How to Play Guitar Chords for Beginners

Before we move on to the guitar chords for beginners, let us get to know a bit more about chords and the anatomy notation of strings. The guitar fret board has 6 strings, and starting from the thickest string, the names of the strings are E, A, D, G, B, e. The reason that the strings are named such is that when played 'open', that is without any fret pressed, the string plays the said notes.

About Guitar Chords

As a beginner, you need to understand is what is a chord. You also have to sincerely learn guitar chords if you want to play this instrument. A chord is essentially a group of notes that belong to the same scale and when all strings are played by pressing the specific notes (frets) then the said chord is played. A chord effectively, is a very easy way to play scales.

Song rhythms, strums, different patches and patterns, arpeggios and many other music tips can tricks can be used played by using chords. One of the main reasons so as to why chords are taught first to all students is that it increases the agility and swiftness of the fingers and also helps you to figure out the fret boards and all the notes on the fret board. As your fingers get accustomed to the fret board, later processes such as grooving, soloing, etc., become much easier and your fingers and palm will tend to just magically roll over the strings and fret board.

How to Play Guitar Chords for Beginners

Guitar chords for beginners are broadly classified into majors and minors. The major chords are basically positive sounding chords, and are of course derived from the major scale. Essentially the majors depict happiness and joy. The minors are the chords that depict negative emotions and also tend to depict depression and sadness, sorrow.

Here are the illustrations of major and minor chords. The reason that these chords are called open chords is that there are several open strings which are played in the process. So here goes...

A Major	A Minor
E-------------0------------- B-------------2------------- G-------------2------------- D-------------2------------ A-------------0------------- e--------------0------------	E-----------0--------------- B-----------1--------------- G-----------2--------------- D-----------2-------------- A-----------0--------------- e------------0--------------

A# or B flat Major	A# or B flat Minor
E-------------0------------- B-------------3------------- G-------------3------------- D-------------3------------ A-------------1------------ e--------------0------------	E------------1-------------- B------------2------------- G------------3-------------- D------------3------------- A------------1-------------- e-------------0-------------

B Major	B Minor
E-------------0------------- B-------------4------------- G-------------4------------- D-------------4------------ A-------------2------------- e--------------0-------------	E-----------2--------------- B-----------3--------------- G-----------4--------------- D-----------4-------------- A-----------2--------------- e------------0---------------

C Major	C Minor
E--------------0------------ B--------------1------------ G--------------0------------ D--------------2----------- A--------------3------------ e---------------0------------	E------------3-------------- B------------4-------------- G------------5------------- D------------5------------- A------------0-------------- e-------------0--------------

C# Major	C# Minor
E------------0-------------- B------------2-------------- G------------1-------------- D------------2------------ A------------0-------------- e-------------0--------------	E------------0-------------- B------------2-------------- G------------1-------------- D------------2------------ A------------0-------------- e-------------0--------------

D Major	D Minor
E---------------2----------- B---------------3----------- G---------------2----------- D---------------0---------- A---------------0----------- e----------------0-----------	E-------------1------------- B-------------3------------- G-------------2------------- D-------------0------------ A-------------0------------- e--------------0-------------

D# Major	D# Minor
E--------------1------------ B--------------2------------ G--------------1------------ D--------------3----------- A--------------4------------ e---------------0------------	E-----------2--------------- B-----------4--------------- G-----------3--------------- D-----------1------------- A-----------0-------------- e------------0--------------

E Major	E Minor
E--------------0------------ B--------------0------------ G--------------1------------ D--------------2---------- A--------------2---------- e---------------0------------	E-------------0------------- B-------------0------------- G-------------0------------- D-------------2----------- A-------------2------------- e--------------0-------------

F Major	F Minor
E------------1-------------- B------------1-------------- G------------2-------------- D------------3------------- A------------0-------------- e-------------0--------------	E--------------1------------ B--------------1------------ G--------------1------------ D--------------3----------- A--------------0------------ e---------------0------------

F# Major	F# Minor
E-------------2------------- B-------------2------------- G-------------3------------- D-------------4------------ A-------------0------------- e--------------0-------------	E--------------2------------ B--------------2------------ G--------------2------------ D--------------4----------- A--------------0------------ e---------------0------------

G Major	G Minor
E------------3-------------- B------------0-------------- G------------0-------------- D------------0------------- A------------2-------------- e-------------3--------------	E--------------3------------ B--------------3------------ G-------------0------------- D-------------0------------ A-------------1------------- e--------------3-------------

G# Major	G# Minor
E-----------4--------------- B-----------1--------------- G-----------1--------------- D-----------1-------------- A-----------0--------------- e------------0---------------	E----------0---------------- B----------0---------------- G----------1---------------- D----------1--------------- A----------2---------------- e-----------0----------------

While playing these chords the number denotes the fret number, '0' being the open strings. The first 'E' is your smallest and highest pitched string and the 'e' is the thickest string and the lowest string. These chords can provide valuable guitar lessons for beginners. The chords will eventually help you to belt out good music.

To master these chords, you will have to play everyday for at least half an hour. Start with some 2 chords and practice switching from one chord to another. In about 2 months you will have confidently covered the process of switching from one chord to another very quickly. There are no short cuts tips and tricks in the process and practicing to get used to the fret board is the best and the only option.