This brash-sounding, bright chord has found its way into many popular songs of different genres. It is widely used in genres like country, blues, rock, pop, and jazz.

It can be slightly more challenging to play than other open chords, but it is a flexible, fun chord to play and can be played in many different positions on the guitar’s neck.

This article will teach you how to play the B7 chord in an open position and learn about the notes that make up this chord. If you’re still at the beginning stages, I would start with an easier lesson such as the G Major Scale Guitar. Or if you’re at the very beginning stages, see the Guitar Strings and Notes.

Notes and Intervals of the B7 Chord

Four notes make up the B7 chord: B, D#, F#, and A. We have talked about chord formulas that make up minor chords and major chords. Seventh chords, like the B7 chord, make use of a slightly different procedure.

By adding a flattened 7th note of the B major scale to your standard major chord formula, you will get a B7 chord. That extra 7th note gives the B7 chord its unique characteristic.

To form the B7 chord, you combine the root, major third, perfect fifth, and flat seventh of the B major scale.

The B major scale notes are B–C#–D#–E–F#–G#–A#. Using the seven-chord formula, which is 1–3–5-7b, we arrive at the notes B–D#–F#–A. Note that the 7th note of the scale is lowered by a halftone. So instead of playing A#, we play the note A. Just add a flat 7 to a standard B major chord to have a B7 chord.

How to Play the B7 Open Position

Now that we have dealt with the musical theory behind constructing a B7 chord, it’s time to play the chord. One of the most common ways to play the B7 chord is in the open position, using standard tuning. To play the B7 chord on the guitar, you have to place your fingers on the following frets and strings:

• Place your first finger on the first fret of the fourth (D) string
• Place your second finger on the second fret of the fifth (A) string.
• Place your third finger on the second fret of the third (G) string.
• Place your pinky finger on the 2nd fret of the E (1st) string.

The sixth string in this chord is muted when you play this chord, so strum five strings down from the A (5th) string, muting your low E (6th) string.

Now you need to practice playing this chord.  Most of my students have trouble with this chord at first, so don’t feel bad if it is not coming to you right away.  Start adding this chord to your chord progressions.

Play the following chords and work on the change between the chords:

Em–B7-Em-B7-Am-C.

Use a down, down, down strumming pattern until you are comfortable holding the chord.

You can speed up your strumming using a down, down-up strumming pattern once you start nailing the chord.

How to Play the B7 Barre Chord Position

You can also play the B7 chord using the second position, which is a barre chord shape. The chord begins with the bass note on the second fret in this position, so we call it the second position. To play the B7 barre chord in the second position:

• Place your index (first) finger across the first five strings of the second fret. Your first finger should hold down the A, D, G, B, and E strings on the second fret.  You do not need to hold down the sixth string – this will be muted.
• Place your third finger on the third string (D String) fourth fret.
• Place your fourth finger on the fifth string (B String) fourth fret.

Songs with the B7 Chord

There are some easy songs that use the B7 chord.  The B7 chord is widely used in blues songs, but it is also used in rock and jazz songs.  Below are some easy songs that incorporate the B7 chord.  Give them a try!

1. 1. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown: G-A7-B7-C-D
   2. Sweet Home Chicago: E7-A7-B7
   3. Norwegian Wood: D-Em-A-B7 (My interpretation of the song – give it a try)
   4. Barbara Ann: E-A-B7
   5. Folsom Prison Blues: B7-E-A

The post The B7 Guitar Chord appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

There are many ways to play the E minor chord, but this lesson will show you how to play the two most widely used positions.

Because it is a minor chord, it has a sad feeling instead of a major chord with a happy feel. You can compare E minor and E major on your guitar to hear the difference. For a more general overview, you can revisit our page on the guitar string notes.

Songwriters often write sad songs in minor keys, while joyous songs are written in major keys. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, although it is pretty standard.

Note and Intervals of the E Minor Chord

To form an E minor chord, you simply combine a minor third and major third. The interval between the notes E and G is one and a half tones also called a minor third. The interval between G and B is two tones, which are also called a major third.

Remember that a standard chord is made up of three notes: the 1st (root), 3rd, and 5th intervals.

If you are familiar with minor chords, you’ll remember that what makes a chord minor is the flat 3rd interval. That being said, the minor chord uses the 1, ♭3, and 5 to form its unique structure.

