Vertically, the strings are numbered 1 through 6, from highest pitch to lowest. Horizontally, the numbering is based on the fret positions. Note that when the directions say “put your first finger on the 3rd fret,” that means you actually place your finger between the 2nd and 3rd fret. It’s the string itself that needs to be in contact with the 3rd fret.
The lowest note is the 3rd fret of the A string: C The next note up is played on the 2nd fret of the D string: E Note there is no finger on the G string. This string remains “open” when strumming a C. The highest note is played on the 1st fret of the B string: C The highest and lowest strings on the guitar are not played for the basic C major chord.
Press your 3rd finger onto the 3rd fret of the A string, as indicated above, pluck, and let it ring until it fades out. You just played a C note. Press your 2nd finger onto the 2nd fret of the D string, then do the pluck-and-ring to play an E. Break time! Simply pluck the open, un-fingered G string. Press your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the B string, and let that C note sound loud! Play the notes, one at a time, for a few times. When you’re ready, sweep your pick or fingers across all four middle strings quickly. You’ve just played a C chord! It may sting a little the first few times you do it, but as you develop calluses, the pain goes away.
The notes in an F chord are F, A, and C. Note that the F and the C are being played by the same finger: the first finger is placed across the 1st fret of both the 1st and 2nd strings. Generally, chords are built so that the lowest note is the root of the chord, but in this case, the F is being sounded on the 1st fret of the 1st string. This is called an “inversion. "
Note that after each chord is a Roman numeral. These indicate what position the root note of the chord is on the scale—regardless of fingering. Once you know the basic chords in all the keys, it’s easier to just show a chart than to have the chord spelled out every time. Practice that until your fingers are tired, then take a break, but come back: we’ll also show you the basic chords in E and A!
This is one of the easier chords to play, once you have your calluses built up. You can play all the strings at once. Crank up a Marshall stack to 11 with this chord, hit it hard, and you’ll feel the beginnings of being a rock hero!
As you get better at playing, you will understand that moving quickly from one chord to another sometimes results in odd fingerings that still work. The key is to make the most efficient use of your fingers, and once you kick off the training wheels, don’t be afraid to experiment.
Try varying your strumming pattern, too: don’t just stick to the lines on the paper.
Note the first finger across the first three strings: this is the beginning of a “barre” chord. A full barre chord uses one finger across all strings, and is often based on the basic forms shown in this article.
Now, think of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, Down on the Corner, and try it again![3] X Research source Harmony by Walter Piston, 3rd Edition [4] X Research source Jazz Harmony by Andy Jaffe, 2nd Edition
–3– –0– –0– –0– –2– –3–
–0– –1– –0– –2– –3– –X–
–2– –3– –2– –0– –X– –X–
–0– –0– –1– –2– –2– –0– Make an E-minor chord by simply removing your index finger, leaving the 3rd string open. [6] X Research source
–0– –2– –2– –2– –0– –X– Make an A-minor chord by playing the first fret, not the second, on the B string. The shape is identical to E-major.
–0– –1– –2– –3– –X– –X– [7] X Research source
