Learning Guitar chords can be a fast track to playing songs and feeling comfortable on the instrument when playing on your own and with other people. It will allow you to play most songs and make it easier when you are given the chords to a song to have a few different options to play around with. Yes, this will involve learning the dreaded Barre chord, but keep at it and it will grant you freedom on the guitar.
Learn a few notes.
Along with learning the shapes for the guitar chords you should try to learn the notes on the lowest two strings up to the 12th fret. You will use these as the root notes for the chord shapes so knowing them allows you to know where to land on the neck and switch between the chords quickly.
Getting an idea of the few reference points is a good start. The lowest string played open (not fretted) is an E and the second lowest is the A. using the fret inlays on the guitar we can remember that the 3rd fret (first fret with inlay) on the E string is a G then the 5th fret is an A and the 7th, a B. same idea on the A string the 3rd fret is a C the 5th a D and so on. Getting to know some landmarks helps you know where your next chord is without counting up the fret board each time to where you want to go.
The barre chord
A barre chord is a chord you play where your index finger is laid down across one fret and pressing down on all the strings (think of your finger as a ‘bar’ across the fret) then your other fingers add other notes above it towards the bridge. This is tricky at first but a good way to start is to try and just fret all the strings on one fret with your index finger and your thumb on the back of the neck, then play each string individually and see if they are all ringing out, if not you may have to press harder towards a certain string or change the shape of your index finger (flatten it out more). Again, this take practice to get down.
The shapes
Well go over two main shapes for major and minor chords that will get you up and down the guitar neck no problem. With these shapes if you haven’t played them before they may feel awkward at first, you might feel like your fingers won’t stretch that far or the neck, or the tips of your fingers hurt from pressing on the strings. Just keep practicing, if it hurts too much give it a rest and come back tomorrow for more, you will get there if you practice, I promise.
‘The E shape’
We’ll call this the ‘E shape’ because the root note will always be on the E string (the lowest string). For a major chord using the E shape it will require a bar with your index finger on the fret of the root note then the next string down (A string) your ring finger will be 2 frets up. Again, the next string your little finger is 2 frets up. Lastly your middle finger on the g string (4th down) is one fret up from your index bar. Check out the pictures for a visual idea of how it works. For a minor chord with the root note on the E string do exactly the same thing but take away the middle finger and let that g string be fretted by the bar with your index.
A Major chord with root on low E string
A minor chord with Root on the low E string
‘The A shape’
We’ll call this the ‘A shape’ because, you guessed it, the Root note is on the A string, the second string down. So for a major chord our index finger will bar all the strings but the low E string (it is a good idea to have the tip of your finger touching but not fretting the low E so its muted if you hit it).
Then with your ring ringer you’re going to bar the 3rd 4th and 5th strings down (D, G & B) two frets up from the root note. This ring finger bar can be hard so if needed, you can use the middle ring and little finger for one string each. The high E string should be fretted with your index finger with the bar.
For the A shape minor chord, again with a bar on the root fret, then the D string third string down the ring finger is 2 frets up from that same as the little finger on the string below then the middle finger one fret up on the 5th string down (the B string). This is the same shape as a major chord with the root on the E string but moved down.
D Major chord with the root on the A string
D Minor chord with the root on the A string
To conclude
If you’re just starting out, try getting your hand into the shapes for the guitar chords, play each string and see if all the notes ring out then move your hand off the neck or to another shape and then back again. At first it will feel awkward, frustrating, and may feel like it’s taking an eternity for your hand to make the shapes but in time you will get faster, and it will get easier.
So now, say you look up a song online and find out the chords are G, C, and D you can find those root notes on the low E or the A string and move those major chord shapes around to play the song, or start on the E string with the G major then the next chord C is right below on the A string. Keep practicing, have a play around and it will become a lot smoother over time. There you go, I’d say you’re officially a guitar player now.
Get out there and give it a go.
Other great tips and tricks can be found over at MukkenBlog