With E minor, this means the notes would be E, G, and B. From E to G is a minor 3rd (M3). Also, from G to B is a major third. What differentiates a minor chord from a major chord is the flat third.

How to Play the E Minor Chord Open Position

In standard E tuning, you need only two fingers to play the E minor chord. Although you need only two fingers, you can strum all the strings. To play the E minor open position:

• Place your second finger on the second fret of the fifth (A) string
• Place your third finger on the second fret of the fourth (D) string.

Another way to look at playing the Em chord is to look at the E major chord.  The difference between the E major chord and the E minor chord is that you simply remove your first finger from the third string on the first fret

Go ahead and strum all six strings, starting from the low E string.  Use a nice easy strumming pattern to get used to the chord.

Once you are comfortable with this chord, start switching between other (easy) open chords.  I like to build songs using E minor, C major, and D major.  Go ahead and play through each of these chords – be creative.

How to Play the E Minor Barre Chord (7th position)

• Place your first finger across all of the strings on the seventh fret.
• Place your second finger on the eighth fret of the second (B) string.
• Place your third finger on the ninth fret of the fourth (D) string.
• Place your fourth finger on the ninth fret of the third (G) string

Strum all six strings and play a nice up and down strumming pattern.

You will use your index finger to barre the 7th fret. You then use your index finger, middle finger, and ring fingers to create the chord formation that looks like A minor. The only difference is that it will be on the ninth fret. Here’s what it will look like:

At a point, you will be playing songs that require you to be higher up on the neck of the guitar using barre chords. This is why you should strive to get comfortable with the E minor barre chord at the 7th position.

If you are having trouble with barre chords, you will need to keep working at it.  Barre chords are essential for playing guitar.  The more you play them, your finger strength will grow, and it will be as easy as an open chord.

Useful Tip

When you get comfortable with the E minor barre chord, practice going up and down the guitar neck, maintaining the same formation.

Strum to hear the different minor chords at each position. This is a trick of playing different minor chords. As you advance in guitar playing, you’ll come to hear the phrase “CAGED system.”

For example, this same formation at the 5th position becomes an A-minor chord. At the third position, it’s a G minor. It goes on and on.

The post E Minor Guitar Chord appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

In this lesson, we are, however, going to stick to just two positions. One of the positions will have a slight variation to it, giving the chord a rich, fuller sound. These positions and variations are the most widely used G major chord positions.

Songs in the G, C, and D key will make use of the G chord. See also, G Major Scale.

Playing the G chord on the guitar will require some finger stretching – even more than the C chord.  To the beginning guitar player (especially those with small hands) the G major chord will require a bit of practice and finger stretching.

However, anyone can learn to play the chord. In five to seven days, you should have this chord mastered.  It is all about practice and persistence!

Notes And Intervals Of the G Scale and Chord

Knowing the notes that make up the G major chord and every other chord is such a valuable musical skill. It will help you, in the long run, to play different kinds of chords without referring to a chord chart. Also, it will give you a fundamental framework on how chords are formed in music. For an overview on all of the chord notes, see All Guitar Strings and Notes.

The G major chord is a major triad (a triad is a three-note chord). In music, triads are formed by stacking 3rds together. This means that we put the root, the third, and the fifth note of a scale together. Following this rule, the G major chord notes are G, B, and D.

The note ‘G’ is the root, and the note ‘B’ is the third. ‘D’ is the fifth note in the scale of G major. From ‘G’ to ‘B’ is an interval of a major third (M3). Also, ‘G’ to ‘D’ is an interval of a perfect fifth (P5). Last, From ‘B’ to ‘D’ is an interval of a minor third; thus, the reason for the earlier used phrase, ‘stacking 3rds together.’

How to Play the G Chord Open Position

After the C major open position, this position might be the second most used in guitar playing. Let’s learn how to play this chord shape. It is so common that you might find it twice in every ten guitar songs. This how you play it:

• Place your index (first) finger on the second fret of the fifth (A) string
• Place your middle (second) finger on the third fret of the sixth (low E) string.
• Place your ring (third) finger on the third fret of the first string (high E) string.

Last, strum all six strings down from the low E string. You do not want your first and second fingers to rest on any of the other strings. You need to make sure that you have a nice arch with your first and second fingers.  Use the tips of your fingers to place them on the string.  Make sure every string rings out clearly.

