5 Basic Guitar Chords You Can Master Right Now

One of the best things about the guitar is that you only need a handful of chords to unlock an impressive repertoire of songs; you don’t actually need to memorize all the guitar chords possible. Open-string basic guitar chords are where everybody starts when they first pick up the instrument, so whether you’re looking to learn classic songs or write material of your own, knowing these guitar chords for beginners is a must. These are the “easy” chords that anyone can play!

In this post, you’ll learn how to play guitar chords by learning how to read guitar chord grids, and the 5 important guitar chord shapes. We’ll take a look at one chord-change exercise that will help you get your chord playing skills up to speed in no time. And we’ll review some of the most popular guitar songs for beginners that use these easy guitar chords, so you can strum along!

What is a Guitar Chord?

A guitar chord refers to the sound of several notes played together. To play a chord, you will play several notes at once instead of one individual note at a time. This involves placing your fingers in specific spots on frets across different strings and strumming all–or some of–the strings at once. Knowing how to play just a few basic guitar chords can open up a world of musical opportunities. There are several ways to familiarize yourself with easy guitar chords. Here, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for how to play chords on guitar.

What Are the 5 Most Important Basic Guitar Chords to Learn?

The most important basic guitar chords to learn are A, C, D, Em, and G. That’s because these 5 chords make up a huge portion of music played on the guitar. Here’s what those chords look like: 

It takes some practice to be able to memorize chord shapes and switch between them quickly enough to play a song. But don’t get discouraged. As long as you commit to practicing, you can become a pro at your chord progressions in less time than you might think. And the good news is that once you have these main 5 basic chords down, you can play along with dozens of your favorite tunes.

Once you understand the notation, the next step is to get the chords down by memory. In some cases, these basic guitar chords can be remembered easily by comparing them to geometric shapes. If you connect the dots inside each grid, you’ll see that the ‘A’ is a straight line, the ‘C’ is a diagonal line, the ‘D’ is an equilateral triangle, and the ‘G’ chord forms an isosceles triangle. The more you practice these chords on a guitar for beginners, the easier it will be to commit them to memory. 

After you have the chords memorized, it’s time to check each chord string-by-string to ensure all the notes are sounding. Pick through each string, going downward from the bass strings to the treble strings. Listen closely to verify each note. If a string is muted, try resetting the fingers so that they sit higher on the fingertips. Make sure the fingers do not touch against any open strings, thereby dampening them. Chord Change Drills

Practice changing between any two chords using this simple drill. Play each chord on beats 1 & 3, lift the fingers completely on beats 2 & 4, and repeat. Make sure to set and remove all the fingers together (simultaneously). You may find it awkward at first as you consciously place each finger, but you’ll get smoother and more efficient at it as you practice. It’ll become muscle memory in no time! By doing this for a few minutes each day, you will learn to do fast and clean chord changes in the left hand, which is key to being able to play songs well.

How to Play Guitar Chords: Easy Tips

1. Understand Chord-Grid Notation

Along with guitar tablature (or “tabs”), chord grids are an important shorthand method of notating guitar music. Although it is important for all guitar students to learn to read music notation eventually, tablature and chord grids are usually a better option for beginners who just want to learn simple rock, pop, or folk songs quickly.

Unlike music notation, guitar tabs do not provide the rhythm, so it’s best to use these when you are already familiar with the tune. If you already know the song by heart, all you need to do is master the finger placements. Remember, the notation is just a means to an end; it’s just another way to learn something you’ll play on your guitar.

• With chord-grids, you are looking at a simple diagram, or snapshot, of the guitar neck. The guitar is oriented so that the headstock is pointing upward; horizontal lines represent the fret-wires that separate the frets (spaces), and the vertical lines are strings.
• Dots inside the diagram represent left-hand fingers, which are placed over the string inside the indicated fret. For the ‘A’ chord pictured here, all three fingers sit inside the second fret. Set your fourth (pinky) finger on the 2nd string, your third (ring) finger on the 3rd string, and your second (middle) finger on the 4th string.

Often the left-hand thumb will stay anchored on top of the neck to deaden the sixth string. Alternatively, the edge of a fretting finger can be used to mute an adjacent string. This is called a flesh mute and allows the guitarist to strum all six strings so that only five strings are heard.

2. Memorize the Shapes

Once you understand the notation, the next step is to get the chords down by memory. In some cases, these basic guitar chords can be remembered easily by comparing them to geometric shapes. 

• If you connect the dots inside each grid, you’ll see that the ‘A’ is a straight line, the ‘C’ is a diagonal line, the ‘D’ is an equilateral triangle, and the ‘G’ chord forms an isosceles triangle. 
• The more you practice these guitar chords for songs for beginners, the easier it will be to commit them to memory.

3. Perfect Your Sound

After you have the chords memorized, it’s time to check each chord string-by-string to ensure all the notes are sounding. 

• Pick through each string, going downward from the bass strings to the treble strings. Listen closely to verify each note.
•  If a string is muted, try resetting the fingers so that they sit higher on the fingertips. Make sure the fingers do not touch against any open strings, thereby dampening them. Chord Change Drills

4. Practice Chord Changes

Practice changing between any two chords using this simple drill. Play each chord on beats 1 & 3, lift the fingers completely on beats 2 & 4, and repeat. 

• Make sure to set and remove all the fingers together (simultaneously). You may find it awkward at first as you consciously place each finger, but you’ll get smoother and more efficient at it as you practice. 
• It’ll become muscle memory in no time! By doing this for a few minutes each day, you will learn to do fast and clean chord changes in the left hand, which is key to being able to play songs well.

5. Smart Practicing

If you’re just starting out on the guitar, it’s good to be aware of some of the challenges that every new player faces. The fact is that everyone’s fingers feel awkward the first time they try to learn the guitar, but it’s important to stick it out at least until you have the basic guitar chords down. 

• Your fingers need to develop some strength and dexterity in order to switch between chords quickly, and the only way to do this is to keep on playing. 

You won’t become a guitar pro overnight, but with some time, practice, and dedication, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this instrument. Even five minutes a day for a couple of weeks will make a huge difference!

20 Beginner Guitar Songs Using Only A, C, D, Em, and G Chords

Ready to start jamming out? It’s time to discover easy guitar chords for songs that you’ve always wanted to play. From nursery songs to iconic rock songs, here’s a list of 20 of the easiest guitar songs to play that use only these five chords. Master these songs, and you’ll be unstoppable with what you can achieve on your musical journey.

Here’s a list of 20 easy songs to play on guitar for beginners that use only these five chords:

Photo by BrianYuen
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