Basic guitar chords for beginners
With just eight open chords you can already play along with a huge number of songs. Here's how to finger each one, what order to learn them in and how to switch between them without stopping.
With eight open chords, C, D, E, G, A, A minor, E minor, and D minor, you can accompany a huge range of songs. Start with E minor and A minor, which use few fingers, and learn them in pairs, practicing changes between them from day one.
Below you will find each chord explained string by string, a suggested learning order, shortcuts for quick changes, and progressions to start playing songs. First, make sure your guitar is properly tuned: even a correctly fretted chord sounds bad on an out-of-tune guitar.
In short
- The eight essential open chords are C, D, E, G, A, Am, Em, and Dm.
- Start with Em and Am; then E, C, G, D, Dm, and A.
- Only one note changes between a major chord and its minor version: the third.
- Look for fingers that stay in place between chords and move the others as a unit.
- Practice changes with a slow metronome before worrying about strumming.
Before you start: strings, frets, and fingers
- Strings: numbered from the thinnest (1st, high E) to the thickest (6th, low E).
- Fretting-hand fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. Keep your thumb behind the neck.
- x = do not play this string. 0 = play it open, without fretting it.
- 3 (d2) = fret 3, pressed with finger 2.
- Letter chord notation: Do = C, Re = D, Mi = E, Fa = F, Sol = G, La = A, Si = B. The "m" means minor: Am is A minor.
Press with your fingertip, keeping the finger curved, just behind the metal fret — not on it or halfway between frets.
The 8 basic chords, string by string
| Chord | 6th E | 5th A | 4th D | 3rd G | 2nd B | 1st E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E minor (Em) | 0 | 2 (d2) | 2 (d3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A minor (Am) | x | 0 | 2 (d2) | 2 (d3) | 1 (d1) | 0 |
| E major (E) | 0 | 2 (d2) | 2 (d3) | 1 (d1) | 0 | 0 |
| C major (C) | x | 3 (d3) | 2 (d2) | 0 | 1 (d1) | 0 |
| G major (G) | 3 (d2) | 2 (d1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (d3) |
| D major (D) | x | x | 0 | 2 (d1) | 3 (d3) | 2 (d2) |
| D minor (Dm) | x | x | 0 | 2 (d2) | 3 (d3) | 1 (d1) |
| A major (A) | x | 0 | 2 (d1) | 2 (d2) | 2 (d3) | 0 |
Strum from the correct starting string: Em, E, and G from the 6th; Am, C, and A from the 5th; D and Dm from the 4th. Playing strings marked x muddies the chord by adding a low note that does not belong or is unsuitable as the bass note.
Two alternative fingerings are worth knowing: G can also use fingers 3, 2, and 4 (on the 6th, 5th, and 1st strings), making the move to C easier. For A, if your fingers are too large to fit at fret 2, try fingers 2, 3, and 4.
Major or minor: the note that changes everything
A basic chord has three notes: the root, which gives it its name, the third, and the fifth. If the third is four half steps above the root, the chord is major; if it is three, the chord is minor. On guitar, that often means moving just one finger.
| Chord | Notes | From major to minor |
|---|---|---|
| E / Em | E-G♯-B / E-G-B | Lift finger 1 off the 3rd string |
| A / Am | A-C♯-E / A-C-E | The 2nd string moves from fret 2 to fret 1 |
| D / Dm | D-F♯-A / D-F-A | The 1st string moves from fret 2 to fret 1 |
| C | C-E-G | C minor requires a barre; you will learn it later |
| G | G-B-D | G minor requires a barre; you will learn it later |
Play E and Em in succession: you will hear the same chord go from an open, bright sound to a darker one. Learning to hear that difference will help you work out songs by ear.
What order to learn them in and how to change quickly
- Em: just two fingers. Ideal for getting your hand used to playing.
- Am: adds a finger and shares its shape with the next chord.
- E: exactly the Am shape, shifted one string toward the lower strings.
- C: from Am, you only move finger 3.
- G: stretches your hand toward the lower strings.
- D and Dm: a triangle shape on the three highest strings.
- A: three fingers close together on the same fret; often harder than it looks.
| Change | What stays in place | What moves |
|---|---|---|
| C ↔ Am | Fingers 1 and 2 | Finger 3 moves from the 5th string (fret 3) to the 3rd (fret 2) |
| E ↔ Am | The entire shape | All three fingers move together one string toward the floor |
| Em ↔ Am | The shape of fingers 2 and 3 | Move down one string and add finger 1 |
| D ↔ Dm | Finger 3 on the 2nd string | Fingers 1 and 2 change position |
| G ↔ C (G with 3-2-4) | The shape of fingers 3 and 2 | Move down one string together; remove 4 and add 1 |
To practice, set the metronome to 60 and strum down four times on each chord before changing. Once you can change on time, reduce that to two strums per chord, then one. Another useful exercise: time one minute and count how many clean changes you make between two chords; write the number down and compare it each week.
Progressions to start playing songs
| Progression | Key | Where you hear it |
|---|---|---|
| G – D – Em – C | G major | A huge range of pop and rock songs |
| C – Am – Dm – G | C major | Ballads and classic radio hits |
| A – D – E | A major | Rock and roll and basic blues |
| Am – Dm – E | A minor | Boleros and Latin American music in minor keys |
| D – G – A | D major | Popular songs and campfire songs |
Start with four downstrokes per bar, one per beat. Once the chord changes flow without pauses, try 'down, down-up, up-down-up', a common guitar accompaniment pattern. To understand why these chords sound good together, see the circle of fifths.
If the chord does not sound clean
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A string sounds muted | Another finger is touching it | Curve your fingers more and press with your fingertips |
| Metallic buzzing | You are pressing too far from the fret wire or not firmly enough | Move your finger closer to the fret wire |
| Sore fingertips | Normal in the first few weeks | Short sessions several times a day; the skin toughens |
| Your hand tires quickly | You are squeezing too hard or pushing your thumb over the top of the neck | Use only the pressure needed to make the note sound |
An acoustic guitar teacher can see in seconds why a string is not sounding, something that could take you weeks to discover alone. If you are wondering when you will play complete songs, read how long it takes to learn guitar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest guitar chord?
E minor: use two fingers at fret 2 on the 5th and 4th strings, and play all six strings. That is why many teachers teach it first.
How many chords do I need to play songs?
With three or four chords and smooth changes, you can already play many songs. The eight in this guide cover several keys and give you enough repertoire for months.
Do these chords work on electric guitar?
Yes, the fingerings are the same. With heavy distortion, though, full chords can sound muddy, so power chords are more commonly used.
How do I read chords in tablature?
In tablature, a chord appears as numbers stacked in the same column, one per string. We explain the full system in our guide to reading guitar and bass tablature.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 22, 2026.