The second way to play the G Major chord

The second way to play the chord is very similar to the first.  The difference is that you will place your third finger on the third fret of the fifth string.  Then you will place your fourth finger on the third fret of the first string.

I see many professional guitar players play the chord in this way.  I also like to play the chord this way as well.  The chord has a rich, full sound when you play it.  It is a matter of preference though – you chose which way you want to play the chord.

How to Play the G Barre Chord Version

Apart from the open position, another common alternative form is the barre chord version. Follow these steps to play the G barre chord in the 3rd position:

• Place your index (first) finger on the 3rd fret across all of the strings. You will hold down all six strings with your index finger.
• Place your second finger on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
• Place your ring (third) finger on the 5th fret of the A (5th) string.
• Place your pinky (fourth) finger on the 5th fret of the D (4th) string.

Go ahead and strum all six strings. Use a simple down, down, down strumming pattern when you are first learning the chord.  You can then move to a down, down, up strumming pattern to get the feel of strumming across all of the strings.

G Chord Practice Tips

It is common for beginners to find it hard stretching their fingers all across six strings and getting their ring finger to fit perfectly on the 1st string. As with most challenges in life, while learning the guitar, the simple solution is patience.

Once you are comfortable with this barre chord shape, practice moving up the neck of the guitar from the third fret, to the A barre chord on the fifth fret using the same shape.  Remember, the A chord is played the same way, except on the fifth fret  You can then also slide up two more frets to the B chord on the seventh fret.  This is a great way to practice playing the E shape barre chord on the guitar.

Also, practice the open G chord with other chords like C or D. The two most common chords used with the G Major chord are the C Major chord and D Major chord. Practice strumming a G major chord for four beats, then move over to a C or D chord. Do this and keep going back to G.

If you have made it this far and you are comfortable playing all of the chords, you are ready to start playing songs.  Great work!!

The post How to Play The G Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

The C major chord is fundamental to playing the guitar. It is one of the most widely used chords in all music and especially popular on the guitar.

Songs in the key of C, F, and G will most likely use the C major chord. However, songs in the other keys also make use of the chord. The C chord remains one of the first chords every guitar player must learn.

Although playing the C major chord on the guitar is relatively simple (compared to chords such as F and B), C is still challenging to the beginning guitar player. This article will help to make things a little easier for you.

Follow These Steps Before Playing C Major Chord

Following these simple tips will go a long way in making the C chord easier for you to play.

• The C major chord requires that you stretch the third finger a little more than in other chords. The goal is to make sure that you can eventually get that third finger right behind the guitar’s third fret.
• Always remember that you need to arch your fingers when playing the chord. Use only the very tip of your finger, so you don’t mute any adjacent string while playing.

Notes And Intervals Of the C Major Chord

Knowing what notes make up a particular chord will help you in the long run to form different shapes of that chord on the guitar.

The C major chord is a major triad (a triad is a three-note chord). In music, we form triads (major and minor) by stacking 3rds together. This means that we put the root, the third, and the fifth note of a scale together. By following this rule, the C major chord notes are C, E, and G.

The note ‘C’ is the root, and the note ‘E’ is the third. ‘G’ is the fifth note in the scale of C major. From ‘C’ to ‘E’ is an interval of a major third (M3). Again, ‘C’ to ‘G’ is an interval of a perfect fifth (P5). Lastly, From ‘E’ to ‘G’ is an interval of a minor third; thus, the reason for the phrase ‘stacking 3rds together.’

How to Play the C Chord on Guitar

• Place your index (first) finger on the first fret of the second (B) string. This gives you the C note of the chord
• Place your middle (second) finger on the second fret of the fourth (D) string. This gives you’re the E note of the chord
• Place your ring (third) finger on the third fret of the fifth (A) string. This gives you the C note of the chord
• The G note of the chord is the open third string of the chord.
• Be careful not to let your third finger rest against the fourth string. Accidently muting the fourth string is very common for new guitar players – it does not very sound good at first.
• Make sure you use your fingertips on the fret and that you have an arch on your fingers not to mute the other strings.

This may take more work to stretch your third finger to the fifth string.  You will get it right if you practice every day for 5-7 days.

This position happens to be one of the most frequently used in guitar playing—Strum the five strings down from the fifth (A) string.  Use a down, down, down strumming pattern until you are comfortable holding the chord.

Technically, it would be best if you did not play the sixth (E) string. Should you mistakenly strum that sixth (low E) string, don’t worry too much. Remember that the E note is still part of the C major chord (C-E-G).  The guitar police will not come after you for that one.

