Beginner Guitar Chords
Learn beginner guitar chords one pair at a time. Start with one pair of open chords, check the strings individually, then practise moving between the shapes. This guide uses eight reference chords: C, G, A, E, Am, Em, D and Dm. You do not need to learn all eight in one sitting.
Beginner guitar chords: choose today’s pair
These eight beginner guitar chords introduce open strings, finger placement and different starting strings without a barre. This is a practical selection, not a required number of “basic” chords. Standard tuning, strings 6 → 1: E A D G B E.
Em → E: add one finger
Both shapes include all six strings. Keep fingers 2 and 3 at fret 2; add finger 1 on string 3, fret 1, to change Em into E. This isolates one change without changing your starting string.
Read a diagram before you play
When reading beginner guitar chords, match the diagram to your guitar before placing a finger. The six vertical lines represent strings: the thick, low E string (6) is on the left and the thin, high E string (1) is on the right. The heavy line at the top is the nut. Spaces below it are frets 1, 2, 3 and 4.
× means do not play that string; ○ means play it open. A dot shows where to fret, and its number is a finger: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little. The thumb is not numbered in these shapes. Check the numbered strings under each diagram when matching it to your guitar.
Beginner guitar chords with finger positions
Use the beginner guitar chords in your chosen pair first. Each example has its own fingering, TAB and notes below; open “Check … strings and TAB” for the full reference. Hear plays synthesized pitches from the same fingering, not a recording of a guitar.
C C major
Place finger 1 on string 2, fret 1; finger 2 on string 4, fret 2; finger 3 on string 5, fret 3. Start on string 5. Keep the open third and first strings clear of your fingertips.
Chord notes: C · E · G
Check C strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | × | — | — |
| 5 | 3 | 3 | C3 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | E3 |
| 3 | Open | — | G3 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | C4 |
| 1 | Open | — | E4 |
1|0 2|1 3|0 4|2 5|3 6|x
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
G G major
Place finger 1 on string 5, fret 2; finger 2 on string 6, fret 3; finger 3 on string 1, fret 3. Play all six strings. This version gives you a wider reach than Em; check the three middle open strings.
Chord notes: G · B · D
Check G strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 2 | G2 |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | B2 |
| 4 | Open | — | D3 |
| 3 | Open | — | G3 |
| 2 | Open | — | B3 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | G4 |
1|3 2|0 3|0 4|0 5|2 6|3
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
A A major
Place fingers 1, 2 and 3 on strings 4, 3 and 2 at fret 2. Start on string 5. The fingertips share one fret space, so check the open first string before strumming.
Chord notes: A · C# · E
Check A strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | × | — | — |
| 5 | Open | — | A2 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | E3 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | A3 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | C♯4 |
| 1 | Open | — | E4 |
1|0 2|2 3|2 4|2 5|0 6|x
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
E E major
Place finger 1 on string 3, fret 1; finger 2 on string 5, fret 2; finger 3 on string 4, fret 2. Play all six strings. Compared with this guide’s Em, only the third string changes.
Chord notes: E · G# · B
Check E strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Open | — | E2 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | B2 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | E3 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | G♯3 |
| 2 | Open | — | B3 |
| 1 | Open | — | E4 |
1|0 2|0 3|1 4|2 5|2 6|0
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
Am A minor
Place finger 1 on string 2, fret 1; finger 2 on string 4, fret 2; finger 3 on string 3, fret 2. Start on string 5. Keep the open first string clear and leave string 6 silent.
Chord notes: A · C · E
Check Am strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | × | — | — |
| 5 | Open | — | A2 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | E3 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | A3 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | C4 |
| 1 | Open | — | E4 |
1|0 2|1 3|2 4|2 5|0 6|x
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
Em E minor
Place finger 2 on string 5, fret 2, and finger 3 on string 4, fret 2. Play all six strings. With two fretting fingers and no excluded strings, this is one starting option for this guide.
Chord notes: E · G · B
Check Em strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Open | — | E2 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | B2 |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | E3 |
| 3 | Open | — | G3 |
| 2 | Open | — | B3 |
| 1 | Open | — | E4 |
1|0 2|0 3|0 4|2 5|2 6|0
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
D D major
Place finger 1 on string 3, fret 2; finger 2 on string 1, fret 2; finger 3 on string 2, fret 3. Start on string 4. Practise targeting the four treble strings instead of sweeping across all six.
