Major chords are one of the most widely-used guitar chords, being simple and effective to play. Additionally, their sound makes them popular choices when searching for new chords to play.
Chords are generally organized based on their scale degree numbering (see this article), where sharp symbols represent raised intervals while flat symbols signify lower ones.
A Major
A Major chords are typically one of the first chords most guitarists learn, making it accessible and used widely across songs.
Chords are composed of three notes stacked in thirds; an open A major chord serves as an excellent example.
A major chords can also be altered to produce more intricate chords such as A add 9 chord and A sus 2 chord.
B Major
B major is an upbeat major chord that makes for welcoming songs, perfect for beginners just starting out in songwriting as it helps break free from using only open chords to write tunes.
B major scale can easily be converted to B natural minor by flatting the third note in its scale, creating the B natural minor scale.
C Major
C Major is often one of the first keys encountered by musical learners, offering no sharps or flats and offering comfortingly neutral sound quality.
Tonally possible, but typically written as slash chord G/C without its third. While it sounds unpleasant, this chord can serve as a resolutionchord or final chord in songs.
Use this fingering to build all major scale chords. Just add or subtract sharps/flats as necessary until you find the chord you desire.
D Major
D Major is an elegant key, boasting two sharps for easy playing triads and 7th chords in this key.
Rewriting this as Dsus2/G is also possible and quite popular on the III scale degree.
All major scales feature their own set of modal patterns that give them their signature emotional colors. Learn to recognize these and practice playing them!
E Major
E Major is an exciting, gritty key that works beautifully when played on guitar, particularly rock and blues music, lending it an earthy quality that adds masculine depth to its soundscape.
Music that uses this style often features seductive lyrics about rejection and strong physical desires; thus making it suitable for love songs.
F Major
F Major chords often cause beginners great difficulties when first learning them, often sounding thin and unsteady and leading to hand cramps in their hands.
To avoid this issue, a D slash chord or its equivalent, known as an Fadd9 (without third (sus4)), may be more suitable options. These are both widely-used voicing options.
G Major
G Major is an extremely popular key, particularly for songs about love. With only one sharp note to remember, this key makes learning it simple for beginners.
British and New Zealand national anthems as well as classical works like Eine Kleine Nachtmusik are in this key, making it highly versatile – its chords can take on different sounds simply by altering certain notes.
H Major
A major scale is one of the cornerstones of music theory and should be studied closely. Being familiar with its structure will help you classify musical intervals, transcribe melodies and more.
A major scale’s most fundamental characteristic is its pattern of whole steps and half steps. A half step is defined as the distance between two adjacent notes and can be thought of as moving one piano key or guitar fret up or down in pitch.
I Major
But unlike woodwinds or brass instruments, guitars have the unique capability of simultaneously playing more than one note; this makes chords so potency.
C Major is one of the essential beginner guitar chords. Comprised of notes C, E, and G, this chord provides the basis of many iconic historic and modern songs – try playing it with an Ed Sheeran-esque rhythm! Additionally, C Major forms an excellent starting point for power chords.