Guitar Chords
How Chord Diagrams work
Chord names are labeled at the top of the chord in big letters. A chord without any other letters after it (eg. A, B, D, E) is always a major form of that chord. A chord proceeded with a lower case 'm' is a minor form of that chord (eg. Am, Bm, Dm, Em). There are many other chord forms (A7, Amaj7, A9, Am7, Asus4) however these are advanced chord forms and will not be discussed in this tutorial.
- String order: Strings are displayed vertically from left to right. They are ordered (left to right) 6th to 1st, thickest to thinest or E - A - D - G - B - E
- Fret number: If the chord is to be played at a position down the neck (farther away from the headstock) the fret number of the lowest fret is displayed to the right of the chord diagram. If no fret number is displayed, then the chord is played with he thick bar representing the nut of the guitar.
- Open strings: A hollow circle above a string on the chord diagram indicates an open string is to be played. This means that the string should be pluck but should not be fretted.
- Dampended strings: An 'x' above a string on the chord diagram indicates that the string should not be played at all. It can either be dampened by using the fleshy part of a finger (thereby nullifying the sound) or you can avoid plucking that string.
- Suggested fingering: The suggested fingering for the chords are listed below the diagram. The notation corresponds to fingers in this way 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky, T = thumb.
- Barred chords A hat (arc) across the strings indicates that the notes should be barred. This means that the same finger should be used to depress each of the strings in the barre. This is usually done by laying the finger across the strings and using the fleshy edge of the finger to press all of the strings required down to the fret.
- Power chords These chords are similar to barre chords, except not all of the strings are played. Specifically the root, the 5th and the octave note of the major scale are played. This type of chord is often used in rock. Since the third of the scale is not played, the chord is neither major nor minor.
Major Chords
Note on barre chords: These are considered movable forms. This means that the chord can be played on any fret. Whichever note the first finger is playing on the lowest string is the name of the chord being played. Example: A lower barre chord played with the first finger at the 5th fret would be an 'A' barre chord because the note on the 6th string at the 5th fret is an 'A' note.
Minor Chords
Note on barre chords: These are considered movable forms. This means that the chord can be played on any fret. Whichever note the first finger is playing on the lowest string is the name of the chord being played. Example: A lower barre chord played with the first finger at the 5th fret would be an 'A' barre chord because the note on the 6th string at the 5th fret is an 'A' note.
Chord diagrams
Try switching between these chords. This is a very important part of learning to play guitar. Concentrate on making each switch sound clean with no errant notes. With practice, these simple forms will become natural and fluid.