Em
Standard022000
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Beginner guitar chords
Eight chords play most of the songs a beginner wants: Em, Am, C, G, D, E, A and Dm. Learn them in this order, two at a time, and at every step there is a progression made only of the chords you know, to play along with.
1Em and Am
Em is the easiest chord on the guitar: two fingers, every string strummed. Am is the same shape moved across one string with one finger added, so the change between them is short.
Am
Standardx02210
- Em (022000): Middle and ring finger on the second fret of the A and D strings; strum all six.
- Am (x02210): The same two fingers move across one string, and the first finger takes the B string at the first fret; leave out the low E.
Em and Am
i | iv | i | iv
Em to Am and back: change on the first beat of every bar.
2C and G
C is Am with one finger moved, so learn it from Am. G spreads the hand across the neck; if the stretch is hard at first, play only the top four strings with the ring finger on the high E.
C
Standardx32010
G
FamousStandard320003
- C (x32010): From Am, lift the ring finger to the A string at the third fret; first and middle fingers stay where they were.
- G (320003): Middle finger on the low E at the third fret, first finger on the A at the second, ring finger on the high E at the third.
C, G, Am and Em
I | V | vi | iii
Four chords, every one you know: C, G, Am, Em.
3D
With D you have the four chords of a great many pop songs: G, D, Em and C.
D
Standardxx0232
- D (xx0232): A small triangle on the top three strings: first finger on the G string, second fret; ring finger on the B, third; middle finger on the high E, second. Strum from the D string down.
The four chords
I | V | vi | IV
G, D, Em, C: the loop of a great many songs, the four chord song.
4E and A
E is Em with one finger added. A crowds three fingers into the second fret: tilt them so the high E string still rings.
E
FamousStandard022100
A
Standardx02220
- E (022100): Em with the first finger added on the G string at the first fret.
- A (x02220): Three fingers in a row on the second fret of the D, G and B strings; leave out the low E.
A, D and E
I | IV | V | I
The three chords of the blues and rock and roll: A, D, E.
5Dm
Dm is D with one note lowered, and the eighth chord. Now every chord of C major and A minor is under your fingers but one, the F.
Dm
Standardxx0231
- Dm (xx0231): D with the middle finger moved: first finger on the high E at the first fret, middle on the G string at the second, ring on the B at the third.
Am, Dm, G and C
vi | ii | V | I
Am, Dm, G, C: each chord pulls to the next, round to home.
6Next
F is the chord that stops most beginners, because the full shape needs the first finger pressed across every string. Learn it in three steps: Fmaj7 (xx3210) first, which sounds close to F in most songs; then the small F (xx3211), the first finger across the top two strings; then the full barre (133211). Bm is the next barre chord, the same idea on five strings.
Fmaj7
Standardxx3210
F
Standardxx3211
F
Standard133211
Bm
Standardx24432
How to practise
- Tune first. An out-of-tune guitar makes the right chord sound wrong: the guitar tuner listens through your microphone.
- Practise the change, not the chord. Pick two chords and switch between them for one minute, counting the changes. Do it every day and keep the number: it climbs fast. The chord change trainer times it, counts it and keeps your scores.
- Fingertips, just behind the fret. Press with the very tips, close to the fret wire, knuckles bent so each finger touches only its own string.
- Slow and in time beats fast and stopping. Strum four down strums to a bar and change on the first, even if the new chord is not ready yet; then try the strumming patterns. The metronome keeps you honest; start at 60 beats a minute.
- A little every day. Ten minutes a day does more than an hour once a week, and is kinder to sore fingertips.
New to chord charts? How to read a chord chart explains the lines, dots and symbols, and how to read tab the numbers of tablature.
Print it
The beginner guitar chord chart puts the first chords on one page to keep by your music stand, free as a PDF (A4 or US Letter). The chord chart maker makes a sheet of any chords you choose.
Where next
Play Christmas songs with the chords you know, bar by bar. Play the four chord song in any key, see the chords in every key, use a capo to play these shapes in other keys, or browse chord progressions to play along with.
Questions
What are the first guitar chords to learn?
Em and Am first, then C and G, then D: with those five you can play a great many songs. Add E, A and Dm next, then F and Bm.
What is the easiest guitar chord?
E minor: two fingers on the second fret of the A and D strings (022000), and all six strings strummed.
How long does it take to learn the beginner chords?
Most people can play the first five chords within a few weeks of short daily practice. Changing between them in time, without stopping, takes longer: practise the change, not the chord.
Why do my strings buzz?
A finger is too far from the fret, not pressed hard enough, or touching the next string. Press just behind the fret wire with the very tip of the finger, keep the knuckles bent, and check each string one at a time.
How do I play F as a beginner?
Start with Fmaj7 (xx3210), then the small F (xx3211) with the first finger across the top two strings, and only then the full barre (133211).
Do my fingertips have to hurt?
Sore fingertips are normal for the first two or three weeks, until they harden. Practise a little every day rather than a lot at once, and stop if it is more than sore.