Don’t make learning guitar chords any tougher that it has to be! Read on to check yourself with some helpful advice from Tulsa, OK teacher Chris F...
Are you a beginner guitarist who is learning to play chords? If so, then you’re probably making some common mistakes.
Don’t worry – we all make mistakes when we’re first starting out! Here are some common mistakes that new guitarists make when they are learning how to play chords and some tips on how to avoid them.
What Guitar Chords Should I Learn First?
A great place to start when beginning guitar is with basic chords. Three of the most important chords for any guitarist are the G, C, and D major chords:
- Starting by mastering these fundamental chords will provide a solid foundation that can be later built upon.
- Practicing switching between these beginner chords will train your hands in the basic patterns they will use while playing songs more complex than just three open chords.
- As you progress through your guitar journey, more intricate chords such as minor and seventh chord variations can easily be picked up after understanding the basics of rock & roll’s golden triad – G, C & D major!
Ready to uncover more about the first chords to learn on guitar? Be sure to sign up for guitar lessons. You’ll not only learn basic guitar chords, but everything you need to be an amazing guitar player, like what you see in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZ64yEGPok
What is the Best Way to Learn Guitar Chords?
The first thing you need to do when figuring out how to learn guitar chords is understand how they work. In music theory, a chord is simply two or more notes played together at the same time. To play a chord on the guitar, you need to strum multiple strings simultaneously with one hand while forming a specific shape with your other hand on the fretboard. And that’s where things can get tricky—each chord has its own unique shape and pattern of notes that must be memorized.
One of the best ways to learn new chords quickly is by using visual aids. Whether it’s diagrams of chord shapes or videos of someone playing those shapes, having visuals can make understanding complex fingerings much easier.
Additionally, you may find it helpful to practice gradually building up more difficult chords from simpler ones. For example, if you’re trying to learn an A minor barre chord (which requires six fingers!), then first try practicing just an A major barre chord (which requires five fingers). Once that becomes second nature, add in the sixth finger and voila! You now know an A minor barre chord.
Finally, don’t forget about muscle memory! The more time and effort you put into rehearsing each chord in different combinations and progressions, the faster your hands will remember them without having to look at a diagram or video every time. Just like typing on a keyboard or riding a bike, it takes practice before something becomes second nature — so keep practicing!
What Are Some Easy Guitar Chords to Learn?
Playing the guitar can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not always easy—especially when you’re just getting started!
Knowing what chords to learn first will allow you to begin strumming your favorite songs and experiencing that sense of joy faster than ever. Some of the most popular beginner-friendly chords are the major chords such as E, A, G, C, and D.
These chords have an open sound which makes them relatively straightforward to play. On top of that, they can be used in a variety of different musical contexts.
Along with these major chords, some minor chords may also be good starting points, including Am, Em and Dm. For more experienced guitar players wanting to expand their repertoire, try picking up some barre chords or jazzier chord variations—it’s sure to open up exciting new possibilities for practice and performance!
How Long Does it Take to Learn Guitar Chords?
Learning guitar chords can be a tricky endeavor for beginners, but the good news is that with some dedication, commitment and practice, it doesn’t have to be a lengthy process.
Generally speaking, depending on what style of guitar you are wanting to learn and your level of prior musical experience, learning basic chords will typically take between three to four weeks in total.
That said, there are several methods available that can speed this process up even more – like using chord charts or tutorials online – which may result in an individual being able to play their favorite chords within just seven days!
If You Want to Learn Guitar Chords, Avoid These Mistakes
I have been teaching guitar for several years now. Every now and then I evaluate the effectiveness of my teaching methods. What I’ve discovered is that there are many bad ways to go about teaching and learning guitar chords. Based off my experience, here are some ineffective ways people try to learn chords:
- They try to learn too many chords at once (and don’t learn any of them well).
- They don’t use a capo.
- They don’t use Roman Numerals.
Let me break these problems down one by one and suggest some alternative habits that will get you learning guitar chords and playing better in no time.
Trying to learn too many chords at once
95% of popular music is made up of four kinds of chords. Often, these chords are G, C, D, Em. These are the first four guitar chords that you should know like the back of your hand. Countless songs in all genres can be played with these four chords. If you can play these four chords quickly and well, you’re better off than someone that can play 15 chords just alright.
