GUITAR CHORDS

BEGINNER GUITAR CHORDS:

BASIC chords:


Learning Barre Chords

Learning barre (bar) chords is the first major hurdle beginner guitarists must overcome, and as
with everything guitar related, it takes practice and time. I usually recommend learning
everything on the steel string acoustic first, since if you can play on that, then youll be able to
play it on electric and nylon string as well.
Barre (bar) chords
BUT barre chords are a bit different, since they are really tough at first, and many beginners
actually quit when they reach barre chords. So if you get frustrated with it on the acoustic, by all
means, practice on your electric or nylon string guitars, itll be a lot easier, but you may have
difficulties holding barre chords afterwards on the steel string acoustic.
Now as for learning barre chords, its a 2 step process:

1. First youll have to learn to form the chords, and be able to play them without any
deadened or rattling strings. Watch the basic video lesson on learning how to form barre
chords correctly, thatll give you the basics.
From there on, practice barre chords at different places on the neck for a couple minutes
per day. Your hand will get very tired, but its ok, since youll really be strengthening
your hand and building muscle memory. A good song to practice this is with your guitar.
2. Secondly, once you can play your basic barre chords correctly, youll have to get used
to changing into barre chords.
This is somewhat difficult at first, since the actual barre shape means forming a rather
unnatural natural hand and finger shape. But again, practice changing into barre chords
until you get them right. This will take several weeks, but keep at it, itll come with time.
Just take it slow at first, and youll build speed naturally the more you practice.
A couple of good songs to start out with are Hey Jude, Hey There Delilah, and so on.
Once you can play Layla, youll know that youve mastered barre chords
Now you have the outline of how to learn to play barre chords on your guitar, but the rest is
up to you. It takes practice and dedication, but the results will come with time, thats a 100%
guarantee.


Learn Guitar Chords
Learning guitar chords (sometimes misspelled as guitar cord) is one of the first steps a beginner
guitarist will take in learning to play the guitar. Learning chords will already enable you to play
real music and songs, which is really the reason you picked up the guitar in the first place.
Open guitar chords will be the first chords a beginner guitarist will learn. The reason they are
called open chord, is that they have open strings ringing beside the fretted strings. The open
strings give them a very full, resonant sound, so even though they are considered beginner
chords, these basic chords will be with you during your entire guitarist career. Its no wonder,
why hundreds of really popular songs are based on simple open chords.
TIP: If you are just starting out, and you want to learn chords, check out this guitar lesson on
guitar chords and this one on learning to change between chords, if you havent already. Theyll
show you the correct way of playing chords, and how to learn to change between chords.
Before listing the most popular chords, lets first look at the basic open chord variations.
Major Chords
Major chords are generally thought of as happy sounding chords. Why? Because when you play
them with a minor chord, youll hear that the major sounds happier, and the minor chord sounds
a bit dark.
Minor Chords
In contrast with major chords, minor guitar chords are a bit sad sounding, they generate a darker
atmosphere. When you learn guitar chords, minor chords are a must.
7th Chords
7th chords are alterations and additions to the major and minor chords you learned above. They
give color to major and minor chords, and give you more freedom when playing the guitar. You
can experiment with using these chords instead of their regular major-minor counterparts, but
dont feel that you have to use them. Try them out, see how they fit into the music you are
playing, and mix them into your songs if you think they sound good. Remember, if they sound
good, they are good.
You will use major 7th chords instead of major chords, which are essentially a major chord with
an added 7th degree note from the major scale.
You will use dominant 7th chords, which has an added flat 7th note, instead of the added major
note above.
Major Add Chords
Add chords are major chords with and added note To find out why you add the notes you add,
check out this section on guitar theory.
Suspended (sus) Chords
Suspended chords tend to sound a bit dreamy, so these guitar chords are great if you want to
add a sense of dreaminess to your songs.
Changing Between Chords
Changing between chords is not a skill you are born with, its just something you have to get
used to. It is difficult at first, but practice changing in between chords every day, and youll see
that itll get more and more fluent with time.
TIP: Check out this video to learn how to change guitar chords.


