There are various kinds of major chords, each derived from different intervals within the major scale.
Triads are among the easiest and most frequent major chords. Triads consist of only three distinctive notes in the scale.
Chords containing numbers within their dots denote which fingers should be used on each fret, for instance: index finger (1 dot), middle finger (2 dots), and ring finger (3 dots).
A Major
Major chords are an indispensable component of many songs and should be the first guitar chords you learn. Their vibrant sound makes learning to play guitar much simpler!
Each chord chart provides a diagram showing where to position your fingers on frets and strings for each of its six notes in a chord, along with an easy formula for creating it.
B Major
This major chord is known for being charismatic and dynamic, communicating intense emotions such as anger, jealousy, fury or despair. Its use when combined with minor chords creates an evocative soundscape.
B Major chords feature a major second, while C and E lie further apart than expected, creating an effect similar to minor third chords: more minor and restless sounding chords.
C Major
Chords in major keys are constructed by using notes from each major scale, which explains why C is frequently chosen as the starting point for pop songs.
C Major is a seven-note scale with characteristic intervals that define its unique tone. Here is an example of its chord structure using an easily moveable chord shape without its fifth note (G). It works well for Townshend-style windmilling.
D Major
D Major is an increasingly popular chord found across various musical genres. Composed of a three-note triad with notes D – F# – A, it belongs to the diatonic scale with two sharps for an uplifting sound.
Chords in this key can add an air of anticipation or resolution to a song, creating beautiful cadences full of life and optimism.
E Major
The E major chord contains five notes and features a dominant seventh, making it an excellent place to begin when studying major scale patterns.
Each key contains its own set of sharps and flats that help form its scale degrees – tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, leading note/tone and octave.
Chord diagrams provide an easy way of visually depicting fingerings for each chord, while guitar tabs provide another popular means of showing scales.
F Major
Once you are comfortable playing major triads, try adding seventh notes to each chord to form dominant chords – for instance Fmaj7 (FM7) would be an example.
This voicing is easier to play than its fully barred version, though you must use only the tips of your fingers on thinnest strings – this helps avoid fret buzz and sore fingertips.
G Major
G Major chord is a beloved part of many songs. Download this free chord chart to practice G Major and its inversions.
Harmonizing scale notes enables musicians to construct chords of any key quickly. This enables them to shorten distance between chords for maximum musical expression.
Beginners-friendly fingerings and note names are included on these diagrams to make it easier for you to easily comprehend and locate your root notes.
H Major
Most chords consist of at least three notes and the basic major chords include I, IV and V chords. To properly comprehend them you need to know the major scale formula.
Once you gain the hang of it, this method makes understanding chords far simpler.
I Major
A chord chart is an effective shorthand to help you remember where and how to play various guitar chords. The thick line at the top represents your guitar’s nut; and horizontal lines indicate which frets of each string should be used when performing any given chord.
A chord consists of three or more notes played simultaneously, and you can learn more about its formation in our lesson Building Chords from a Major Scale.
J Major
Addition of this seventh chord can be useful when crafting jazz guitar chords such as major 7th chords, dominant 7th chords and even less common diminished 7th chords. These three note triad shapes provide easy learning pathways for beginners.
Understanding major chords is the first step toward learning to play many songs on your guitar, then moving onto minor chords which express emotional responses through music.