Chord progressions in music serve as the building blocks that make up its overall sound. Each musician has their own signature chord selection that helps define their signature style.
Understanding how simple major and minor triads form on the guitar is the first step to mastering music theory, leading to more advanced chord structures and formations.
1. G Major
G Major is often one of the first keys newcomers learn on both guitar and ukulele, making it easy for beginners to start making songs from popular rock and pop repertoire.
Music theory students will recognize that the G major scale contains one sharp note, F#. This is because an octave measures the distance between its lowest and highest notes (or chord).
Every key has chords that can be built upon it, in G major these chords include G major as the tonic chord; C subdominant; and D dominant.
To play this scale, begin at string 6’s low root note and move up the fretboard by playing each note sequentially until you have perfected this pattern – initially slowly and carefully at first!
2. C Major
C Major is often one of the first chords beginners learn, and can be heard in numerous iconic songs. Listen out for it in “One Love” by Bob Marley & The Wallers or “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars; C Major also appears in country hit “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash as well as Bach’s charming Prelude No. 1 in C Major from Unit 9.
Like G, this chord can be played either open or barred on the fretboard, providing more tonal options while decreasing neck movement. Multiple forms of the same chord provide opportunities to practice scale runs up and down the fretboard.
3. D Major
Common chord progressions that use dominant 7ths can often be heard in D Major, making this chord one of the first ones you learn in most key signatures.
D Major is an excellent chord for practicing modulation into and out of. If you’re playing in D major and want to shift into D minor, simply switch over to V7 chord in Db major and enharmonically change its spelling into A7alt (A7 with flat 9th). This technique is known as natural modulation as it doesn’t involve shifting sharps or flats up or down a scale; moreover, this approach sounds more authentic and feels more natural than going from G minor back into D major with another G7 change.
4. E Major
The E Major chord is a crucial foundation of guitar-playing, often serving as the cornerstone of chord progressions. A powerfully expressive triad, it resonates across genres and cultures–from rock’s electrifying riffs to classical music’s sublime melodies.
It consists of the notes E, G# and B. G# is the major third, four half-steps or two whole steps above its root note E; its vibrant quality accentuated by being two whole-steps higher. Finally, B adds stability and fullness as its perfect fifth.
Practice these chords regularly while keeping your fingers relaxed and using a metronome to keep the rhythm steady. As your proficiency grows, try playing these progressions up and down your guitar neck using various rhythms and tempos.
5. F Major
F Major chord is notoriously painful for new guitarists. It often results in fret buzz, sore fingertips and strained wrists; but there are some easy alternatives you can use until your fingers become stronger.
As a starting point, try this simplified version of F Major where only two strings need to be barred with your index finger. It should be simpler than root position F Major because this approach mutes your second string (the high E string).
This shape can also be helpful when creating arpeggios or funk-inspired voicings. Once you get this chord down, practicing its different inversions and voicings should become much less daunting; eventually it might even appear in more songs!