E Chord
Guitar chords in the key of E use all of the strings on the guitar. The first chords a beginner will
learn are the E major, and E minor:
E Major
The high E string is played open
The B string is played open
1st finger frets the G string at the 1st fret
3rd finger frets the D string at the 2nd fret
2nd finger frets the A string at the 2nd fret
The low E string is played open
E Minor
Some people prefer to use their 1st and 2nd fingers for this one.
The high E string is played open
The B string is played open
The G string is played open
3rd finger frets the D string at the 2nd fret
2nd finger frets the A string at the 2nd fret
The low E string is played open


Other Popular E Chords


A Chord
Chords in the key of A will use 5 strings of the guitar, leaving the low E string
out.
A Major
High E string is played open
4th finger frets the B string at the 2nd fret
3rd finger frets the G string at the 2nd fret
2nd finger frets the D string at the 2nd fret
The A string is played open
The low E string is NOT played (marked by the X)
Dont worry if at first your fingers seem a little crowded. This wont bother you for long! Just
make sure each string sounds cleanly.

A Minor
High E string is played open
1st finger frets the B string at the 1st fret
3rd finger frets the G string at the 2nd fret
2nd finger frets the D string at the 2nd fret
The A string is played open
The low E string is NOT played (marked by the X)


Other Popular A Chords


D Chord
Chords in the key of D will use strings D through the high E strings, so the low E and A strings
are not used.
D Major
This is rightfully a favorite chord of many students, and it has great sounding
variations.
2nd finger frets the high E string at the 2nd fret
3rd finger frets the B string at the 3rd fret
1st finger frets the G string at the 2nd fret
The D string is played open
The low E and A strings are NOT played


D Minor
1st finger frets the high E string at the 1st fret
3rd finger frets the B string at the 3rd fret
2nd finger frets the G string at the 2nd fret
The D string is played open
The low E and A strings are NOT played


Other Popular D Chords


G Chord
Chords in the key of G will use all the guitar strings.
G Major
There are a couple of ways to finger this chord. Learn both, as each offers its
own voicing
4th finger frets the high E string at the 3rd fret
The B string is played open
The G string is played open
The D string is played open
2nd finger frets the A string at the 2nd fret
3rd finger frets the low E string at 3rd fret

The second variation of the G major looks like this. If you play both, youll
notice that this one has a fuller sound, but the other variation is perfect as well. I
teach my students to fret the one which is easier to change to from the previous
chord being played.
4th finger frets the high E string at the 3rd fret
3rd finger frets the B string at the 3rd fret
The G string is played open
The D string is played open
1st finger frets the A string at the 2nd fret
2nd finger frets the low E string at the 3rd fret



G Minor
This one offers a deeper minor voicing.
The high E string is NOT played
4th finger frets the B string at the 3rd fret
The G string is played open
The D string is played open
1st finger frets the A string at the 1st fret
3rd finger frets the low E string at 3rd fret


Other Popular G Chords


C Chord
Guitar chords in the key of C will use string A though high E.
C Major
This is one beginner guitarists tend to have the most trouble with. Keep
changing between this chord and other open chords in this lesson to develop that
muscle memory in your fingers again, the awkward fingering wont trouble
you for long if you keep practicing it.
The high E string is played open
1st finger frets the B string at the 1st fret
The G string is played open
2nd finger frets the D string at the 2nd fret
3rd finger frets the A string at the 3rd fret
The low E string is NOT played

C Minor
The high E string is NOT played
2nd finger frets the B string at the 1st fret
The G string is played open
1st finger frets the D string at the 1st fret
4th finger frets the A string at the 3rd fret
The low E string is NOT played


