Basic Guitar Chords

Written by

Dwight H.

April 6, 2023

Basic Guitar Chords (for Beginners)

If you want to learn to play guitar, you're going to need to learn some chords. They're the backbone of most songs you'll want to learn. They're the basis of many a signature rhythm. In a word, they're essential.

Which chords should you start with, though, if you're a beginner player?

That's the topic we'll be covering today. We're going to walk through eight basic guitar chords how you should be playing them:

We'll be supplementing the lesson with playing tips and advice on memorization. Be sure to take those to heart as well. Now, if you're ready to "get cooking," let's dive in and start learning those chords.

G Major Guitar Chord

Did you know that the Star-Spangled Banner was first written in G Major? That's the legend, but regardless of its veracity, you'll be able to use this chord in more than just the National Anthem. G Major plays a role in popular songs like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Ring of Fire."

The G Major Chord consists of three notes: G, B, and D. There are four variations you should start with. You can play these near the top of your guitar's neck near the first fret.

G Major -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret

• Play strings 2, 3, and 4 open

Alternatively, you can:

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/3rd fret

• Mute strings 3 and 4

OR

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/3rd fret

• Play strings 3 and 4 open

G Major -- Configuration 2

• Use finger one to hold down strings 1 and 2 on the 3rd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string 4th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string 5th fret

• Mute strings 5 and 6

G Major -- Configuration 3

• Place your 1st finger on the 6th string/3rd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Mute strings 1, 4, and 5

G Major -- Configuration 4

• Bar the 3rd fret with your 1st finger

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 4th string/5th fret

C Major Guitar Chord

C Major is one of the most commonly used keys in Western music. You'll find many a classical tune written in C, and the chord itself in plenty of popular tunes, like Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind."

C Major consists of three notes: C, E, and G. There are three top-of-the neck variations you'll want to concentrate on first.

C Major -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string/1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/3rd fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/3rd fret (or mute string 1)

• Mute string 6

C Major -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret

• Mute strings 2, 3, and 6

C Major -- Configuration 3

• Use your 1st finger to bar the 3rd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/5th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

• Mute string 6

D Major Guitar Chord

The D Major Chord is a fixture in songs like "Hotel California" and "Wild Thing." It consists of D, F#, and A, and has three variations you'll be learning off the bat.

D Major -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/2nd fret

• Play string 4 open

• Mute strings 5 and 6

D Major -- Configuration 2

• Use your 1st finger to cover strings 1 and 3 on the 2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/4th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 5th string/5th fret

• Mute string 6

D Major -- Configuration 3

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/4th fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/5th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/5th fret

• Mute strings 2, 3, and 6

F Major Guitar Chord

F Major can be a tricky chord for beginners to learn. Once you have it under your belt, though, you can use it in cool tunes like "Welcome to the Jungle."

Your three notes are F, A, and C, while your four primary variations are as follows.

F Major -- Configuration 1

• Use your 1st finger to cover strings 1 and 2 on the 1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/3rd fret

• Mute strings 5 and 6

F Major -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/5th fret

• Mute strings 2, 5, and 6

F Major -- Configuration 3

• Place your first finger on the 6th string/1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/3rd fret

• Mute string 1, 4, and 5

F Major -- Configuration 4

• Use your 1st finger to bar the 1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string/3rd fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 4th string/3rd fret

E Major Guitar Chord

Consisting of E, G#, and B, the E Major chord can be played simple or complex, depending on your preference. Once you've learned it, put one of those three variations to good use playing tunes like "Under the Bridge."

E Major -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string/1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Play strings 1, 2, and 6 open

E Major -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string/1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/2nd fret (optional)

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 1st string/4th fret

• Play string 6 open (or mute strings 5 and 6)

E Major -- Configuration 3

• Place your first finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string/4th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

• Mute strings 5 and 6

A Major Guitar Chord

You'll be bringing your fingers close together to play the most common variant of this chord, which consists of the notes A, C#, and E. This chord makes a brief but powerful appearance in songs like "Foxy Lady." There are two main fingering configurations you'll want to learn for this one.

A Major -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/3rd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/3rd fret

• Play strings 1 and 5 open

• Mute string 6

A Major -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/4th fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/5th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

• Mute strings 1, 3, and 4

E Minor Guitar Chord

Like E Major, E Minor has a very easy variant, along with several challenging variants. The notes for this chord are E, G, and B, and you may well have heard it while listening to "Come As You Are." Now, you'll have an opportunity to play any of its three main configurations.

E Minor -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Play strings 1, 2, 3, and 6 open

E Minor -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

• Play string 6 open

• Mute string 1

E Minor -- Configuration 3

• Use your 1st finger to cover strings 4 and 5 on the 2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

A Minor Guitar Chord

A Minor comes with a few basic variations (three to be precise), but your easiest version will come to you quickly, and will serve as a simple chord to transition to from C Major. The three notes for this chord are A, C, and E. You'll hear the chord hard at work in songs like "Hotel California."

A Minor -- Configuration 1

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string/1st fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/2nd fret

• Play strings 1 and 5 open

• Mute string 6

A Minor -- Configuration 2

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/5th fret

• Play string 5 open

• Mute strings 1 and 6

A Minor -- Configuration 3

• Place your 1st finger on the 4th string/2nd fret

• Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string/3rd fret

• Place your 3rd finger on the 6th string/5th fret

• Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string/4th fret

• Mute strings 1 and 2

Wrapping Up

In closing, I'd like to draw attention to chord memorization and transitions. Remember to start off chords by learning their shapes first, then trying to play them to aid your ability to recall them at will.

Work in chunks to avoid getting frustrated, and happy practicing!