{"id":628,"date":"2021-07-15T20:59:15","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T03:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/?p=628"},"modified":"2023-03-23T16:56:56","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T23:56:56","slug":"ultimate-beginner-guitar-chord-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/ultimate-beginner-guitar-chord-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Beginner Guitar Chord Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you want to play songs on the guitar then you\u2019re going to need to know some guitar chords! In this guide, we\u2019re going to embark on a guitar chord journey with Ayla Tesler-Mabe where you\u2019ll learn all the essential chords so you can play your favorite songs and write your own music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide is broken down into three parts. These sections will cover the first eight guitar chords you should know, five beautiful guitar chords even a beginner can play, and ten tips for changing chords more smoothly. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/8-beginner-chords\/\">8 Guitar Chords For Beginners<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"8 Guitar Chords For Beginners\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l1OUmQOjOLY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before diving into the first video, be sure to download the PDF chord chart linked above so you can reference it at any time. The eight guitar chords in this lesson make up the majority of songs you\u2019ll learn to play as a beginner guitar player, so it\u2019s a great idea to take the time to learn every single chord here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How To Read A Chord Diagram<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To fully understand the images in this guide, you\u2019ll need to know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitarlessons.com\/guitar-lessons\/beginner-guitar-quick-start-series\/your-first-guitar-chords\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to read a chord diagram<\/a>. A chord diagram contains vertical and horizontal lines. The six vertical lines represent the strings on the guitar. Starting with the low E (thickest) string on the left and ending with the high E (thinnest) string on the right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The horizontal lines represent the frets of the guitar. If you can see the horizontal bar at the top of the diagram, then the shape starts on the first fret of the guitar. If there isn\u2019t a horizontal bar and there is a number to the left of the diagram instead, then that number tells you which fret to place the chord shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The other main element of a chord diagram is the circles. The black circles represent root notes (notes that share the same name as the chord) and the white circles represent other notes in the chord. For example, in an open E major chord, all the black circles would be E notes. The numbers inside the circles simply tell you which finger to use to fret each note. If there are any circles above the chord diagram, then you know to play those strings open. Let\u2019s look at our first chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>E Major Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The E major chord isn\u2019t the easiest chord to get down, but the shape is used to make up many other chords you\u2019ll play down the road so it\u2019s a good one to start with. Place your three fingers in the positions laid out in the chord diagram below. Be sure to come directly down on the strings so your fingers don\u2019t accidentally mute any adjacent strings. Play each string individually to double-check that they all ring out cleanly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082625\/e-major-open-chord-2-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>E Minor Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next chord is easy! All you need to do is lift up your first finger after making the open E major chord shape. Doing this transforms your E major chord into an E minor chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082645\/e-minor-open-chord-2-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Major Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now for an open chord that can be a little challenging. To play this shape, you\u2019ll need to put your third, second, and third fingers very close together. This can cause them to push each other out of the way a little bit resulting in a messy, muted chord. Make sure you\u2019re coming directly down on the strings so your fingers take up minimal space. If you continue to struggle with this one, you can try using your second, third, and fourth fingers instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that the low E string needs to be left out of this chord. Make sure not to let it ring out by muting it, or by avoiding it altogether when you strum.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082213\/a-major-open-chord-2-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>D Major Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The D major chord offers a unique challenge. With the open D major chord, you\u2019ll need to avoid playing both the low E and A strings. The best way to do this is to practice hitting only your top four strings when strumming. If you have large enough hands then wrapping your thumb around the top of the guitar neck and laying it over the bottom two strings can be a great way to keep the strings muted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082705\/d-major-open-chord-2-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C Major Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this next chord, you\u2019ll need to exhibit a little bit of hand flexibility. You\u2019ll be stretching your hand a pretty considerable distance especially if you\u2019re new to playing the guitar. The key to getting this chord to sound good is to make sure your hand is positioned properly and your fingers are coming straight down on the strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082723\/c-major-open-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C Major 7 Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s try a fancy chord. Simply remove your first finger from the open C major chord shape and you\u2019re playing a C major 7 chord. Unlike the major and minor variations of a chord, 7th chords are solely there for some added flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082743\/c-major-7-open-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>G Major Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few different variations of the open G major chord, but this one tends to be the most popular. You\u2019ll need to use all four fingers for this shape. Make sure you\u2019re not accidentally muting either of the open strings that need to be played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082800\/g-major-open-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>G Major Special Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To cap things off, Ayla shares a special version of the G major chord. This one is a little more challenging to play but has a great sound. Note the \u201c3\u201d on the left of the diagram that indicates this shape must be played at the third fret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-300x279.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-300x279.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-1024x953.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-768x715.png 768w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-1536x1429.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082819\/g-major-special-chord-1-2048x1905.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it for the essential guitar chords for beginners! In the next video, Ayla is going to show us five beautiful chords you can play if you\u2019re new to the guitar.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/five-beautiful-chords\/\"><strong>5 Most Beautiful Guitar Chords For Beginners<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 Most Beautiful Guitar Chords for Beginners\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RjAQyX0hOFo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Download: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/guitareo.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/email-images\/2021-03\/Guitareo-5-Beautiful-Chords-For-beginners.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chord Chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before getting into these new guitar chords, download the PDF chord chart linked above.