Other Popular C Chords











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HAWAIIN GUITAR
Steel Guitar- 6 String TuningsPresentation Transcript
1. multiple tunings multiple string layouts steel bar instead of fingers raised strings Hawaii
Joseph Kekuku 1900.Steel Guitar History
2. things to hold 6, 7, 8, 10 or 12 strings (bits of wire) bits of wire or markings across the neck
(frets) another long bit of wood (neck) 1 lump of wood (hollow or solid body)The Instrument &
tension the strings (bridge & finger picks on thumb 1 lump of metal, stone or glass (bar)tuners) &
selected fingers (optional)
3. notes can be generated acoustically using pedals and/or levers to change string tensions up or
down bending strings before the bar playing open strings on the guitar (no bar) keeping the bar
straight or slanting the bar backwards or forwards when playing multiple strings playing one or
more strings at the same time changing lengths of pre-tensioned bits of wire by using a
barHow Does It Work? &/or electrically
4. develop yourself all styles of music multiple tunings beautiful sounds non conventional easier
to play easier to learnWhy Steel Guitar? & your view of the musical landscape
5. you will develop a favourite but never get trapped in a single tuning.. some tunings are better
suited to different songs some tunings are better suited to the number of strings some tunings are
better suited to different keys some tunings are better suited to specific styles multiple tunings
existTunings
6. this approach supports both right a single set of strings can be re-tuned to support multiple
tunings all 6 string tunings will move continually from a highest to lowest string pitch the tunings
presented in this course identify open strings from the highest pitched string (narrowest string) to the
lowest pitched (widest) string6 String Tunings & invest in a quality tuner!left-handed players
7. switch between lap, dobro great for hammer-on styles D B easy to play up or down an octave B
G the 3 notes of G major chord (5 3 1) repeated D main dobro tuning, also used in early Hawaiian
stylesOpen G Tuning & banjo G
8. D B G D B GOpen G Tuning (cont)
9. still great for hammer-on styles E C# A easy to play up or down an octave C# A the 3 notes of A
major chord (5 3 1) repeated E same as Open G but a tone higher, very common in early Hawaiian
stylesOpen A Tuning
10. E C# A E C# AOpen A Tuning (cont)
11. strive for clean picking, barring never underestimate the melodic power of inverted chords chords
introduced here at the fifth fret also relate to A Open Tuning (the fifth fret would be a D chord) firstly
we will use inversions fret (G Open Tuning) of a C Chord at the fifthG Open Major Chords &
damping
12. 1. C chord (C bass) bar across fret 5Chord Exercise 1 & play strings 4 5 & 6 together (C G
E)2. C chord (E bass) bar across fret 5 & play strings 3 4 & 5 together (E G C)3. C chord (G
bass) bar across fret 5 & play strings 2 3 & 4 together (G C E)4. C chord (C bass up an
octave ) bar across fret 5 & play strings 1 2 & 3 together(C G E)
13. practise these inversions by chord shape over a repeating 4 bar pattern as below playing 2
beats on eachInversion Exercise
14. fret 5 play strings 2 3Chord Exercise 11. & 4 C chord (G bass) bar across together (G C
E)2. C chord (C bass up an octave ) bar across fret 5 play strings 1 2 & practise these
inversions by playing 2 beats on each one over a repeating 2 bar pattern3 together(C G
E)Chord Exercise 1
15. A tuningLow Bass A Tuning & supports easy fingerpicking using the bottom 3 strings alternating
between the root also known as Hawaiian common in early Hawaiian styles (the A is not low, the E
is!!!)once again, & also used for G, Dfifth E & strings 1E tunings C# A E & 3 create a country
