K'Rocko
First guitar chords: where to start
A chord is several notes played at the same time. With a handful of basic chords you can accompany a huge number of songs, which makes them every beginner's first real goal.
How to read a chord diagram
A diagram is a picture of the guitar neck seen from the front. The vertical lines are the strings (the thickest is on the left), the horizontal lines are the frets, and the dots show where to put your fingers. A circle above a string means you play it open, and a cross means you don't play it.
Five chords to start with
- E minor (Em) – just two fingers and you play all the strings. The easiest first chord.
- A minor (Am) – three fingers, close together.
- C major (C) – a similar shape to Am, so changing between them makes good practice.
- G major (G) – needs a slightly wider finger stretch.
- D major (D) – you play only the four thinnest strings.
My first chord was G major. I had no idea what it was; all I knew was that it appears in "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". That song, by the way, can be played all the way through with four chords from this list: G, D, Am and C.
Getting a chord to sound clean
- Press the string with your fingertip, right next to the fret, not in the middle of the space.
- Curl your fingers so they don't touch the neighbouring strings.
- Keep your thumb behind the neck, roughly opposite your middle finger.
- Play one string at a time and check that each one rings.
How to practise chord changes
The chords themselves aren't the problem – the problem is changing them in time. Take two chords (for example Em and G, or Am and C) and switch between them slowly, with a metronome, without the right hand. When your fingers start finding their place on their own, add the rhythm. Five minutes a day on one change is better than half an hour on all of them at once.
We cover open chords and rhythms in module four of the programme. See guitar lessons for beginners or the full programme.