The chord used in the chord diagram above is an Open C Major chord.
The thick line at the top of the chord diagram represents the nut (a piece of bone, ivory, or other material at the top of the neck that holds the strings in place) of the guitar. The vertical lines in the chord diagram represent the guitar strings, and the horizontal lines represent the guitar frets.
The black circles show to fret the A string at the 3rd fret, the D string at the second fret, play the G string open, the B string at the first fret, and play the high E string open.
Playing an open string means you pluck or strum the string without fretting or holding it down, this is shown with an “0” at the top of the diagram.
An “X” shown on the chord diagram tells you which string(s) not to play.
A number to the side of the guitar chord diagram lets you know which fret to start the chord on.
For the B major barre chord above, the number 7 shows to barre your finger on the 7th fret.
The strings that are played open are shown with a “O” at the top of the guitar chord diagram. An “X” in the chord diagram shows which strings are not played or muted.
Minor Open Chords
Minor Open chords for guitar in standard tuning. Minor Chords are often identified with their root note next to a lower case “m”.
Distortion and Overdrive
Distortion and overdive effects mimic the sound of a cranked tube amp by boosting the guitar’s signal and causing the sound to “clip” which creates the distortion effect.
Compression
Compression is used to even out the over all volume of the guitar’s input.
Tremolo
Tremolo is an effect created by the consistent alteration of the amplitude or volume of the guitar’s sound signal.
Chorus
Chorus effects are produced by slightly delaying a sound signal and also altering its pitch while mixing it with the original sound signal.
Flange
Flange is an effect produced by two identical signals with one of the signals slightly delayed by a time that slightly, and continually changes.
Phasers
Phaser effects produce their sounds similarly to flange effects, but use phase shifting and replications of the original sound signal produce a “spacier” effect than the more natural tone of flange effects.
Delay and Echo
Delay and Echo effects repeat the guitars signal based on a time setting creating slap back and other delay and echo effects.
Reverb
Reverb effects alter the guitar’s sound to recreate the subtle echoes of a room or other environment.
Pitch Shifters, Octave, and Harmonizers
These guitar effects alter the pitch of the guitar’s signal to create their effect.
Wah-wah pedals
Wah-wah effects filter the frequencies of the incoming guitar signal to give it a distinctive, human-like sound when rocked back and forth.
The major scale goes through seven different notes and the octave of the root note. Adding the 9th note of the scale is the same as the second note of the scale.
1 + 3 + 5 + 9
1 + 3♭ + 5 + 9
Dominant 9 Chords
Dominant 9 chords add the 9th note of the scale to the dominant 7th chord form.
1 + 3 + 5 + 7♭ + 9
1 + 3♭ + 5 + 7♭ + 9
Major 9 Chords
Major 9 chords can be played adding the 9th note of the scale to a major7 chord.
The chords within a key are identified by a roman numeral, depending on what note they are within a scale, and if they are used in their major or minor form. Major chords are identified by capitalized roman numerals and minor chords are undercase.
Major Key Progressions
Major keys consist of notes of major scales, and the chords within major keys follow an order of Major (I), Minor (ii), Minor (iii), Major (IV), Major (V), Minor (VI), Diminished (vii).
I – IV – V Major Key Chord Progression
The I – IV – V chord progression is commonly used in blues, rock and jazz and is also used in the 12 Bar Blues.
(I) (IV) (V)
C F G
e|-0-0-0-0-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
B|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|
G|-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|
D|-2-2-2-2-|-3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-|
E|---------|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
I – vi – IV – V Major Key Chord Progression
The I – vi – IV – V chord progression is popular in doo-wop and oldies music in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The I-vi-IV-V progression is also known as the 50’s progression.
(I) (vi) (IV) (V)
C Am F G
e|-3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|
B|-5-5-5-5-|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-|-4-4-4-4-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-2-2-2-2-|-3-3-3-3-|-5-5-5-5-|
A|-3-5-5-5-|-0-0-0-0-|-3-3-3-3-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|---------|---------|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|
I – vi – ii – V Major Key Chord Progression
The I – vi – ii – V chord progression is used frequently in blues, jazz and is one of the most used chord progressions in music. This chord progression can also be used as a turnaround.
(I) (vi) (ii) (V)
C Am Dm G
e|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|
B|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-|-4-4-4-4-|
D|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-|-5-5-5-5-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-|---------|-5-5-5-5-|
E|---------|---------|---------|-3-3-3-3-|
ii – V – I Major Key Chord Progression
The ii – V – I chord progression is used frequently in jazz music and many other style of music. This chord progression is also a turnaround chord progression.
