Once you understand the root notes and letter names, chord construction can begin. Triads are among the simplest types of chords.
Slash chords use a second letter to denote a different note to be played at the same fret. Remember that sharps represent one step up from flats.
A Major Chord
Chords consist of an unison bass note accompanied by one or more notes above it, depending on their composition; major or minor chords can result from this combination.
Notes within a chord may be written using any letter from the musical alphabet, including flat letters. This can help when deciphering guitar chord diagrams or tabs.
A C major triad consists of its root note, a minor third (also known as a flat third), and a perfect fifth. These intervals give the chord its sad sound.
B Minor Chord
B minor chord is an easy, yet often neglected chord that can be played on nearly every guitar. It consists of the B note, D note and F# note in its minor triad form.
Understanding open chords is the cornerstone of guitar playing, and our course covers 24 common open chords along with several songs to practice them with!
C Major Chord
The C major chord is an essential tool for many musicians. You may recognize it from songs by Aretha Franklin such as Chain of Fools or Creedence Clearwater Revival such as Run Through the Jungle where it features prominently.
This open triad, using only three out of six strings, makes it more straightforward to finger than some of the other triads discussed here.
D Minor Chord
D minor is an emotive chord used widely in popular songs. By practicing various techniques for playing it, you’ll build up your skillset and expand your repertoire.
Chords can be written using various means, including using slashes as in a “slash chord”. (No relation with Slash the guitarist.)
Test out these different voicings until you find one you like best, adding different extensions for a fuller sound.
E Major Chord
The E Major Chord is a three-note chord composed of only E, B and C — also referred to as an E Major Triad.
Major triads consist of notes 1, 3, and 5 from their relevant scale. If you wish to create a seventh chord, an extra note (known as a sus note ) can be added; these so-called sus chords can add tension to a melody.
F Major Chord
Learning chord shapes is challenging enough; learning this one may be especially tricky for newcomers. Practice until it sounds right!
An effective way to practice this chord is with a partial barre version (see Em lesson for how to finger this). This makes it much simpler and helps position your thumb behind the neck in its proper spot.
G Major Chord
G Major is a timeless key, commonly found in hymns and traditional music; yet, it also finds use in pop and rock genres. Used solo as a note it produces some impressive results.
G Major chord is used in both British and New Zealand national anthems and in songs by Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and AC/DC – it comprises notes G, B and D which comprise what is known as G Major.
H Major Chord
Major chords are triads consisting of three notes–a root note, major third note and perfect fifth–formed into a complete circle with M or Maj for designation. They are commonly marked with only the root note or with M to signify its importance.
There are various techniques for building chords on the fretboard and each has its own distinct sound, yet all chord shapes share similar fundamentals when it comes to construction.
I Major Chord
An elementary major chord consists of three notes. However, due to six strings on a guitar you need additional notes in order to form the appropriate chord.
Another variation is a sus4 chord, which adds the 4th note to the stack. This works well next to either major or minor chords.
Altered chords can be more confusing. These consist of the 1st, flat 3rd, 5th and sharp 7th notes of a scale.
J Major Chord
These chords can add suspenseful tension to your progressions when played directly before or after major or minor chords, especially if done so in keys that match up with their respective root notes.
Others symbols and abbreviations are used to indicate specific modifications (for instance, an addition or subtraction is indicated with certain abbreviations or symbols; an example would be: an add chord contains an extra note while an omit 5 chord indicates fifth suspension). Chords that feature a # signify that their sixth is reduced in strength.