As you become more comfortable playing, you will be able to mute the low E (6th) string with the edge of your ring finger.

How to Play the C Major Chord Third Position

You can also play the C chord using the 3rd position, which is a barre chord shape. In this position, the chord begins with the bass note on the 3rd fret, so we call it the 3rd position. To play the C barre chord in the 3rd position:

• Place your index (first) finger across the first five strings of the fifth fret. Your first finger should hold down the A, D, G, B, and E strings on the third fret.  You do not need to hold down the sixth string – this will be muted.
• You can use one of two ways to barre the strings on the fifth fret
  • Use your third finger and hold or barre your finger on the second, third, and fourth strings on the fifth fret.
  • You can also use your fourth finger (pinky) to barre the second, third, and fourth strings on the fifth fret. I use both, but many, many guitar players use their pinky.  It is a matter of preference.
  • However, when you use your fourth finger, you will have limitations with variations of the chord.

Another less common way to play the C third position chord is to:

• Place your index (first) finger on the third fret of the fifth (A) string.
• Place your middle (second) finger on the fifth fret of the fourth (D) string.
• Put your ring (third) finger on the fifth fret of the third (G) string.
• Finally, place your pinky (fourth) finger on the fifth fret of the second (B) string.

Yes, this is harder to play, and you should only try it if you are looking to experiment with different variations of the chord.   I personally do not play the chord this way, but many guitarists do.

How to play C Major in the E Barre Chord Shape

There are times when you want to play C further down on the neck of the guitar.  The E barre chord shape can be used to play C in the eighth position on the neck of the guitar.  To play the C chord using the E barre chord shape:

• Place your index (first) finger across all sixth strings of the eighth fret. Your first finger should hold down the E, A, D, G, B, and E strings on the eighth fret.
• Place your second finger on the third string, ninth fret.
• Then, place your third finger on the fourth string on the tenth fret.
• Lastly, place your fourth finger (pinky) on the fifth string, the tenth fret.

As an actionable item for you, practice the open position C chord every day for thirty minutes for five to seven days.  After seven days, let me know how you are doing!  I know you can get to be a great guitarist!

If you’re ready to progress further, check out the G Major Scale for Guitar and learn even more chords.

The post How to Play C Major Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

Songs in the key of D, G, and A will most likely make use of the D major chord. However, songs in the other keys outside the ones just mentioned also make use of this chord.
If needed, revisit all guitar string notes for a general overview.

The benefit of learning the D chord is that there are variations of the chord used in most songs that are very easy to play. For example, by merely placing your pinky on the third fret of the first E string, you have Dsus4.  I personally think that every song with D uses the Dsus4 chord!

Also, but removing your finger from the first E string so that it plays as an open string, you have the Dsus2 chord.  This chord variation works well with D and Dsus 4 chords.

Playing the D chord on the guitar is not difficult.  If you are just learning to play guitar, it can appear to be challenging.  With daily practice over seven to ten days, you will be able to play this chord. This article will guide you through playing the D major chord.

Notes and Intervals of the D Major Chord

Knowing what notes make up the D major chord will help you in the long run to build different shapes of this chord on the guitar. Also, it will give you a fundamental framework on how all chords are used in music.

The D major chord is a major triad (a triad is a three-note chord). In music, triads (major and minor) are formed by stacking 3rds together. This means that we put the root, the third, and the fifth note of a scale together. Following this rule, the D major chord notes are D, F#, and A.

The note ‘D’ is the root, and the note ‘F#’ is the third. ‘A’ is the fifth note on the scale of D major. From ‘D’ to ‘F#’ is an interval of a major third (M3). Also, ‘D’ to ‘A’ is an interval of a perfect fifth (P5). Last, From ‘F#’ to ‘A’ is an interval of a minor third; thus, the reason for the earlier used phrase, ‘stacking 3rds together.’

How to Play D Major Open Position

This is one of the most widely used chord shapes in guitar playing. It is commonly used because of its simplicity. To play this shape, follow these steps:

• Place your index (first) finger on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string. This gives you the A note of the chord.
• Place your middle (second) finger on the 2nd fret of the E (1st) string. This gives you the D note of the chord
• Last, place your ring (third) finger on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string. This is the F# notes of the chord

You will need to mute the open sixth string (E) when you play the chord—Strum through the chord, starting with the fifth string.  Start with a simple down, down, down strumming pattern to get the hang of playing the chord.