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chords in this section of the guide aren\u2019t chords you\u2019ll be using as often as the first eight, but they are a great way to add some extra sauce to a chord progression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>E Minor Add 9 Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This first variation of E minor is easy to play and is a direct replacement for a regular E minor chord. Ayla\u2019s preference is to use her fourth finger for this shape but you can use your third finger if it\u2019s more comfortable for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082837\/e-minor-9-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Sus 2 Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suspended chords are chords that don\u2019t have a major or minor quality. This means an A Sus 2 chord can be substituted for either an A major or A minor chord. Keep in mind it can\u2019t <em>always<\/em> be substituted and is dependent on the key you\u2019re playing in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082853\/a-sus-2-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>E Major Special Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This chord shape is identical to the regular open E major shape you already know. The only difference here is that you\u2019re going to move the shape around. Without changing anything, try sliding the shape up and down the neck to see what kind of sounds you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082915\/e-major-special-chord-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>F Major 7 #11 Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name of this guitar chord makes it sound way more complicated than it actually is. This version of an F major chord is a flavorful way to spice up the standard F major chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-1024x1019.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-1536x1529.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082936\/f-major-7-sharp-11-1-2048x2039.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Minor 9 Chord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last chord in this list is a variation of an A minor chord. This one utilizes open strings and can be played with your second, third, and fourth fingers or with your first, second, and third fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-300x279.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-300x279.png 300w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-1024x953.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-768x715.png 768w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-1536x1429.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16082952\/a-minor-9-chord-1-2048x1905.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/guitar-chord-transitions\/\"><strong>10 Tips For Smoother Guitar Chord Transitions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10 Tips On Smoother Guitar Chord Transitions\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2g9reiuzm40?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So now that you have a bunch of chords under your belt, it\u2019s time to start combining them. Ayla is here to give ten helpful tips for improving your chord transitions. This is a massive pain point for beginner guitarists and in many cases causes them to quit playing guitar altogether.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main way to get better at changing chords comes simply from spending more time playing. As long as you\u2019re not building any bad habits, you\u2019ll get faster the more often you play. But if you want a few cheat codes from a pro, the tips in this lesson will help you improve even faster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip # 1 \u2013 Internalize One Chord At A Time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you even practice changing from one chord to another, put on the brakes and try focusing on one chord at a time. This helps you internalize the shape your hand needs to make when transitioning. Practicing this builds muscle memory for each chord shape which will help your hand snap back to the shape more quickly when changing to that chord from another chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #2 \u2013 Be Mindful Of Your FIngers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much like internalizing the chord shapes, it\u2019s important to pay attention to what each of your fingers is doing. This even includes your thumb! Look at what each finger is doing and make sure it\u2019s positioned correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #3 \u2013 Off &amp; On<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This exercise involves making a chord shape you\u2019re having trouble with then removing your hand from the fretboard. Once your hand is reset, you can place the shape back on the guitar. This is almost like changing from one chord to the same chord. The more you do this, the more muscle memory you\u2019ll develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #4 \u2013 Check-In Every Now &amp; Then&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you\u2019re implementing the first tips in this lesson, you\u2019ll want to double-check that the shapes you make are still being played correctly and sounding clear when you strum them. This is how you protect yourself against developing any bad habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #5 \u2013 Isolate Two Chords At A Time&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most chord progressions in songs involve more than just two chords. This can overwhelm you when you\u2019re stuck on the transition between the chords. Isolate just two chords at a time and work on just that transition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip # 6 \u2013 Think Ahead Of Upcoming Chord Changes&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of waiting until the transition approaches, try thinking ahead about the next chord shape. Imagine the shape in your head so you\u2019re ready to switch when it\u2019s time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #7 \u2013 Start On The Root Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to kind of \u201cfake\u201d a timely chord change is to hit the root note before you hit the rest of the chord. This can buy you a little time to get your fingers into place for the full chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #8 \u2013 Anchor Points&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Occasionally, there will be times when you can leave one or two fingers in place and just move your other fingers to make the next chord shape. These anchor points occur quite frequently in certain keys like G major and C major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #9 \u2013 Practice Without Looking&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ways to work on changing between chords smoothly is to practice without looking at your fretting hand. You can do this by looking away, using a blindfold, or turning out the lights. The key is to build up that muscle memory without relying on your eyes to make sure your fingers are in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip #10 \u2013 Replace Power Chords With Bar Chords<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bar chords are their own individual challenge, but if you\u2019re working on a song that includes them, you can play a simple two-note power chord instead. Then, as you get comfortable, you can replace the power chord shape with a bar chord. This tip is particularly helpful when you have multiple bar chords in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it for this beginner guitar chord guide. Now that you\u2019ve got all these chords ready to go, it\u2019s time to learn some songs!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/toolbox\"><strong>Play Your First Song With The Guitarist\u2019s Toolbox<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Get a totally FREE bundle of our best step-by-step guitar lessons! You\u2019ll learn how to put together everything covered in this guide to play your very first song. On top of that, you\u2019ll have free unlimited access to 8 other courses (usually reserved for paid members) that cover things like making clean chords, reading music, playing guitar solos, and lead guitar technique. Just click on the link above to get your lessons!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this guide, Ayla teaches you all the essential chords so you can play your favorite songs and write your own music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[108,104,105,111,107,106,109,110],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=628"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1530,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628\/revisions\/1530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}