Chord Page

The chords on this page can be played on any guitar that is tuned in the standard way; E_A_D_G_B_E . An electronic tuner is a worthwhile investment for beginning and intermediate players, because it will shorten the time it takes to tune, you can use it in a noisy room, and several guitars can be tuned together easily. In each image the top string, (the low 'E'), is on the left, the 'x' indicates the string above is not played, and the numbers indicate which finger to use.

Major chords

These are the major chords in the form that is easiest to play for the beginning guitarist.

Minor chords

These are the minor chords in the form that is easiest to play for the beginning guitarist. The number on the right of the image indicates the fret location of the chord; for instance, the Cm is played with fingers on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th frets.

Seventh chords

These are the seventh chords in the form that is easiest to play for the beginning guitarist.

Other chords

Here are some more chords in the form that is easiest to play for the beginning guitarist.

Even More Chords

Here are more chords in the form that is easiest to play for the beginning guitarist.

Chords with base notes

These are chords with base notes that are used in finger-picking or selective flat-picking techniques. It is not recommended that these chords be used with strumming.

Introduction to bar chords

Many chords are movable or 'progressive', in that a particular fingering position, such as the E or Am can be 'barred' and moved up the fret board. Each progressive fret change results in the new chord being a step higher, much like the keys on a piano.

Start with an Em, bar it and move it up a fret, and it becomes an Fm. Move up another fret and it becomes an F#m, another fret makes it a Gm, another fret makes it a G#m. Move it still another fret and it becomes an Am. You can test it to be sure by playing the Am in both places.

(Notice that when you bar the Em by placing the first finger flat across all six strings, it will be easier if you change to using the 3rd and 4th fingers for the other 2 notes).

Soon you will find that you can make new sounding forms of the same major and minor chords! New forms of sharps, flats, and sevenths can be developed, just by sliding a known fingering position up the neck of the guitar. At first the bar seems awkward, but with practice and experience, you'll soon recognize just how versatile this technique is!