You can work on more complex strumming patterns as you become more comfortable changing chords.

How to Play the D Barre Chord

Besides playing the D major chord in the open position, you can also use the barre chord version. To barre, a chord means to use one finger to fret multiple strings. Barre chords are difficult for beginning guitar players because they haven’t developed the required finger strength to hold strings down across the fret of the guitar.

It is well worth the effort to learn in the long run. Barre chords are moveable, and they enable you to play chords across the guitar neck.

This means that if you know one barre chord shape, you can use that shape to play many chords all over the fretboard. You do this just by sliding up and down the fretboard to change the root note. To play the D major barre chord in the 5th position, simply:

• Place your index (first) finger across all of the strings on the fifth fret.
• Use your third finger and hold or barre your finger on the second, third, and fourth strings on the seventh fret.
• You can also use your pinky finger instead of your third finger to hold the second, third, and fourth strings on the seventh fret. I use both depending on the chord progression of the song.
• This gives you the A shape barre chord for the D Chord.

You can strum across all six strings down from the sixth (E) string.   Go ahead and use a down, down, down strumming pattern until you build the strength holding this chord.  This barre version requires more flexibility and strength in your ring finger to press down three strings simultaneously. Don’t worry if you can’t sound it cleanly right away. Barre chords are also easier to play on electric guitars because of the lighter strings.

Alternate D Barre Chord

There are always multiple ways to play a chord.  Some ways are easier to play than others.  It is a matter of preference, not necessarily right or wrong (for the most part).

• Place your index (first) finger across all of the strings on the fifth fret.
• Place your second finger on the 7th fret of the D (4th) string.
• Place your third finger on the 7th fret of the G (3rd) string.
• Place your fourth finger (pinky) on the 7th fret of the B (2nd) string.

Yes, this version is harder to play at first.  You must stretch your second finger to hold the note down on the fourth string of the seventh fret.  Work on holding that second finger in place.

You will notice that you play the A chord on the seventh fret and hold the strings down on the fifth fret.  This works when you are moving between the open A chord and the D barre chord.  For some guitarists, this is a better way to play the chord.  There are variations of the chord that can be reached from this shape.

For now, work on the open D chord and the D Barre chord shape, and be ready to play some songs!

The post How to Play the D Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

Although playing an A chord on the guitar is relatively straightforward (compared to chords such as the F and B chord), it can appear to be hard to learn when first starting to learn to play the guitar. With a little guidance and practice, anyone can be playing this chord on the guitar within a week.

Follow These Steps before Playing the A Guitar Chord

Following these simple tips will go a long way in making the A chord easier for you to play.

• Compressing your fingers together as much as possible is the first step to playing this chord. Try to turn your finger into a single block that you can quickly move around.
• Only your fingertips should be used for this chord. This means the very ends of your fingers. -the part that is just below your fingernails.
• Avoid using the ‘pads’ of your fingers. The ‘pads’ are where your fingerprints are. Your fingertips must contact the fretboard at a 90-degree angle.

A Major Chord Notes and Intervals

The A chord is a major triad (a three-note chord). In music, triads (both major and minor) are formed by stacking 3rds together. That means putting the root, the third, and the fifth note of a scale together. Following this rule, the A guitar chord notes are A, C#, and E. If you need a more general review, visit all the guitar string notes

The note ‘A’ is obviously the root, and the note ‘C#’ is the third. ‘E’ is the fifth note on the scale of A major. From ‘A’ to ‘C#’ is an interval of a major third (M3). Also, ‘A’ to ‘E’ is an interval of a perfect fifth (P5). Lastly, From ‘C#’ to ‘E’ is an interval of a minor third; thus, the reason for the phrase ‘stacking 3rds together.’

It is not a requirement to know the notes and intervals of guitar chords to play guitar.  It is amazing how many guitar players do not know. However, it is beneficial to know what notes make up a guitar chord in the long run.  Knowing the notes and the notes on the guitar’s neck will help you create different shapes of chords on the guitar.

How to play the A Chord

Let’s look at three ways to play the open position A major chord.

