Begin playing one of the most beloved country songs easily with this easy guitar chords you are my sunshine lesson for beginners. We will cover several strumming patterns, along with basic harmony concepts.
Beginners often find the switch from G to C difficult. To ensure a seamless melody transition, it is vital that beginners practice making this switch in an orderly and rhythmic fashion.
A Major
One of the easiest guitar chords to learn and play is A Major. This chord works great in nearly any song, especially country tunes; simply strum C four times, F two times and G twice more; for added flavor you could try adding an Am7 chord as well.
This full barre chord employs your first finger across all strings except the high E and low D strings, using numbers on frets as indicators of which finger should press where, while an X indicates muted strings or notes (which you do not play).
Your guitar’s action may make it challenging for three fingers to fit within one fret span. If this is an issue for you, try tightly squishing and angling them so the tips of your fingers touch the frets instead of the pads – this should give clear, crisp notes! Furthermore, experiment with various fingering patterns and chord shapes until finding one that works for you!
D Major
D major chord is one of the first chords most beginning guitarists learn to play, appearing frequently in songs. Mastering it may take some practice before sounding good consistently but perseverance will eventually pay off and it will become second nature!
An open D major chord can be formed by pressing your index finger against string 1 (high e) at its first fret and your middle finger on string 3 (A). Next your ring finger moves over to string 2 (B), with your middle finger being placed there at its second fret and your index finger on string 1.
Another way of playing this chord is to bar all three strings with your thumb and pinky fingers to create what is known as an A shape barre chord, popularised by artists from Hendrix to KT Tunstall. Suspended chords such as sus4 or sus2 may also be added for extra effect when used alternately with the D major chord.
E Major
E Major is often one of the first guitar chords most people learn and is an essential one for beginners to master. Starting off with E Major gives you greater finger control and will aid transitioning between different chord shapes later.
The E Major Chord (or Triad) consists of the notes E, G# and B that form its unique sound when played together as an E Major Triad chord. When performed properly it creates an upbeat and cheerful ambiance, making this chord ideal for beginners just starting out on their guitar journeys.
E Major is an extremely flexible chord, and can be played a variety of ways. Here, an open E string strumming pattern provides an easier learning environment than using full chord. However, you can add power by performing some hammer-ons with your index finger for added effect.
G Major
G Major chord is one of the first that many beginning guitarists learn, yet not always easily. This chord requires much finger stretching and positioning in order to produce its full sound.
Good news if your fingers don’t span the full range needed for regular chord shapes: there’s an easier way. Simply place your middle finger on the second fret of A and ring finger on third fret of low E strings before strumming all six openly.
This variation of the G chord is frequently employed by rock bands like AC/DC; you’ll hear it featured in their songs such as Highway To Hell, Shook Me All Night Long and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. Folk musicians such as Oasis have used it with Wonderwall – give it a try for yourself and see how you like it!