Essential Guitar Chords for Beginners: Your First Steps to Strumming Success

So, you’ve just bought your first guitar, borrowed one from a friend or received one as a gift. If you haven’t got a clue at all, perhaps we can help you. This article welcomes you to the first of our Absolute Beginner articles. The guitar is not some magical device that somehow makes beautiful music while you simply hold it. Like any other musical instrument YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT! Fortunately, as with most instruments, getting started is no trouble at all. Learning how to play is very much a negotiation between you and your guitar. You do have to bring something to the table: a willingness to use your brain, to experiment and to fall flat on your face. You will find yourself faced with all sorts of choices and more information than you can possibly use at any given moment. This article aims to provide a clear and structured guide to learning essential guitar chords for beginners.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into chords, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of the guitar. Pluck a single string, any one string. What you are hearing is called a note. This is a single note and every note has a name, designated by a letter of the alphabet (A through G only) and sometimes the notation “#,” which means “sharp” or “b,” which means “flat.” When you see something written out as “F#,” this means “F sharp.” “Bb” would be read as “B flat.” In western music, there are twelve possible names for all the notes. Exactly which note you play depends on what string you struck (not to mention whether or not that string was in tune). And whether or not you are fingering the string on the neck of the guitar. When you put your finger on a fret - which is a space on the fretboard between any two metal strips (which are also called frets, by the way) - you create a new note.

Tuning Your Guitar

Before we can even think about chords, we have to make certain our guitar is in tune. Tuning is assigning each of the guitar’s strings to a particular note. And before we can look at that, we have to agree on what to call our strings. Traditionally we either number the strings from 1 (thinnest or closest to the floor as you are holding the guitar) to 6 (the thickest one). Later, when you learn to read guitar tablature, you will see that the stings are lined up in this way. The first string, being the thinnest, will be highest in pitch, while the sixth string will be lowest in pitch. Now that our guitar is in tune, shall we get down to business?

First Position Chords: Your Starting Point

We are going to be playing what are called “first position” or “open chords.” They are called this because they are played close to the nut and utilize a number of open strings.

Reading Chord Charts

This is a chord chart. It is a picture or graph that represents where you need to position your fingers on the fretboard to form the chord. The vertical lines descending from the nut are the strings. You will see six of them. From left to right, they are the 6th (low E, the thickest one), 5th (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), 2nd (B) and 1st (high E, the thinnest) strings. This will almost always be the case in any chord chart that you look at. This is why, whether you play left handed or right handed, you can read the same charts. The horizontal lines that intersect the strings at regular intervals are your frets. When you see a dot on a “string” you are supposed to put your finger on that particular fret and string. If you see a “0” above a particular string, then you play that string as an “open” string. This means that you do not have to put a finger on it at all. An “X” means that you do not play the string at all. An open circle (which we will not be seeing today) means that particular note is optional.

Read also: Learning guitar chords

Finger Placement Techniques

When we place a finger on the string, we want to place the tip of the finger, the rounded part just below the nail, on it. If you look at the fingertips of people who’ve played for a long time, you’ll see that their tips are actually closer to flat than round! Using the tip also causes you to arch your fingers so that they are arcing away from the neck of the guitar. You ideally want to place your fingers as close to the metal fret closest to the body of the guitar. But don’t place your fingers on the metal fret - your fingers should be in the space between the metal frets. Believe it or not, this is going to be your choice. Yes, there are standards, and there is also a lot of debate over this. But the truth is that everyone’s fingers are different and what feels comfortable for you may not be so for someone else and vice versa.

Essential Beginner Chords

Em (E minor)

In our Em chord, we want to place a finger on the second fret of the A (5th) string and one on the second fret of the D (4th) string. The other strings we can play open. For now, though, let’s use our middle finger on the second fret of the A (5th) string and our ring finger on the second fret of the D (4th) string. With your fingers all set on their appropriate strings and frets, strum all six strings of your guitar.

E (E major)

All major chords are represented by a single letter, which might or might not be followed by a flat or sharp symbol. So if you see the symbol “E” or “F,” for instance, you know that it is an E major chord or F major chord. An E chord is essentially the same: you start with your middle finger on the second fret of the A (5th) string and your ring finger on the second fret of the D (4th) string. Do yourself a favor and play both of these chords one after the other. Listen to the tonal differences between the major and minor chord. This will not mean much to you know, aside from their noticeably different sounds. But as you learn more about the guitar and about chord theory you will be glad you took the time to train your ears in this manner.

Am (A minor)

You should have your index finger on the first fret of the B (2nd) string, your ring finger on the second fret of the G (3rd) string and your middle finger on the second fret of the D (4th) string. This is an A minor chord, or Am for short. On this chart you will see an “X” over the sixth string. This means do not play it. Later you will learn that it is indeed okay to use the open E string as well (since the E note is part of an Am chord), but for now I want you to be able to concentrate on not always hitting all six strings.

