How to Play Guitar Chords for Beginners
This is the C chord, as a beginner I start with C because it is the first chord in the key of C. And all the chords in the key of C are the easiest to learn to play.
You play C by placing your ring finger on the third fret fifth string. Your middle finger is placed on the second fret fourth string. Your index finger presses on the first fret, second string. When I say on the fret it is assumed that you place your finger as close to the fret as comfortable without touching the fret. If you are exactly on the fret it may sound funny.
You strum only strings one through five for the c chord. Here is a beginner guitar chord lesson chart It is also important to know all the chords in one key so you can play almost any song by changing it to, let’s say, the key of C I will go over how to easily change almost any song into the key of c. The next Chord is D minor.
This is played by placing the index finger on the first fret first string. Next the middle finger goes on the second fret third string. Last the ring finger goes on the third fret second string. When playing the chords as a beginner place your thumb on the back of the neck not up the side. And make sure your fingers curl around as if there is an imaginary bar between your fingers and the guitar.
You only strum strings one through four E minor is a really easy chord. To play e minor with your middle finger press on the fifth string second fret. And then also on the second fret with your ring finger press on the fourth string and strum all six strings. Your fingers should come straight down onto the string to minimize inadvertently touching other strings.
This will all feel funny for a while and it is normal if it does. The F Chord has an easy and a hard version. This is the easy. Place your ring finger on the third fret on the fourth String. Your middle finger goes on the second fret third string.
Your index finger goes on the first fret but presses down on the first and second string at the same time. You only strum strings one through four. As well as feeling funny, holding these chords might make your fingertips hurt and your hand muscles and especially thumb muscles sore as a beginner. Keep practicing these will go away as your muscles get stronger and you build up minor tiny calluses in your fingertips G is a very important chord.
Lead with the middle finger on the third fret sixth string Followed by the index finger on the second fret fifth string. Lastly use your pinky on the third fret first string. You can use your ring finger if it is easier for you. Strum all six strings.
If when you strum you are getting a funny sound watch out for these three things Your finger inadvertently touching another string or you aren’t close enough to the fret or your finger is exactly on top of the fret. Lets move on to A minor It is played with index finger on the first fret second string. Then the middle finger on the second fret fourth string and finally the ring finger also on the second fret but third string.
Only strum the first five strings To get good transitioning between chords, practice 30 minutes a day. Do five minutes of practice transitioning between chords. Then five minutes of strumming patterns which you can learn from my other video on guitar lessons for beginners. Then 5 minutes of transitioning and strumming together.
Then repeat this all one more time. Do this every day and you’ll get good soon! The B diminished chord is not used that often. But I will teach it since it is part of the key of C anyways. This is the easy version. Place your pinky on the third string fourth fret.
Then your ring finger on second string third fret. Then place your index finger on the first string first fret. Strum only the first 3 strings of this chord. Once again this chord is not used that much so only spend a lot of time on it if its in a song that your really want to play. With these seven chords in the key of c you can play most songs that you like.
