Learning to play the guitar is a lot of fun, even if the chords may seem difficult at first. Don't be afraid, it's not much different than playing the notes individually - you're just playing them all together! This article will teach you fingering and show you how to play some of the more common chords. Take out your guitar and start playing!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Chords
Step 1. Get to know the strings
The best way to start is to familiarize yourself with the guitar strings and understand how they match your fingers. To make this task easier, we will assign numbers to both of them. The guitar strings are numbered like this:
- Vertically, they range from 1 to 6, from the highest to the lowest note.
- Horizontally, numbers are assigned according to the position on the keys.
- Note that when the prompts ask you to "put your index finger on the third fret", this means that you should actually keep your finger between the second and third frets. It is the string itself that must be in contact with the third fret.
Step 2. Assign a number to your fingers
Look at your left hand and imagine you have numbers printed on your fingertips. The index finger is 1, the middle finger 2, the ring finger 3 and the little finger 4. Your thumb is called a "T", but we won't use it to play chords in this article.
Step 3. Learn the C major chord
This is the first one we will talk about, because it is one of the most basic chords in music. Before we begin, however, let's see what agreement means. Whether performed on the piano, on the guitar or sung by a well-trained choir of mice, it is simply a combination of three or more notes played together. A group of two notes is called a "dyad" and although it is useful in music, it is not a chord. Furthermore, chords can contain well over three notes, but these particular compositions are beyond the scope of the article. Here's how to play a C chord on the guitar:
- The lowest note is played on the third fret of the fifth string: C.
- The second note is played on the second fret of the fourth string: E.
- Note that you won't have to keep a finger on the third string. In the C major chord, this string remains open.
- The highest note is played on the first fret of the second string: C.
- The highest and lowest string of the guitar must not be vibrated to play the C major chord.
Step 4. Test the notes
Play each note of the chord, from lowest to highest, one at a time. Don't be in a hurry and proceed with decision: press hard on the fret and make the string vibrate. Let the note ring for as long as possible, then move on to the next one:
- Press with your ring finger on the third fret of the fifth string, as indicated above, make the string vibrate and let it resonate, until the note fades. You just played a C.
- Press the middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string, then vibrate it to produce an E.
- Pause! Vibrate the third open string (G).
- Press with your index finger on the first fret of the second string and let the C you have produced ring out!
- Play the notes one by one for a few times. When you're ready, quickly slide the pick or fingers over all four middle strings. You just played a C major chord!
- You may feel a little pain in your fingers the first few times you play the guitar, but over time you will develop calluses and no longer feel discomfort.
Part 2 of 3: Learning Other Chords
Step 1. Expand your musical vocabulary
Playing a C chord is fun and certainly an important step for a novice musician. But music has a lot more to offer! Here are two chords often used in combination with C major: F and G. You can play the F chord like this:
- The notes of the F chord are Fa, A and Do. Pay attention, the Fa and Do are obtained thanks to the same finger: you have to keep your index finger on the first fret of the first and second string.
- Usually, chords are constructed so that the lowest note is the root, but in this case the F is played on the first fret of the first string. This phenomenon is called "inversion".
Step 2. Extend the Fa agreement
You can enter an F as the root of the chord by playing it on the fourth string, pressing the third fret with your ring finger. You may notice that the chord doesn't sound different, just more complete.
Step 3. Play a G major chord
Like C and F, G is one of the three main chords of the C major scale. There are many ways to play it and below you will find two of them. The first is simple: you have to imitate the fingering of the extended F chord, moving two frets along the neck.
Step 4. Play the G chord the easy way
Here's how to play it with just one finger.
Step 5. Repeat everything you have learned
Now that you know how to play the basic three chords of the key of C, play them together and you will likely recognize hundreds of famous songs. Play C four times, Fa twice, then G twice and go back to Do.
- Note that each chord is followed by a Roman numeral. They indicate the position of the root note of the chord on the C scale, regardless of the fingering. Once you know the basic chords of all keys, it will be easier to read a chart than to write the chord each time.
- Practice until your fingers feel tired, then take a break and resume reading later - you'll find information on the E and A!
