Guitar chords form the basis of any song. Start off by learning simple progressions, then add melodies that complement them.
TIP for Remembering New Chord Shapes: When trying to learn a new chord shape, take a step away from looking at its diagram and focus instead on remembering its feeling – this will help speed up learning time!
Open E Major
Open E is an alternate tuning with many uses. It sounds similar to standard tuning; however, its lower strings are tuned up an octave; thus turning low E string into B note, D string as an E and G as a G# string.
As one can expect, this alters the sound of major chords considerably; for instance, an E barre chord in seventh position (as demonstrated in Example 4a) now sounds like G major!
This tuning is used by several slide guitarists, most notably Duane Allman in “Statesboro Blues.” Watch this video tutorial to tune your guitar to open E.
Open F Major
F chords can be dauntingly difficult for beginner guitarists. Playing one requires strength and coordination; once mastered though, they provide an ideal starting point for more complex chord progressions.
Doing something other than the full F bar may prove easier; try this lower voicing which only requires your first finger to cover two strings and muffle the third one. Be mindful not to create too much tension in your hand by arching your fingers and touching only thinnest strings – see Essential Chords in Open F Tuning ebook for additional ideas, voicings and progressions for this tuning.
Open A Minor
Like the D, G and A chords you have learned, this barre chord requires open strings but requires pressing down with an index finger on multiple strings – something many new musicians find daunting. It’s called a barre chord and often poses challenges to beginner guitarists.
So make sure that when practicing open chord shapes over a jam track, taking time and slowing the music as needed at first will become second nature to you. Over time they’ll become second nature!
Open C Major 7
Cmaj7 chords can be heard throughout numerous songs by Joni Mitchell (“Coyote”, Frank Sinatra’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Lukas Graham in 7 Years. They feature beautifully, offering beautiful chordal tones that sound incredible when performed correctly.
Open C is an excellent tuning for those beginning to explore open chords, as it gives access to shapes and sounds unavailable in standard tuning – particularly open D and G chords, which can be difficult to find natural shapes for.
Check out Ocean by John Butler to witness his innovative use of open C to craft an engaging soundscape.
Open G Major
Open G is an ideal tuning for beginners as it makes playing major chords simple with just one finger barred across frets, while opening up opportunities to explore movable chord shapes such as Keith Richards’ 6sus4 chord.
Guitarists who utilize bottleneck guitars may find alternate tuning useful as it allows the low string to be removed, concentrating chord shapes on only five strings – creating new blues and rock sounds that don’t work as effectively with standard tuning.
Open D Major
Open D is an alternative tuning for acoustic guitar that has become particularly popular in folk music, adding a joyful sound to songs such as Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”. Furthermore, Open D helps guitarists learn triads with less finger strength requirements compared to standard chord shapes.
Chords in this tuning are fairly easy to create; all it takes to create major chords is barre across the fretboard to form major chords. Minor chords require more complex shapes such as D minor (0-0-2-2-3-3).
Open C Minor
Open C minor is an expressive tuning that gives access to some rare chords and tones, especially on an acoustic guitar where its rich sound can truly come through.
Mumford and Sons’ Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons is an excellent example of how alternate tunings and muted strings can add interest to even a basic chord progression.
Once you master these chords, be sure to explore more songs featuring C minor tuning! When you do so, be sure to also try other songs featuring it!