Chord notes: D · F# · A
Check D strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | × | — | — |
| 5 | × | — | — |
| 4 | Open | — | D3 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | A3 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | D4 |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | F♯4 |
1|2 2|3 3|2 4|0 5|x 6|x
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
Dm D minor
Place finger 1 on string 1, fret 1; finger 2 on string 3, fret 2; finger 3 on string 2, fret 3. Start on string 4. Check that the ring finger does not mute the first string.
Chord notes: D · F · A
Check Dm strings and TAB
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | × | — | — |
| 5 | × | — | — |
| 4 | Open | — | D3 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | A3 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | D4 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | F4 |
1|1 2|3 3|2 4|0 5|x 6|x
TAB numbers are frets, not fingers. Read this vertical stack as one chord; × means leave the string silent.
Use what you learned: one careful change
- Choose one pair of beginner guitar chords: Em–E or C–Am above. Read both diagrams and find the lowest string you should play before placing your fingers.
- Form the first shape. Pluck each included string once, slowly, from the lowest included string toward string 1. Compare its fret and note with the string check. Keep every X string silent.
- If a string buzzes or sounds muted, move one fingertip nearer the fret wire toward the guitar body without pressing on the wire. Check for accidental contact with a neighboring string, then pluck again.
- Release excess pressure and form the second shape. Keep the shared fingers in place if that helps. Check its strings separately before trying a full strum.
- Alternate the pair four times, with one gentle strum per chord and as much pause as needed. This is a suggested exercise, not a speed target. If the notes become unclear, return to the single-string check.
- Finish by noting which string or finger needs attention next time. The checkbox below is your own reminder; this page does not listen to or score your playing.
Try C → Am with two fingers held
Keep your index finger.String 2 · fret 1
Keep your middle finger.String 4 · fret 2
Move your ring finger.String 5, fret 3 → string 3, fret 2
Print beginner guitar chords
Both options use all eight beginner guitar chords above, including their finger numbers and open/muted strings. The fixed PDF is US Letter; print settings control the paper for the current chart. The lesson and practice checkbox are not part of the sheet.
Prints all 8 open chords, regardless of which pair you are practising.
Beginner guitar chords: common questions
Are there five, seven or eight basic guitar chords?
Those numbers describe teaching selections, not a fixed total of guitar chords. This selection of beginner guitar chords uses five major chords (C, G, A, E, D) and three minor chords (Am, Em, Dm), all in open position without a barre. Start with one pair and add others as needed; these eight are not every guitar chord.
Which beginner guitar chords should I learn first?
Em is one option here because the stored shape uses two fretting fingers and includes every string. Em–E then changes just one finger. Hand size, your guitar and the music you want to play can change what feels manageable; the suggested order is not a universal rule.
Why does an open string sound muted?
A neighboring fingertip may be touching it. Pluck that string alone, look at the adjacent fingers, and adjust one at a time. For a fretted string, also check your position within the fret space. The reference tones provide a pitch comparison, not automatic diagnosis.
Are TAB numbers the same as finger numbers?
No. A number inside a diagram dot identifies a finger. A TAB number identifies a fret, with 0 meaning open. TAB string 1 is the top line; the diagram shows string 6 on the left. The vertically aligned TAB here represents one chord, not a melody or a rhythm.
Can I print or download beginner guitar chords?
Yes. Print chart creates a compact sheet of all eight open shapes in this guide. Download PDF opens the existing US Letter reference with the same eight fingerings. Neither sheet contains the complete lesson or saves a practice score. Use your browser’s print settings to save the current chart as a PDF.
Can I use these beginner guitar chords in songs?
Match the chord names in your song with this reference before practising a change. A song may need shapes beyond these eight, and its rhythm is separate from the static chord TAB shown here. This guide supplies fingerings and a short exercise, not complete song arrangements.
Where to go next
- Use the interactive chord chart to search or compare shapes
- Explore the C chord and its other voicings
- Find these notes on the fretboard
Reference notes
The diagrams, TAB, note tables and synthesized tones for these beginner guitar chords use the existing JoyStrum standard-tuning voicings. The suggested pairs and practice sequence are original exercises, not a claim that one learning order fits everyone.