When studying guitar chord charts, it can be useful to keep an open mind when encountering certain symbols such as Xs and Os. Don’t take them for kisses and hugs: these signs have their own purpose!
These symbols show which strings to fret with your fingers (index, middle, ring and pinky). Some chords require you to mute specific strings while others allow open playing of them.
X means mute
When you see an “X” in a chord diagram, this indicates a string that should be muted. To accomplish this task, lay your finger lightly across it so it doesn’t ring out or use your pick hand to do this as this creates a percussive effect that may prove very helpful when playing certain genres of music.
Use “grace” notes instead of X’s for chord changes. A grace note is a short note played just before another note, usually half or full steps up the string depending on what chord it belongs to.
An X in a chord diagram indicates that strings should be bent a certain amount to create what’s known as a slap chord, typically used to add rhythm and dynamics to your guitar playing. Be mindful when practicing this technique as it can be challenging! Make sure you make time to practice.
O means open
When viewing a chord chart with an “x” or an “o” above a string, this indicates it should remain unfretted and open – for instance if an o is placed above the low E string in this scenario, fretting it will produce muffled sound and disrupt its melody and harmony.
Chord charts contain numbers and boxes which indicate which finger should be used on which fret, for instance 1= index finger, 2= middle finger, 3= ring finger and 4= pinky finger. Knowing these symbols allows you to read guitar chord charts accurately.
An effective way to practice open chords is listening to songs you already know – for instance, Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day employs open and power chords. If you would like to expand your knowledge further, chord guides online might also prove useful.
X means strum
An “x” indicates in a chord diagram that one should mute or play without fretting any string indicated by that diagram, for instance if there is an x above B2, one should play it open (ie not fretted by fingers) rather than fretted; this creates rhythmic effects more pleasing than simply strumming eight notes plainly.
A chord chart features numbers and dots to illustrate which strings to fret with your left-hand fingers and which ones to leave open, with some also featuring an X or O to indicate which string(s) to muted or not play – for instance a chord chart featuring number 7 will suggest barrering your index finger at seventh fret of A string while leaving D and G strings open – this allows for rhythmic sound without resorting to excessive strumming which would be hard for beginners to keep up with.
O means bar
When looking at a chord chart, its thick black lines or arcs represent bars. An X indicates you should mute that string; an O means to play it openly.
Attention should also be paid to the numbers on the dots; each number represents your index finger on one dot and middle finger on another dot respectively. Proper finger usage when playing barre chords is crucial in creating clear sounds and breaking any bad habits that arise; otherwise you could end up with muffled sounds or lasting bad habits that require much work to undo.
If you don’t understand what a chord chart or tab is telling you, try playing each string and note individually to identify problems and correct errors; this will allow you to pinpoint issues more efficiently so you can practice until it comes naturally.