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Guitar chords for beginners: the 8 you need first
With Em, Am, E, A, D, G, C and Dm you can play thousands of songs. Learn them in this order: each new chord reuses a finger shape you already know.
- 1Em2 fingers · Easy
- 2Am3 fingers · Medium
- 3E3 fingers · Medium
- 4A3 fingers · Medium
- 5D3 fingers · Medium
- 6G3 fingers · Medium
- 7C3 fingers · Medium
- 8Dm3 fingers · Medium
Learn them in this order
The order matters more than people think. Two-finger chords first, then shapes that share fingers, and the stretchy ones last, when your fingertips are a little harder.
- Em — two fingers on the A and D strings, all six strings ring. The easiest full chord on the guitar.
- Am — the same two fingers as Em, moved over by one string, plus the index finger. Skip the low E string.
- E — exactly the Am shape moved over by one string toward the low E. Strum all six strings.
- A — three fingers side by side on the second fret. If they do not fit, try fingers 2-1-3 or a one-finger mini barre.
- D — a small triangle on the top three strings. Play only from the D string down.
- G — the first stretch: from the low E string to the high E string. Keep the thumb low behind the neck.
- C — a diagonal line of three fingers. The hardest of the eight to get clean; be patient with the open G string.
- Dm — the D triangle turned around. Together with Am it gives you the classic sad progression.
The changes to practise
Knowing a chord is not the same as getting to it in time. Practise these pairs for one minute each: switch on every beat at a slow tempo, then speed up.
Em to Am: the two fingers move across by one string together; just add the index finger.
A to D: lift the three fingers as one block and land the D triangle.
D to G: the ring finger can stay on the third fret of the B string as an anchor.
G to C: the most common change in pop. Move the ring finger first, it travels furthest.
C to Am: index and middle finger stay put; only the ring finger moves.
Am to Dm: think of it as one shape moved and turned; the index finger leads.
A two-week plan
Ten to fifteen minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Use the metronome at a slow tempo and only speed up when the changes are clean.
- Days 1–2: Em and Am. Press each string, pick it one by one, fix any dead notes. Then switch on every 4th beat at 60 BPM.
- Days 3–4: add E and A. Practise Em–Am–E–A in a loop, four beats each.
- Days 5–6: add D. The changes A–D and D–A on every 2nd beat.
- Days 7–8: add G. It needs the biggest stretch; check each string before you strum.
- Days 9–10: add C. Loop G–C–D, the most common three-chord pattern there is.
- Days 11–12: add Dm. Play Am–Dm–E–Am and C–Am–Dm–G.
- Days 13–14: all eight chords. Change on every beat at 60 BPM, then try 80 BPM with the folk strumming pattern.
Common mistakes
- Pressing in the middle of the fret. Press just behind the fret wire: less force, cleaner sound.
- Flat fingers touching the next string. Curve the fingers and play on the tips; trim the nails.
- Strumming strings that do not belong to the chord. D starts on the D string, Am on the A string.
- Stopping the strum to change chords. Keep the right hand moving, even if a chord is late.
- Squeezing too hard. If your thumb hurts, relax it; the chord needs less pressure than you think.
What next?
After these eight, learn F (the first barre chord; it is hard for a week, everyone struggles), B7 and the seventh chords. The printable chart has every common chord on one sheet.