Strumming together all six open strings creates a chord from the C Major scale. For more on chord construction (harmony), visit our guitar music theory page.
Chord diagrams are read horizontally, and their lines represent strings with numbers on them indicating which fret you should play them at. To get an understanding of what each note/string sounds like before strumming them together.
Major
One of the most frequently seen chords is known as a major scale chord, comprising three notes connected by what’s known as a major third instead of minor intervals like perfect fifths that appear in other types such as minor triads.
Beginners often begin their musical careers by beginning with this chord, which doesn’t require complex finger positions like bar chords. Furthermore, it can even be played using only three fingers on either hand (index, middle and ring finger).
To play this scale, simply find the root note of your major scale and follow its interval formula for that key. Starting from C, simply go up a whole step to D before going up another whole step to E and finally up half step to F to complete your triad triad. Repeat this pattern across different keys until you can create any type of chords on guitar!
Minor
As you expand into more complex chords, such as minor, diminished and augmented ones, they may seem dauntingly complex. Just keep in mind that all chords are composed of threes from which are constructed chords based on each note in its associated scale.
So if you know the minor scale, these chords should be easy for you to comprehend. The only real difference lies in that instead of stacking major thirds one upon another, these chords utilize a minor 3rd flattened or “flattened”, giving it its characteristic minor sound.
Minor triads differ from their major counterparts in that they only consist of three notes, making them easier for new guitarists. Due to this ease of playing, minor triads have quickly become the preferred choice of beginner guitarists.
To play a minor chord, simply strum five strings downward from the A string with your right hand while muzzling the low E string with your thumb so as not to detract from its sound. Newcomers to fretboard might want to practice placing each finger correctly so as not to accidentally strike any string they shouldn’t.
Dominant
The dominant scale produces dominant seventh chords with flattened 7th notes that give them an unrestful quality that must be resolved through following them with other chords; this creates some interesting progressions and modulations effects.
Playing the whole chord without the flattened seventh is a good way to assess whether it sounds correct. Additionally, practicing fingerings on this chord and finding the most efficient way of placing fingers will allow you to hear whether they sound appropriate or not. There may be various approaches you could try; all will likely work for someone.
A dominant seventh chord can be extended into ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords using extensions such as ninth-, eleventh- and thirteenth chords containing similar notes but with one note placed higher up the diatonic scale than its original chord – known as Phrygian mode in jazz chord progressions.
Harmonic
Next we’ll consider harmonic minor chords – these are very straightforward and versatile chords to learn for newcomers to music without needing bar chords! This type of harmonic minor chord makes an excellent foundation to start learning different genres of music!
Harmonic minor chords consist of the first, third, and fifth notes from a major scale arranged as a chord; their distance determines if it will be major or minor.
As opposed to power chords, which are actually just two notes played together, harmonic minor chords can be played anywhere on the guitar neck in any key. Sometimes using a minor seventh interval gives this chord its distinctively melancholic sound.
Harmonic minor chords can also be used to generate arpeggios for jazz improvisation, helping expand your improvising capabilities and broadening improvising techniques. Furthermore, harmonic minor chords may also be played without their third note in triad form (known as sus chords).