(ii) (V) (I)
Dm G C
e|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|
B|-3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|
G|-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|
D|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-|
A|---------|-2-2-2-2-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
E|---------|-3-3-3-3-|---------|---------|
Minor Key Progressions
Minor keys consist of notes of the natural minor scale. Minor chord keys follow an order of minor (i), diminished (ii), Major (III), minor (iv), minor (v), Major (VI), Major (VII).
i – iv Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (iv)
Cm Fm
e|-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-1-1-1-1-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-1-1-1-1-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
E|---------|-1-1-1-1-|
i – v Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (v)
Cm Gm
e|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|---------|-3-3-3-3-|
i – VI Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (VI)
Cm Ab
e|-3-3-3-3-|-4-4-4-4-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-6-6-6-6-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-6-6-6-6-|
E|---------|-4-4-4-4-|
i – VII Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (VII)
Cm Bb
e|-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-|
E|---------|---------|
i – iv – v Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (iv) (v)
Cm Fm Gm
e|-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
E|---------|-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
i – iv – VI Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (iv) (VI)
Cm Fm Ab
e|-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-1-1-1-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|
G|-5-5-5-5-|-1-1-1-1-|-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|-6-6-6-6-|-6-6-6-6-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-6-6-6-6-|-6-6-6-6-|
E|---------|-1-1-1-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|
i – VI – VII Minor Key Chord Progression
(i) (VI) (VII)
Cm Ab Bb
e|-3-3-3-3-|-4-4-4-4-|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|
B|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
G|-5-4-4-4-|-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
D|-5-5-5-5-|-6-6-6-6-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|
A|-3-3-3-3-|-6-6-6-6-|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|
E|---------|-4-4-4-4-|---------|---------|
Major and Minor Key Guitar Chords
Find the guitar chord keys used in chord progressions. A key is like a family of chords that are used and sound good together.
Guitar scale diagrams are a learning tool used to find the pattern of notes to play a certain scale, and where the notes would appear on the fretboard of the guitar.
Guitar Scales for Beginners
An introduction to playing scales on guitar for beginners. This lesson focuses on different types of basic scales.
Major Scales
The major scale is a 7 note scale that other guitar scales, modes, and guitar chords are based off of.
Major Pentatonic Scales
The Major Pentatonic Scale is a 5 note scale that uses the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of the major scale.
Major Blues Scales
The Major Blues Scale is an extension of the Major Pentatonic Scale that adds the 3♭ (flat third) note to the scale.
Double Harmonic Major Scale
Other names for this scale are the Gypsy Major, Byzantine Scale, Mayamalavagowla, Bhairav Raga, or Arabic (Hijaz Kar).
Natural Minor Scales
Natural minor scales can be played using the same notes as a major scale starting on the 6th note of the major scale.
Harmonic Minor Scales
Harmonic minor guitar scales are very similar to natural minor guitar scales with the exception of 7th note.
Minor Pentatonic Scales
The minor pentatonic guitar scale is a five note scale popular in rock lead guitar riffs and soloing.
Minor Blues Scales
The blues scale is an extension of the minor pentatonic scale, adding the 5♭ (flat fifth) of the scale referred to as the “blue note”.
Hungarian Minor Scale
Other names for this scale are Hungarian Gypsy Scale or Double Harmonic Minor Scale.
The scale diagram on the left is the pattern used for a two octave Major Scale. The scale diagram to the right shows the Mixolydian Mode Scale taken from the same pattern of the Major Scale, starting on the fifth note of the scale. (D Mixolydian is Relative to the G Major Scale)
A moveable guitar chord refers to different chord forms, or shapes, that can be moved to any fret while using the same group of strings, allowing you to play chords with any root note you need.
Power Chords
Power chords are probably the most beneficial guitar chords for most beginning guitarists to know. These chords can be played easily up and down the guitar neck, and are used in many songs. Power chords use the root note and the 5th note of a scale, and are also known as fifth chords. The root note’s octave is used also, giving the power chord a bigger sound.
E5 Power Chord on Low E (6th) String
The E5 power chord can be played in the open position with the root note open on the low E string and 1 or 2 fingers to fret the A and D strings at the 2nd fret. This is the lowest sounding power chord while playing in standard tuning. This power chord form can be moved to any fret on the low E string using the same group of strings.
Moving down a string to the A string, the A5 power chord is played with the same chord form, or shape, as the E5 power chord. You can use 1 or 2 fingers to fret the D and G strings at the second fret. This power chord form can be moved to any fret on the A string using the same group of strings.