Step 6. Learn the key of E
Many rock and roll songs are written in the key of E, as well as numerous bluesy pieces. The three chords to learn in this case are E major (I), A major (IV) and B major (V). Here is the Mi chord:
This is one of the simplest chords to play, especially when you have developed calluses on your fingers. You can play all the strings together. Turn up the volume on your amp to maximum, vibrate the strings hard and you will begin to feel like a rock star
Step 7. Play A major
From a sonic point of view, this chord is also very important. There are many ways to do this. You can keep a finger on the second fret of the B, G and D strings (playing C #, A and E respectively) or use your fingers as you like. In this example, we will use the fourth finger on the second string, the third finger on the third string, and the second finger on the fourth string.
As you get better at playing, you will realize that in order to move from one chord to another you will have to move your fingers in unusual ways. The secret is to use your hands as effectively as possible. Once you have practiced enough, don't be afraid to experiment
Step 8. Play B major
You can do it in the simplest way or with a more difficult variant. The easiest fingering is indicated by the black numbers. If you wish, you can add an extra note, shown by the gray number.
Step 9. Try playing
Here is a simple chord chart to try in the key of E.
Try to vary the pattern and don't just reproduce what you find written on the paper
Step 10. Learn the key of A
You are already on the right track! This key is composed of A (I), D (IV) and the classic E as the dominant (V). Here's how to play the D chord:
Note the first finger on the three strings: this is the principle of a chord with the barrè. To play the complete chords with the barrè, one finger is used to cover all the strings; they are often based on the simpler shapes shown in this article
Step 11. Learn an alternate version of the A chord
It will be useful to you in combination with the D and E chords.
Step 12. Try playing
Here is another short passage to try out the new chords you have learned.
Now, think of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song Down on the Corner and try again
Part 3 of 3: Using Video Diagrams for Chords
Step 1. Learn G major
Keep the ring finger on the third fret of the highest string. The middle finger goes on the second fret of the fifth string and the little finger at the bottom, on the third fret of the first string. Play all the strings together to produce the chord. If you wish, you can add a finger on the second fret of the third string; it is not necessary, but it makes the chord sound richer.
- --3--
- --0--
- --0--
- --0--
- --2--
- --3--
Step 2. Learn C major
Keep the ring finger on the third fret of the fifth string. Continue with the middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string; note that the beginning is identical to that of the G chord, simply shifted down one string. Conclude with your index finger on the first fret of the second string. Play all but the thickest strings.
- --0--
- --1--
- --0--
- --2--
- --3--
- --X--
Step 3. Learn the D major
This chord requires only the lowest four strings. Keep your index finger on the second fret of the third string. Press with your ring finger on the third fret of the second string and with your middle finger on the second fret of the first string. You should form a small triangle with your fingers. Vibrate only the three strings you press and the fourth (an open D) to produce the chord.
- --2--
- --3--
- --2--
- --0--
- --X--
- --X--
Step 4. Learn E minor and E major
These chords make use of all six strings. To play the major version, hold the middle and ring fingers on the second fret of the fourth and fifth string. Keep your index finger on the first fret of the second string. Play all six strings.
- --0--
- --0--
- --1--
- --2--
- --2--
- --0--
-
To play E minor you just need to lift your index finger and leave the third string open.
Play Guitar Chords Step 21 Step 5. Learn the A major and the minor one
A major is one of the easiest chords: hold the index, ring finger and middle finger on the second frets of strings 2, 3 and 4. Play all but the thickest strings.
- --0--
- --2--
- --2--
- --2--
- --0--
- --X--
-
You can play A minor by moving your finger on the B string on the first fret and not the second. The position of the fingers is identical to that of E major.
Play Guitar Chords Step 22 Step 6. Learn F major
The Fa resembles a crushed C major. Ignore the two highest strings. Keep the ring finger on the third fret of the fourth string. Press your middle finger on the second fret of the third string. Finally, put your index finger on the first fret of the second string. Play only the lowest four strings.
- --0--
- --1--
- --2--
- --3--
- --X--
- --X--
