chord, is a major chord and excludes its fifth (B).
Blues musicians commonly employ it, as it creates an air of power and triumph. You can add variety to your playing by employing various voicings of this chord – for instance E Lydian mode or Sus.
F Major
Johnny B Goode was written in F Major key, which according to Theorytab has near-average complexity when measured for Chord-Melody Tension, Harmonic Complexity and Chord Progression Novelty. You can see from the example on the left how difficult this chord shape can be when played cleanly while its less stringent version on the right can still prove challenging to play cleanly.
For an easier option, try using a power chord.
G Major
This level 2 guitar chord works well with most songs and only requires two fingers for playing; making it an excellent option for beginning guitarists.
Johnny B Goode is an ideal song to master as it features iconic rock guitar riffs that you can showcase your guitar playing abilities with! By memorizing this classic tune, you will always have something impressive to show off to others!
A Major
Learning the open A chord is one of the foundations of guitar playing. It serves as an effective gateway into studying chord progressions and techniques like palm muting, alternate picking and fast double-stops.
Add a bass note an octave lower to figure 1 to create an inversion A major chord and play its first inversion, giving a larger sounding chord suitable for rhythm work.
B Major
Johnny B Goode is a classic rock and roll tune written by Chuck Berry and included on the Voyager Golden Record as an example of rock and roll music. Cover versions by other artists have made the song one of Berry’s most beloved tracks.
The B chord is a barre chord that requires finger strength to play successfully, as its open string requires extra skill for successful performance.
C Minor
Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry from 1958 has inspired generations of musicians. It is often described as the first rock song about an electric guitarist celebrating their success.
Berry’s opening lick uses the minor pentatonic scale, an easy and accessible series of five notes suitable for numerous music styles. Furthermore, this chord shape can be played either with one finger or a barre chord – perfect for learning!
D Minor
This chord is an essential in the note catalog and an ideal starting point for beginning guitarists. Additionally, its versatility provides an opportunity to practice different fingering techniques and explore further down the fretboard.
This D minor chord is played using the bar shape, with your index finger barrening the first through fifth strings of its chord. It resembles the D major chord you may already know but with one difference.
E Minor
The E minor chord is one of the easiest minor chords to play on guitar, featuring two open shapes that are easily moveable, enabling you to use it at any fret for creating different minor chords.
Its deep, melancholic sound can transform any song’s atmosphere while only needing two fingers for playback – making it simple and accessible for beginners to learn and master.