sixth A E
16. E C# A E A ELow Bass A Tuning (cont)
17. D B G D G DLow Bass G Tuning
18. B G# E B E BLow Bass E Tuning
19. A F# D A D ALow Bass D Tuning
20. E minor (partial) strings 1, 2, 4, 5 E major all strings E Major Tuning & G# minor (partial)
strings 2, 36 & bottom 3 strings for fingerpicking B G# E B E5 E
21. E B G# E B EE Major Tuning
22. also very common in 8 almost all chords can be played without bar slantingC6/A7 - 6 String
Tuning & each fret has a seventh unless competent makes all songs sound very, very Hawaiian
E C10 string versions & each fret has a majorsixth A G & minor 7th E C#
23. E C A G E C#C6/A7 Tuning
24. also very common in 8 almost all chords can be played without bar slantingC6 - 6 String Tuning
& each fret has a major, 6th unless competent makes all songs sound very, very Hawaiian
Jerry Byrd invention E C10 string versions & can play maj7thsminor 7th A G & 9ths E C
25. E C A G E CC6 Tuning 6 String
26. C6 Alternate tuning 2 E C A G C E E C A G C G C6 Alternate tuning 1 C6 - Alt Tunings
27. each fret has a major can achieve an E9 pedal steel sound great for normal guit players C6 set)
as top 3 strings are almost conventional (use parts of 8 stringE7 - 6 String Tuning & G# minor
(partial) strings 2,37th E & neat for blues (G# down to G) D B6 B G# E
28. E B G# E D BE7 Tuning 6 String
29. E minor 7th G E B G G sixth D B G major great for SleepwalkG6 - Tuning 1
30. G major Alternate 2 sixth is now in a higher pitch (3rd string)G6 - Tuning 2 & E minor 7th B G
E D B GG6th
31. G major strings 2, 3, 4, 5 Also known as Em (sic) or Em7 tuning E Alternate 3 great for
conventional guitarists as only 1 string (string 5) varies from standard tuningG6 - Tuning 3 &
Em7 all strings (E minor 1,2,3,5,6) G G6 all strings D B6 B G
32. easier for E9 steel players G D B G partial 4th chord (D) available (1,2,4) D A G9 - top 3 strings
G major - bottom 3 stringsG9 - Tuning
33. Bb augmented strings 3, 4 C13th chord - all strings C G C9th chord - top 5 strings E C7th
chord - top 4 strings C major chord - top 3 strings,C13 - Tuning & D7th chord strings 2, 55
Bb D & 6 A
34. sixth (C#)E13 - Tuning & E major strings 1, 3, 47 (D) give a 13 chord (sic) & E 7th - strings
1, 3, 4, 55 & E 6th strings 1, 2, 3, 46 E C# & E 13th all strings E D5 B G#
35. C# major strings 2, 3, 5 E6th tuning all strings C# G# C#minor all strings E as with open G
tuning the chord (minor) is repeated over 2 octaves (appeared 1937 as first minor tuning)C# Minor
Tuning 1 & 6 E C# G#
36. E major - strings 1, 3, 4, 5 E6th tuning all strings C#minor all stringsC# Minor Tuning 2 &
Jerry Byrd favourite B E fingerpicking on bottom strings G# E6 E C#
37. C#minor strings 1, 2, 3C# Minor 9 Tuning & E6th tuning (partial) strings 1, 2, 35 an
Hawaiian tuning & E major - strings 1, 3, 4, 55 & E9 (partial) strings 1, 3, 4, 5 C#minor 9th all
strings G# F#6 E C# & 6 E D
38. F# major strings 2, 5 F#9th all stringsF#9 - Tuning & G#9 strings 3, 5 C# minor on top
4 strings G# E E 6th chord - on top 4 strings E C#6 & 6 A# F#
39. C# minor - strings 1, 2 A major chord - top 3 strings E B 11th chord - all strings B major chord -
on bottom 3 stringsB11 - Tuning & C#minor 7th - strings 1, 2, 44 C# A & C# often substituted
on string 6 (Byrd) B6 F# D#
40. you will develop a favourite but never get trapped in a single tuning some tunings are better
suited to different songs some tunings are better suited to the number of strings some tunings are
better suited to different keys some tunings are better suited to specific styles multiple tunings
existClosing
6th string 5th fret = open 5th string
5th string 7th fret = open 4th string
4th string 5th fret = open 3rd string
3rd string 4th fret = open 2nd string
2nd string 3rd fret = open 1st string