The next two chords you should learn are Am and F. Those six chords will open up countless songs. Keep in mind that you’ll run across chords like Em7 and Cadd9. Those chords have additional details which will be easy to add down the road. For now, just play the first letter in the chord. Similarly, chords like G/B and D/F# should just be read as the first letter for now. Don’t make the mistake of getting caught up in too many little details. Learn the six chords above and play as much as you can with them.
Not using a capo
A capo is a device for guitar and other fretted instruments that moves all the pitches on the guitar up a certain amount (e.g. up two frets or five frets). They are inexpensive and are absolutely essential for learning guitar chords and songs. With a capo, countless songs can be played with the six chords mentioned above. The songs are still playable without a capo, but much harder chords are required to play them. Fortunately, the six chords above are easier to play and sound better than the non-capoed chords. Invest in a capo and you’ll use it all the time.
Not using Roman Numerals
Roman Numerals in music is a way of thinking about chords like numbers. For example, when we’re in the key of G (all that means now is that we’re using G, C, D, and Em together), G = I, C = IV, D = V, and Em = vi. These numbers are based off of the musical alphabet. G is 1, A is 2, B is 3, C is 4, D is 5, and E is 6. These numbers represent something much more important than G, C, D, and Em. In fact, it’s these numbers (and no so much the chords) that are going through the brains of the pros when they’re playing through a song. Why these numbers are used will become more and more clear down the road. Memorizing and practicing them is the important thing to start with as a beginner.
To practice this, take ten or more chord charts and replace G, C, D, and Em with I, IV, V, and vi. For example:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey. (G – C – G)
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. (C – G – Em – G – D – G)
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey. (I – IV – I)
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. (IV – I – vi – I – V – I)
If you get these numbers in your head now, you’ll learn songs much more faster down the road. It may seem pointless, but it’s one of the most useful things you can do as a guitarist. There is much more to be said about Roman Numerals, but that will have to left to another article.
Not Learning the Basics of Chord Theory First
Chords can be confusing, especially when you look at charts or diagrams of them. Before you begin playing, it’s important to take the time to understand the basics of chord theory. This will help you better understand what each chord is made up of and why certain combinations sound better than others. Understanding this will give you a much better foundation for learning how to play chords on the guitar.
Not Taking Enough Time To Practice
Learning how to play chords on the guitar takes time and patience. If you want to get good at playing chords, then it is essential that you practice regularly and take your time while doing so. Spend a few minutes each day practicing chord changes and focusing on specific fingerings or chord shapes if necessary. This will help build up your muscle memory and eventually allow you to play any chord with ease.
Playing Too Fast
When it comes to playing chords, slower is often better than faster. It can be tempting for new guitarists to rush through their progressions in an effort to learn more quickly, but this can lead to sloppy playing or even injury if done incorrectly. Take your time when playing guitar chords – oftentimes slow practice makes perfect! Additionally, practice with a metronome or timer (especially if you plan on playing with other musicians) as this will help improve your accuracy and timing while playing chords in different tempos.
Avoid these mistakes and you’ll have a huge advantage as a guitarist and a musician. Happy playing!
How Do You Memorize Guitar Chords?
Memorizing guitar chords can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be intimidating. One of the more effective strategies for learning chords is to first listen to them.
Spend some time listening to music utilizing particular chords so you can become familiar with their sounds. After that, take some time and practice playing simple sequences from popular pieces featuring those same chords, just to get comfortable with them.
Once that step is accomplished, you can start to combine chords in bigger and more challenging sequences from classic pieces.
As your progression continues, commit more complex sets of chords to memory by creating mnemonic cues that help you remember each one. An excellent reinforcement technique is also ‘shadow’ practice: copying the chord progressions of well-known artists note-for-note until they become second nature.
With dedication and helpful memorization tactics, anyone can acquire a comprehensive understanding of the fretboard and all its musical potential!
Learning how to play guitar chords can seem like a daunting task at first, but with patience and dedication anyone can become an expert! Keep in mind these three common mistakes that many beginners make while learning chords and make sure that your practice sessions are focused and consistent – soon enough, you’ll be strumming along like a pro!
Chris F. teaches guitar, piano, music theory, and more in Tulsa, OK. He has been active in collegiate percussion ensembles, marching and concert bands, various choirs, chamber music groups, jazz combos, an award winning jazz big band, bluegrass combos, drum and bugle corps, and private lessons on several instruments, as both a section leader and as a teacher. Learn more about Chris here!
Photo by simon_music
Suzy S.