A (A major)

The A chord causes people no ends of problems because it’s not always easy to get three fingers into one fret! The A chord is another matter. Some guitarists actually have a lot of trouble with this chord. It looks like it should be easy enough, simply press the second fret of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings. But that’s exactly where the problem lies. Personally, I find this very uncomfortable. By some happy accident, I learned the A chord after the E chord. I just find it easier to get a better sounding A major chord this way. Not only is it more comfortable for my fingers, but I can switch quickly and easily back and forth between the A, E and D chords (which are the three most common chords when playing songs in the key of A major). I should mention, though, that I know a number of people (mostly guys with big fingers) who can’t get all three fingers on the second fret no matter what combination they try. Sometimes they resort to playing the A chord by barring the second fret (to “barre” means to lay a finger across all the strings of a fret). In this case, you wouldn’t barre the entire fret, just the first four strings. The point of all this is to show you that there are different ways to play chords. Ultimately, you should use whichever fingering gives you the greatest comfort and ability to switch from one to the next.

Read also: Learn Electric Guitar

D (D major)

Virtually everyone plays the D major chord in the same manner: middle finger on the 1st (high E) string, ring finger on the 2nd (B) string and index finger on the 3rd (G) string. You will find yourself using your pinky a lot when playing the D in order to get a Dsus4. This will come in the future. Also, you will find that the open A string not only can be played, but is essential to working in an alternating bassline.

Bm (B minor)

For the B minor, use your index finger on the 1st string, middle finger on the second and ring finger on the 3rd.

C (C major)

To initially form the C major chord, let’s start out with our Am fingering: your index finger on the first fret of the B (2nd) string, your ring finger on the second fret of the G (3rd) string and your middle finger on the second fret of the D (4th) string. Remember to keep your fingers arched so that each fingertip touches only its respective string, and that the rest of your fingers are out of the way. Picking each string individually, from the A down to the high E, should produce clear, ringing notes. Once you have the C, take your ring and middle fingers and place them on the same frets on the next lower strings. Your ring finger will be on the third fret of the low E (6th) string and your middle finger on the second fret of the A (5th) string. Remove your index finger entirely from the fretboard and place your pinky on the third fret of the high E (1st) string. Because so many, many, many songs have G to C or C to G chord changes, this is the way most teachers will show you how to play these chords. It is not what I do all the time. Without a formal teacher, this is the fingering I found most comfortable for me. I will often use the first fingering when switching from a G to a C, played with my pinky still on the third fret of the 1st string. This is the same C chord, it is simply a different voicing, which means that I’ve changed the strings on which I play certain notes.

G (G major)

The G major chord has a bright, punchy sound. Strummed across all six strings in the open position, the G chord shape is similar to the same shape as the C major chord in open position, but differs slightly. (Just a few slight shifts of your fingers along the fretboard can make transitioning between these chords easy once you get the hang of them.) Here’s how to play the G major chord in the open position:

Index finger on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) string
Middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E (6th) string
Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E (1st) string

Strum all six strings down from the low E (6th) string and you have the G major chord

Read also: Learn Guitar Effectively

Alternative Chord Types

Power Chords

Power chords are some of the first few chords that you’ll learn. Power chords are very common as they are used in rock, classical and modern music today. Power chords are known to be easy for beginners as they focus on two or three strings and frets which makes it easier on the fingers and therefore, easier to play. They can be played on any type of guitar, but are primarily used for electric. When power chords are played on an electric guitar, sounds can be distorted to add more depth and color. Compared to open guitar chords, power chords have fewer notes which means they use fewer frets and fewer strings. However, the chords for both are very similar. Let’s think of an example of an A major chord and an A5 power chord. The A Major chord has the notes A, C# and E. The A5 power chord has the notes A and E. The A Major chord focuses on the root, third and fifth while the A5 focuses on the root, fifth and octave (same note as the root). In essence, they are almost the same chord. The only difference is the power chord doesn’t have the third. Also, when it comes to power chords, they are neither major or minor. The third in a chord is what determines if it's major or minor. Since a power chord doesn’t have the third, they can be used where a major or minor chord is called for. Compared to barre chords, power chords are very similar but are easier to play. Power chords can be played in many different ways. There are three string power chords that can be played like a barre chord using the barre technique. Classic rock music and even some pop music today focus heavily on power chords.

Open Chords

Open chords are great for beginner players as some of the strings are open in the chords. Open chords are similar to power chords as they focus on fewer frets, using fewer fingers and making it easier to play. The only difference is that open chords use all the strings. Your left hand, which you use to fret down on the string, is not used for every string. The common open chords are called CAGED.

Barre Chords

Barre chords are very different and tend to be a bit trickier than power and open chords. They are very useful because as you get more skilled and equipped with the guitar, you’ll be able to take the position/shape of the chord and move it up and down the frets to create new chords. In a sense, they’re easier to switch between because you don’t have to change the shape of your fingers, only to move the fingers up and down your guitar. However, they’re known to be hard for beginners because most barre chords focus on one or maybe even two fingers holding down the same fret on different strings at the same time.

