Acoustic Guitar Chords - Learn a Few Play a Lot

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Acoustic Guitar Cords - Learn a Few Play a Lot
By Bart Rutherford

Several notes played simultaneously is called an acoustic guitar chord. Even with many different acoustic guitar chords, if you learn just a few basic acoustic guitar chords, you will be able to play hundreds of songs, if not more. Major chords give out a cheerful sound while minor chords emit a sound that seems darker or sadder.

Acoustic guitar chord diagrams notate guitar chords. Rather than side to side (horizontal) the way guitar tabs run, the lines that represent an acoustic chord diagram will run up and down, or vertically. You will see a grid when looking at a chord diagram. The strings are represented by the vertical lines, while the frets are represented by the horizontal lines. The areas where you need to hold the string down is where the dots appear.

Numbers will be at the top or bottom of the acoustic guitar chord diagram. This diagram represents the finger that holds down each strong - 1 means the index finger, 2 means the middle finger, 3 the ring finger, and 4 the pinky. If you see a 0, that means to leave the string open when you play. On the other hand, an X means an string open that is not played. And occasionally you’ll see T used. This means to use your thumb to play, but this does not occur too often.

The first acoustic guitar chord we’re going to tackle is the G-major chord. Your middle finger goes on the sixth string at the third fret, your index finger goes on the fifth string at the second fret and your ring finger goes on the first string on the third fret. Play each individual note, including the open strings one by one. Be careful you can plainly hear each note and make sure you don’t hear any strange buzzing or rattling noises from the strings. If the sound isn’t right, you can try pushing harder on the string so that it presses closer to the fingerboard. You can also bring your finger closer to the fret. Your fingers should not be touching one another, or any of the other strings. You can strum all of the notes in unison once the sound is good. You will then be playing a G-major acoustic guitar chord.

The E-minor acoustic guitar chord is easier on the left hand. The E-minor chord uses only two left-hand fingers: the index and middle fingers, both on the second fret, of the fifth and fourth strings respectively. Make sure that both strings are held firmly without the two fingers touching each other. You may want to play those two strings several times by themselves before attempting the chord, so you can adjust the fingering if needed. Then strum all strings to play an E minor chord.Since this is a minor chord, the sound will be darker.

If you are a beginner, good basic acoustic guitar chords to learn are A-major, A-minor, C-major and D-major. You should try to move back and forth between the acoustic guitar chords as quickly as you can. Practicing quick finger placement is critical.

Learning to play acoustic guitar chords will not happen quickly or easily at first and you will have to keep checking your finger placement. But if you continue to practice, practice, practice, the muscle memory will soon take over and you will be moving freely through all of the acoustic guitar chords. In a short time it will become second nature to you.

Acoustic guitar playing can be more than just good music. To read more about Guitar Cords….Playing Them ….follow here at http://www.acousticguitarguide.net

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Free Acoustic Guitar Chords Chart - Basic Chords for the Beginner

Here is a basic acoustic guitar chord chart that I put together to help the beginner guitarist quickly learn chords.

I also included a list of video demonstrations on how to play the guitar chords.

Play each chord slowly making certain that you have a clean sound when you play each note individually. If you don’t get a clean sound you are not pressing down the strings hard enough, or one of your fingers is touching another string.

This is common so do not get discouraged!

Do not try and master all of these chords all at once. Take on a few at a time and then move on.

Here are a couple of easy chord progressions:

GMajor, DMajor, CMajor: Knocking on Heavens Door by Bob Dylan

Emajor, AMajor: For What Its Worth by Buffalo Springfield

Click the thumbnail image below to open the Acousic Guitar Chord Chart:

Here are the guitar chord video lessons:

E CHORDS
E Major Chord:	E Minor Chord
E 7 Chord
A CHORDS
A Major Chord	A Minor
A 7
D CHORDS
D Major	D Minor
C CHORDS
C Major Chord	C Minor
C7 Chord
G CHORDS
G Major Chord	G Minor Chord
G7 Chord
F CHORDS
F Major Chord	F Minor
B CHORDS
B Major	B Minor
B7 Chord

How To Play Chords On Your Guitar

By Kevin Sinclair

As a beginner you will already be making your own music on your instrument but learning how to play chords by strumming or striking two or three strings of the guitar at the same time takes your playing one step further and learning how to do this can be very rewarding.

The three most frequently used chords are G major, C Major and D major. These are also the easiest chords for placement of your fingers so an ideal place for the beginner to start learning and practicing to play chords. When these easy chords are mastered the more challenging chords can then be studied.

To play a chord in G major you need to place your second finger on the sixth string of the third fret. Then place your first finger on the fifth string of the second fret. Your third finger is then placed on the third fret of the first string. It is important to curl your fingers so they are not touching any other strings as this will change the sound of the chord. Then with your fingers in place when you strike all the six strings in one continuous strum the sound of the G major chord will be heard.

To play the C major key, you need place your third finger on the third fret of the fifth string. Then, your second finger should be placed on the second fret of the fourth string and finally your first finger on the first fret of the second string. When playing the C major chord only the bottom five strings should be strummed so make sure you avoid hitting the sixth string as this will also change the sound of the chord.

The D major key involves all three fingers being placed in close proximity so this may be a little difficult for some beginners although once the technique is mastered it will no longer be a problem. Put your first finger on the third string of the fourth fret. Then your third finger on the second string of the third fret. Lastly, put the second finger on the first string of the second fret. You will then play the D major chord by strumming the four bottom strings.

There are many songs to choose from which have only these three chords and then once you are fully familiar and confident you can move on to songs involving different chords. There is only one way to play chords to perfection and that is to practice on a regular basis.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development. http://www.musicianhome.com