Learning Chords (Guitar Lesson)

Learning Chords

David Wallimann provides an introduction to chords. In this lesson, you will learn how to read chord charts. David also explains how to play your first eight chords.

Taught by David Wallimann in Basic Electric Guitar with David Wallimann seriesLength: 17:03Difficulty: 2.0 of 5

Chords are groups of notes with at least 2 different pitches played together. Even if the notes don’t sound good together, the combination of pitches are still considered to be a chord. There are certain ways to play notes together to make nice chords that will be discussed in this lesson.

Triads are the most common kind of chord. It is simply a three note chord, usually composed of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a scale.

This note tells you the key of the chord. Any chord is named after the root note. For example, all the following chords: D major, Dm7, and Dmaj7(#11) have the same root note, D.

The 3rd note of a scale can be major or minor. When played in a chord it determines whether the chord is major or minor.

Though tablature can be used to notate chords, another common way of writing chords for guitar is with a chord chart. A chord chart is a grid of 6 lines in each direction. Vertical lines represent strings, the left line is the 6th string. The horizontal lines correspond to frets. At the top you may see an "x" or an "o" above a vertical line. "o" means play the open string and "x" means do not play that string.

Each finger is assigned a number: index finger is 1, middle finger is 2, ring finger is 3, and the pinky is 4. Occasionally, the thumb may be used to fret a note. In this case, the thumb is usually labeled "T". There will be circles over the vertical lines and between the horizontal lines. There will either be numbers in the circle or above/below the vertical line. The circle shows you where on your guitar to play the note, and the number tells you which finger to use.

Now you will start learning to play some chords. At this point, these are just some easy chords for you to memorize. Make sure when you are playing chords that each finger is only touching the string(s) that it is supposed to. If a finger touches extra strings, you will end up muting strings that should ring. Also, note that all the chords you will be learning are triads. If more than 3 notes are being played, it is because there are repeating notes in different octaves.

To play this chord, put your middle finger on string 5 fret 2 and put your ring finger on string 4 fret 2. Leave the other strings open and play every string.

This chord starts with the same shape as the E minor. The only difference is that you need to put the index finger on string 3 fret 1. Play every string.

Take the same finger shape you used for the E major chord and move it up one string. Leave the 5th and 1st string open, and do not play the 6th string.

There are a few ways to play the A major chord. One way is to use a barre chord - that is when you lay a finger flat over several strings to play many notes with one finger. It can be difficult at first to make barre chords sound good, but you will get it with practice. To play the A major chord, lay your index finger across the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings at the 2nd fret. Leave the 5th string open and do not play the 6th or 1st string.

Here is another way to play the A major chord if the barre chord is too difficult for you. Use the index finger on string 4 fret 2, middle finger on string 3 fret 2, and ring finger on string 2 fret 2. Leave the 5th string and the 1st string open and do not play the 6th string.

This chord makes a triangle shape on your fretboard. Put your index finger on string 3 fret 2, middle finger on string 1 fret 2, and ring finger on string 2 fret 3. Leave the 4th string open and do not play the 6th or 5th string.

Make the shape for the D major chord with your hand. Put the middle finger in place of your index finger (string 3 fret 2), leave the ring finger in place, and put the index finger on string 1 fret 1. Leave the 4th string open and do not play the 6th or 5th string.

The minor version of the C and G chords are a little bit more complex, so they will be covered later. For now, you will just learn the major chords.

Use the ring finger on string 5 fret 3, middle finger on string 4 fret 2, and index finger on string 2 fret 1. Leave the 3rd and 1st string open and do not play the 6th string.

Take the C major chord shape and move your ring and middle finger down one string. You should have your ring finger on string 6 fret 3 and your middle finger on string 5 fret 2. Then put your pinky on string 1 fret 3. Play all the strings.

If it is difficult for you play the G major chord in this position, it may be easier to do it this way: middle finger on string 6 fret 3, index finger on string 5 fret 2, ring finger on string 1 fret 3.

This is a very important lesson, and you will need to spend some time practicing these chords. Some things to really focus on are remembering the names of the chords, making sure you do not play strings that are not supposed to be played, and making sure that your fingers only cover the strings they are supposed to. If a chord was presented to you with different fingerings, practice it both ways. Keep practicing until you can play all these chords so that they sound good and clean.

