Major chords form the cornerstone of numerous songs and should be the first type of chord you learn. They consist of four note chords that contain a seventh interval above their root note.
An E major chord can be played many different ways depending on how you curl your finger and which string to strum, such as an open E major chord which sounds very different than its compact version.
A Major
A major chord will likely be one of the first you learn on the guitar and can serve as an excellent stepping stone into exploring music theory behind barre chords.
Each major scale contains an intricate system of whole and half tones that compose its notes. On a fretboard, one whole tone equals two frets while a half tone equals one fret.
In this section, we’ll study chords, triads and arpeggios formed from whole and half tone patterns – essential knowledge for successfully traversing an entire fretboard.
B Major
B major is one of the easiest and most widely-used guitar chords, yet there are some unique variations that make playing it enjoyable and exciting.
Beginners may find the initial variation of B major challenging as it requires multiple fingers to form it than an open string chord.
This version of B major uses an E shape. This chord can be an excellent starting point for beginner guitarists; although its sound may be inferior compared to its full counterpart.
C Major
C major is one of the first chords new guitarists are typically taught, and is an excellent place to begin their explorations of chords. There are numerous variations that allow new guitarists to experiment with various sounding chords including C six and Cmaj7 chords.
The basic C major shape utilizes open strings and your first three fingers. However, an alternative method involves playing it without including the low E string in its equation.
Move your ring finger over to the fifth string, adding G to your chord for a fuller sound and producing a triad with fuller notes. Experiment with other variations like an Add Nine chord (C6 + G).
D Major
D major is distinguished by two sharps in its key signature, so this guide includes fretboard patterns with two sharps. Chords used are those found within D major’s scale degrees (D, F# and A).
The D shape, the most frequently seen barre chord in D major, is played by barring three strings: D string on fret 3, B string on fret 4, and high E string on fret 2 to create a triangle shape. This chord is easy to play, providing a seamless bridge between other chords in its key.
E Major
Emaj or E, the E major guitar chord is an elegant combination of your basic C and E notes that makes an excellent way to develop finger independence on fretboard. Practice positioning your fingers without pressing too hard on strings as over-fretting can alter sound, wear out strings and cause pain for both hand and strings.
Moving onto barre chords can be an enormous step for beginners, and the B minor chord is an ideal one to start off with. Barre chords require your index finger to press down more than one string – acting like a capo!
F Major
Often referred to as Fmaj or FDmaj, this major chord utilizes the first, third and fifth notes from F major scale for maximum effectiveness when creating barre chords and arpeggios.
Beginners may find this version of F major chord easier to play as only your first finger needs to press down on thinnest strings – yet remembering only its tip should be used when performing barre chords – not the entire nail – is key.
G Major
G major is a classic guitar chord voicing used by many guitarists and can help beginners easily explore G-A progressions.
Beginner or intermediate players would do well to practice transitioning from this shape to other shapes, particularly if they’re newer players. Doing this will build finger strength and dexterity, making it easier to barre across all six strings.
An alternate solution for G major can be to double the fifth instead of third; this creates an airier sound than with standard voicing.
Chords are at the foundation of music. By choosing chords with specific properties and characteristics, you can create different moods both expected and unexpectedly.
Major and minor chords are the two simplest types. A major chord consists of a major third and perfect fifth from its root note of scale.
C Form chords feature a simple progression of R-5-R-3-(5) that’s easy to play and are found all across the fretboard.
A Major
The major scale is an essential element in music theory and chord construction, being used in most instruments like guitar. Most guitarists learn this scale first due to its easy interval pattern that makes memorizing it an intuitive process.
An interval is the distance between one note and its immediate neighbour higher or lower on the scale; also known as its tone or semitone. On guitar, a whole step represents two frets while half steps equal just one fret.
Root notes of an A major scale are located on the fifth and second strings, connecting position 2 with position 1. Notice in the middle diagram how position 1 shares note intervals similar to those between root notes. Using them as your guide, ascend and descend the scale using root notes as your guides; aim to get all six strings down on which your finger touches fretboard at once in order to move more easily through positions and styles.
B Major
B major is an extremely common chord found in numerous songs. You can see its formation above; it is one of five movable major chord shapes used within the CAGED system (for more on that please click here).
If barre chords make your fingers hurt or you’re finding full barre chords difficult to play, this may be an excellent place to start exploring other forms of the major chord. Here, the index finger takes the D string at fret 1 while the middle finger moves onto fret 2 to take A and pinky finger plays high E strings on fret 4.
As with all major chords, a B major chord consists of the first, third and fifth notes from its key’s scale. When creating chords in any particular key, always consider which notes from its scale you are using to form a triad.
C Major
As you progress in your guitar learning journey, C major chords may become increasingly prevalent as most Western music relies solely on these seven notes to form its harmonies. Music composed using major scale sounds more confident and positive; on the other hand, minor scale songs tend to sound more subdued or saddening.
To play a C major chord, first learn to fret the C scale on your guitar fretboard. This scale consists of eight intervals that repeat over two octaves; its diagram can be found below.
Use this data to find various positions to play a C major chord, like the seventh position which requires minimal finger movements up and down the fretboard. When compared, an open C major chord and its barred version on the eighth fret contain all the same notes; yet their sounds differ dramatically.
D Major
Mastering basic major chord shapes will open up a world of opportunities when it comes to either band playing rhythm or creating your own music. Guitarists rely on them as foundational parts of their repertoire; additionally, these chords form the basis for various scales, chords, and musical theory theories.
A major chord is composed of three notes, the root (D), the third, and fifth. Together they create an interval, making major chords sound brighter and happier than minor ones.
This shape can be played by fretting the G string on fret 3, the B string on fret 4, and the top E string on fret 2. This major triad, or three-note chord, contains only three distinct notes; like all major chords it can be moved up or down the fretboard by changing fingerings on your left hand – these correspond to five scale positions commonly known as CAGED system.