Power chords with the root note on the D string take a different form than the power chords on the 6th and 5th strings. The octave (repeated root note) will be played one fret higher than in the previous power chord forms.
The D5 power chord in the open position is played with the D string open and uses one finger to fret the G string at the 2nd fret, and another finger to fret the B string at the 3rd fret (not the 2nd). You can move this power chord form to any fret on the D string using the same group of strings.
Power chords on the G (3rd) string also have a different form. The root note has 2 frets between the 5th and octave notes. The G5 power chord is played with the G (3rd) string open and the 5th and octave fretted at the 3rd frets of the B (2nd) and high E (1st) strings.
One way to jump right in to playing power chords is tuning your guitar to a drop tuning such as drop D. Drop D tuning is one string alteration from standard tuning, dropping the low E (6th) string down to D. Barring (holding down the strings with one finger, like a bar) the 6th, 5th and 4th string allows you to easily play power chords with more speed and ease.
Using the Drop D Power Chord Form in a Chord Progression
Open chords are guitar chords with at least one unfretted string played within the chord. These chords are played in the open position, located near the nut of the guitar.
The Open E Minor Dominant 7 Chord
The open E minor dominant 7 (Em7 or Em dom7) chord can be played using just 1 finger on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) string, and playing the rest of the strings open.
The open E minor (Em) chord can be played using 2 fingers on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) and D (4th) strings, and playing the rest of the strings open.
Em
e|----0----|
B|----0----|
G|----0----|
D|----2----|
A|----2----|
E|----0----|
The Open A Dominant 7 Chord
The open A dominant 7 (A7 or A dom7) chord uses 2 fingers on the 2nd fret of the D (4th) and B (2nd) strings. Except for the low E (6th) string, the other strings are played open.
The open A minor dominant 7 (Am7 or Am dom7) chord uses 2 fingers; one on the 2nd fret of the D (4th) and the other on the 1st fret of the B (2nd) string. Except for the low E (6th) string, the other strings are played open.
The open A major chord uses 3 fingers on the 2nd fret of the D (4th), G (3rd), and B (2nd) strings. This chord can also be played by barring one finger on the same strings, but can often mute the open high E (1st) string.
A
e|----0----|
B|----2----|
G|----2----|
D|----2----|
A|----0----|
E|---------|
What to Expect with Learning to Play Guitar Chords as a Beginner
Learning new chords, and learning to play the guitar in general, can be a difficult process. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t play certain chords or scales right away. Learning to play the guitar will get easier as you learn and practice.
You might think your hands or fingers aren’t the right size to play guitar.
This is a common beginner guitarist complaint or thought. In most cases it’s not the size of your hand or fingers.
Beginners who think their fingers are too small typically are gripping the guitar neck in a way that limits the movement of the rest of the hand and fingers. How you hold your fret hand will likely differ from how you see others playing their guitar. Keep your thumb in the middle of the back of the guitar neck. Everyone’s hands and fingers have different sizes and ranges of movement. Dexterity will develop in different ways for each beginner.
Your Fingers will Hurt in the Beginning.
As you play the guitar, your fingers will go through a few changes every guitarist experiences. The strings on the guitar will start to create calluses on the tips of your fingers, especially with an acoustic guitar.
When you’re first starting out, your fingers and hand might not have enough strength to play certain chords right away. This is normal and will start getting easier the more you practice.
☠ The F Chord ☠
The F chord is one of the most difficult chords to play as a beginner, and can take more time to learn to play. The F chord is a barre chord located on the first fret of the guitar. The string tension is the highest at this fret, and requires more finger strength. Barre chords in general are harder to play at first, but are easier to play on locations of the guitar neck where the string tension isn’t as high.
Chord Theory for Beginners
What is a Chord?
A chord is a term in music for a group of notes played together at the same time. The notes of a chord are spaced out at different intervals and determine what kind of chord it is. A basic chord, or triad, typically is made up of a root note, the 3rd, and the 5th. Other notes of the scale are used in different chord voicings.
Chord names are based on the root note, and other notes that might be used.
Major chords are played with the 3rd note of the root note’s scale in its normal position (“major 3rd”).
Minor chords use the flat(♭) 3rd (“minor 3rd or 3♭”) of the root note’s scale.
In many guitar chords one or more notes are repeated within the same chord form
Major and Minor 6th Chords for Guitar | GuitaristSource.com
January 27, 2025 by maximios • Guitara
1 + 3 + 5 + 6
1 + 3♭ + 5 + 6