Video Subtitles / Captions

Member Comments about this Lesson

rogerfunk replied on May 18th, 2016

the g chord with the pinky is hard to do when you been using index middle and ring daaaaaaaa is what l feel like

hiphopguitarist.com replied on October 10th, 2015

I really love how this course is filling in all the blanks from my self-taught chords from the break room at my former job :) I thought x's and o's were only for playbooks and texts from flirties

Southern Cash replied on September 16th, 2015

Amaj is difficult for big fingers. the barre chord helped me.

[email protected] replied on June 26th, 2014

Does David or another instructor replies to our questions?

[email protected] replied on June 26th, 2014

I understand a chords is composed of a "Root" a "Third" and a "Fifth" but how do I know what makes it a Major Third or a Minor Third? Which determines whether a chord is Major or Minor

AaronMiller replied on August 20th, 2014

Hi, As David mentions in the lesson, a Major 3rd makes a major chord and a minor 3rd makes a minor chord. These are intervals which are related to the scale and key you happen to be playing in. I think as you go on with the lessons intervals will become clearer to you. Hope that helps.

tricky1812 replied on June 16th, 2013

Great lesson, although, more of a refresher course for me, David has an excellent style of teaching and explaining chords, nice and easy to follow, shame us lefties aren't better represented though.

delaforcerj replied on May 28th, 2013

Man I watched this lesson thinking pfft...I know this already! Sorely mistaken!! Never even thought of going from Dmaj to Db in that way, and had absolutely no idea about the second way to play Gmaj! Good lesson!!

cayoung replied on October 12th, 2012

David great lessons. You might want to note that you are using your thumb to deaden the E and A strings depending on the chord shape.

imtravb replied on August 18th, 2012

after this lesson, should we only be working on mastering the technique of each chord, or also be working on seamless transition between all the cords?

timeout replied on May 18th, 2012

Hi David i have to say thanks you very much, your teaching methods are easy to follow and understand for a complete beginner like myself. You make it easy to follow and not complicated like i have always thought it was. I have got this far so no holding back cant wait for next lesson,

BuffyLOL replied on March 19th, 2012

I do not manage to play G with the 234 fingers, won´t give up, but my pinky does not want to cooperate. Great lesson, thanks David

bigfro replied on March 7th, 2012

hey David, one question. what Hz do you use on your guitar? I just can't seem to find which Hz to tune my guitar to. I'd really be thankful if you could help me out with this. also, do I have to use the guitar amp for these lessons?

bigfro replied on March 7th, 2012

hey David, one question. what Hz do you use on your guitar? I just can't seem to find which Hz to tune my guitar to. I'd really be thankful if you could help me out with this. also, do I have to use the guitar amp for these lessons?

tritone30 replied on January 25th, 2012

Hi David, the lessons are going really well, I have got this far and it is developing well. Everything understood. At last i understand the difference between Am and E major!

hojocat replied on August 4th, 2011

I've always played G with fingers 123. It's always been comfortable and easy to get to. Why use 234 when it is more difficult and awkward?

brandonl15 replied on February 5th, 2012

because when you get into more complicated music you will use your first finger to hammer-on a different string.

harry replied on August 1st, 2011

I really did not understand about the 3rd and 5th. Is it important I know what this is now or will it be elaborated on later?

gekisai29 replied on July 25th, 2011

nice lesson. for the i finger A do you play it with 4 strings as on the video or 3 strings as on the chart?

metalmoog replied on January 18th, 2011

Hey David I wish you had more video lessons on Jamplay. Your instruction is excellent and I really enjoy your enthusiasm and teaching methods.

bigred42 replied on July 17th, 2010

video not found????

jbooth replied on July 19th, 2010

What quality setting and scene are you having issues with? I am unable to replicate problems with the video. Are you still having problems?

gcumber replied on July 14th, 2010

Is it a good use of time to also learn the "pinky" finger positions for other chords other than G-major, or is there a better use of practice time?

royreddy replied on April 17th, 2010

I have been playing D and Dm for a while but often forgot the Dm fingering. This video changed that. ``The minor drops the 3rd one step`` and so I will now remember the shape. Thnx

jayanth replied on March 30th, 2010

Hi David Sir I heard your lesson 5: i.e Cm7 root C and Db and this lesson is definitely useful to me . thank you Sir.

jdorsman replied on March 26th, 2010

Very nice lesson David. I'm still struggling with chord names and variations, but this lesson is definitely very useful!