Reading Chord Diagrams and Tablature

A chord diagram shows what strings are being played, what frets are used, and which fingers are on each fret. The diagram is read horizontally. The first line is your low E string and the last line is your high E string. Think of it as if you’re holding the guitar upright in front of your face. The x stands for muted strings which means it’s not played at all. The O, or circles on top, stands for an open string which means no finger is on any fret on those strings but it’s still being played. The numbers are on particular frets but they don’t represent the fret that is being played on. The numbers represent which finger is on that fret: 1= index finger, 2= middle finger, 3= ring finger and 4= pinky. You want to figure out what fret it’s on by looking at the box from the top to down. The first box represents the first fret and so forth.

Tablature is used to help guitarists by reading notes and finding where those notes are on the guitar. When it comes to tablature, the lines represent the strings and are read vertically. The bottom line represents your lower E string and the top represents your higher E string. As you go up on the Tablature, it’s as if, when you’re holding the guitar, you’re going down on the strings. The numbers on the TAB represent which fret you’re playing. O stands for open string and the numbers stand for frets. Therefore, even though both diagrams look different, you don’t want to confuse reading a chord diagram the same way you read TAB and vice versa.

Chord diagrams are super useful as they not only show you how to play the chords, but they also show you the correct fingers to use to play the chord so it’ll make it easier to transition between them. The more you practice, the more they’ll be committed to memory and you’ll no longer have to look at the diagram. Make sure that your fingers are as close to the fret as possible. On the guitar, there are little bars that separate each fret. You’ll want to keep your finger close to those little bars but not directly on them. Use your fingertips. This is where you’ll get the most sound. When it comes to placing the fingers on the frets, you want to place right on your fingertip or close to the fingertip and make sure that you keep your finger arched, almost like a C. Play each note/string by itself. Practice fretting and unfretting a chord. You want to practice with your fingers on and off the fretboard.

Songs to Practice With

Knowing these chords, as well as being able to switch between them fairly quickly and smoothly, should be any beginners first task.

Songs Using G, C, and D Chords

The G, C, and D chords figure prominently into some of the most popular songs. While there’s a good chance that even one of these chords will find its way into one of your favorite tunes, there are many songs that incorporate all three into the melody of a variety of popular songs. The G, C, and D major chords are among some of the most common chords heard in songs. Whether it’s old school soul, pop, folk, or country, the G, C, and D major chords can often be heard together as part of some of your favorite tunes. Here are just a few songs where you can listen for the G, C, and D chords and play all three in a single song:

“Sittin On the Dock of the Bay” - Otis Redding
“9 to 5” - Dolly Parton
“ABC” - The Jackson Five
“Clay” - Grace Vanderwaal
“Mine” - Taylor Swift
“Apologize” - One Republic
“Ring of Fire” - Johnny Cash

Other Songs to Try

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day: In the key of G and uses the G, C, Cadd9, and D5 power chords. Using a C and a G chord guitar shape is very common in pop and rock.
Island in the Sun by Wheezer: Uses four chords throughout the song. Em, Am, D, G.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day: In the key of Fm and uses the chords Em, G, D and A.
Let It Be by the Beatles: With this song, you can use power chords or open chords. The song uses the C, G, Am and F open chords.
When I Come Around by Green Day: The whole song uses power chords.
Rockin’ In the Free World by Neil Young: Starts off with power chords then goes into a mixture of open and power chords.
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrision
Blowing in the Wind - Bob Dylan. This one’s only three chords.
Dead Skunk - Louden Wainwright lll
Orphan Girl - Gillian Welch. Great folk tune.
Teardrops on My Guitar - Taylor Swift. Country music is always great if you’re looking for simpler songs.
You Are My Sunshine

Chord Progressions

Once you know a few different chords, it’s time to start using them in chord progressions to play songs. Chord progressions are a series of chords played one after another in a pattern. When playing a chord progression, it’s important to make a smooth transition when switching between chords. This helps a song stay on-beat without disrupting the melody. Practicing your chords and making sure your fingers land on the right frets every time you switch can make for smoother chord progressions and greater mastery of your instrument.

Additional Resources

Ideally, you should equip yourself with as many means to learn as possible. Nothing is more helpful than a human teacher when one begins learning the guitar, even if your “teacher” is the friend next door who’s only been playing a year. You can look at pictures and videos and listen to tapes and read a lot of text, but I cannot begin to compare that to the value of dealing with a person.

Fender Play Guitar Lessons

A free trial of Fender Play can help you further enhance your mastery of those chords and help you learn even more chords, songs, and scales. In addition to an extensive chord library, Fender Play also features a cool Chord Challenge mode that can help you gain even more confidence in your chord knowledge. Once you’re able to seamlessly transition between the G, C, and D chords, you can test your strumming might with other chord progressions in the app.

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