Intro
Basic guitar chords are the bread and butter of rhythm guitar playing. As a new player, you may have been looking for the most common chords to learn. There’s no need to look any further because I have compiled a list complete with the chord diagrams, fingerings, and descriptions just for you. If you read to the end, you will even find a printable chord poster free to download.
Table Of Contents
C Major
C major is a very common chord that you will use constantly. Its relatively easy to get the fingering down and feels comfortable under the fingers. Learn this won quickly and learn it well because you will likely play the chord in some way every time you pick up a guitar.
C major must have the notes: C, E, and G.
G Major
I mean if you don’t know a G chord on guitar what are you even doing with your life? An absolute staple of guitar music is the G chord. So many songs have the chord so basically if you are going to be able to play any songs you need to know G.
G major must have the notes: G, B, and D.
D Major
D is another must have guitar chord.
The last member of the big three. It’s a little uncomfortable at first but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. D is so common among guitarists that it is worth getting very good at making this chord. D major is the third most popular key used in all songs on Spotify.
You will be playing this chord as long as you are still playing the guitar! There are many pop songs in the key of D so get used to it now. D is also a very popular key for hard rock and blues music. “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is in D.
D major must have the notes: D, F#, and A
F Major
F is probably the most difficult to learn on this list for a beginner. It is challenging because it requires a little more strength in the hands and fingers. Don’t be discouraged, if you stay at it and practice every day you will get it.
Before you know it you will be playing Learning To Fly by Tom Petty. The mood of the F chord can be interpreted in different ways. Many find it to be overly optimistic-sounding.
Still, others find the sound somewhat complacent and able to bend to whatever mood you would like it to be.
F major must have the notes: F, A, and C
E Major
E is just one of those chords that suits the guitars voice well. It also suits many men’s voices well. Think Johnny cash and many of the old Country singers.
E major must have the notes: E, G#, and B.
A Major
A is probably a little easier than C and is quite useful. It’s used extensively in country music as well as rock and pop. It is also right at home in blues music. Many popular blues and classic rock songs are in the key of A so this is one you want to learn upside down and inside out.
A major must have the notes: A, C#, and E.
E Minor
This chord is fun. It’s easy to play, has an excellent familiar sound, and it’s used very often. The chord is very popular among classical guitar composers. The reason for this is two-fold at least.
First off, it produces a “moody” sound that suits the attitude and natural tone of an acoustic guitar. Secondly, most of the strings in the E minor chord are left open (not fretted). With the guitar, anytime you can get the desired result by using fewer fingers it’s generally a good thing. Heavy metal guitarists like to write in Em too, probably for all the same reasons mentioned above.
E minor must have the notes: E, G, and B.
A Minor
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear A minor? Hotel California? Classical guitar? Seduction? A minor is all of the above. Its entirely necessary in your chord vocabulary.
Think “House of the Rising Sun”. Am is one of my favorite sounding chords. It’s dissonant and brings to mind “classical guitar” as soon as you hear it. Its relative minor relationship with C major ensures that it will be used always and forever.
In fact, if you want to make a piece that is written in C major easier on the guitar player then transpose it to A minor. The key of Am requires the fingers to stretch less and also enables fewer fingers to be used than C major.
Many of the first songs you play in minor keys will be in E minor or A minor. A minor is the relative minor of C major which means you will play it a lot. You’ll notice that A minor and E major have the same basic shape.
A minor must have the notes: A, C, and E.
D Minor
The fingering will mess with you at first. It’s not so much that it’s difficult, just a little awkward for a beginner. But with practice, you can get this one.
The chord/key produces a very melancholy mood and/or sense of an unavoidable tragedy. The key was very popular with classical composers such as J.S. Bach (The Art of the Fugue), and Mozart (Requiem). Beethoven also wrote “Symphony No.9” in D minor.
D minor must have the notes: D, F, and A.
B Minor
This is a great chord to learn not only because it is used frequently, but also because its “shape” is very useful. This shape can be moved up and down the neck to play in different keys. Example: If you know B minor then you already know the shape of C minor and B Flat minor.
This chord takes some practice to play it well but it’s well worth it. “Hotel California” by the Eagles says all you need to know about the key of B minor. B minor must have the notes: B, D, and F#.
B7
B7 is another chord that you may find in many Country songs and bluesy classic rock songs. It does take some practice getting this one right so there is no better time than now to get started with this chord.
B7 must have the notes: B, D#, F#, and A.
D7
When you look at the fingering it’s as if D major is being played backward. It is the dominant seventh chord of G major. Its sound is somehow uplifting and unresolved simultaneously. It’s a quality that makes it very important for blues music.
That same quality also makes D7 right at home in country music and softer rock music. To get the feeling of how D7 is used in blues music check out BB Kings “Why I Sing the Blues”. The classic Christmas songs “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” also feature the chord.
D7 must have the notes: D, F#, A, and C.
A7
A7 is another great usable chord for your repertoire! It is used quite often in popular music and provides a good contrast between an A minor and A major chord. It is relatively easy to play resulting in a quick learning time.
A7 must have the notes: A, C#, E, and G.
Conclusion
Now try using these chords while strumming these additional strumming patterns. If you want to seriously improve your practice routines, check out my article 5 Ways to Make Your Guitar Practice More Productive.
These are thirteen chords that you will see and play often. If you would like to have more basic guitar chords in a book format I recommend Mel Bays Guitar Chords.
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