The first and most common way to play the chord is to:

• Place your second finger on the fourth string (D), second fret. This gives you the E note of the chord.
• Place your third finger on the third string (G), second fret. This gives you the A note of the chord.
• Place your fourth finger (pinky) on the second string (B), second fret. This gives you the C# note of the chord.
• Keep the fifth string (A) and first string (high ‘E’) open. When you strum this chord, be sure to mute the sixth string (low ‘E’).

Your second, third, and fourth fingers will line up in a row on the second fret.  This is the most common way to play the chord and provides many options for moving your fingers to other chords – which we will discuss later.

The second most common way to play the chord is to place your first finger across the fourth, third, and second strings in a barre chord fashion.  Many rock and blues guitarists use this variation to throw in some blues licks with the chords.  It is easy to play but maybe more difficult for switching between open chords.

The third way to play the A chord is to:

• Place your first finger on the second fret of the fourth string (D). This gives you the note ‘E.’
• Place your second finger on the second fret of the third string (G). This gives you the A note of the chord. F
• Finally, place your third finger on the second fret of the fourth string (B) string.  This gives you the note C#.

This third variation fingering is slightly different from the first variation, but it is not common. It can be more difficult to switch between chords.  However, it is up to you how you want to play the chord – if it sounds good, it is right!

How to Play the A Barre Chord (E-Shape)

Anyone can learn to play a barre chord on the guitar.  It looks hard at first, but it just takes a little bit of practice.  Playing the A Barre chord is harder than the open position chord, but it is an important chord to learn.

• To play this, slide up to the fifth fret of your guitar, use your first finger to barre all the strings on the fifth fret. This means that you will hold all the strings down on the fifth fret with your first finger.
• Place your second finger on the third string, sixth fret.
• Then, place your third finger on the fourth string on the seventh fret.
• Lastly, place your fourth finger (pinky) on the fifth string, seventh fret.

Looking at this chord, you will see that your second, third, and fourth fingers are merely forming a chord shape that looks like E major. This is the reason it is called the E shape of the A chord.

If this is the first time you have tried to play a barre chord, your hand will struggle to hold down all of the fifth fret’s strings.  Don’t worry about it.  Keep working at it each day for seven to ten days, and you get the hang of it.

The A barre chord has a great powerful sound when you play it on an electric guitar.  You will have fun with it!

The post A Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

As with the F chord, the best way to play the B chord for guitar is as a barre chord.  A barre chord means that we use our first finger to hold down all of the strings on a fret, and we use our second, third, and fourth fingers to hold the remaining strings.  By doing this, we are moving our open chord shapes down the neck and playing them in different keys.

That is the case with B Major Guitar Chord.  We can use alternate ways to play the chord, but some methods can be just as complicated or not sound as good – depending on the song.  Sometimes you have to mute some of the other strings on the guitar, so your strumming needs to be more “strategic.”

When you play the chord as a barre chord, you have a much fuller, richer sound when you strum the guitar.  We are not looking to be perfect here – we are here to learn the chords and have fun!  It will take a little more work to learn this chord and play along to a song – but you will be able to do it!

For a more general overview, see All Guitar Strings and Notes

How Do you Play the B Major Chord on Guitar?

1. Use your first finger and hold or barre your finger across the first five strings of the second fret.
2. Use your third finger and hold or barre your finger on the second, third, and fourth strings on the fourth fret.
3. Do not play the sixth string. Learn to mute the string, so you do not inadvertently play the E note.

The notes of the B major chord are B, F♯, D♯.  As with all of the open chords, this chord is just three notes.  Below are B major chord charts for playing the chord. This first version is the most common way to play the B chord on the guitar and the one you will see most guitar players using.

Another way to play the chord is to also barre the first five strings of the second fret.  However, you will take your second finger and place it on the fourth string, fourth fret;  place your third finger on the third string, fourth fret, and then put your fourth finger on the second string, fourth fret.

It is played as a barre chord, so you will need to learn to hold the first five strings down, which will take some “finger strength.”  Also, you will need to practice the transition from an open chord to a barre chord.  It is not that hard – it just takes practice.

Easier Ways to Play B Chord Guitar

What do you notice about the B chord on guitar?  It is the same shape as the A chord, except we have moved it up the fretboard two frets (one whole step) to the fourth fret, and we have barred the second fret.

You can play the B chord on Guitar, as shown in the chord chart below.  Play the A Chord on the fourth fret, then take your first finger and place it on the first E string, the second fret.  When you play the chord this way, you must not play the fifth and sixth strings – they must be muted, or this will sound very bad.

I started playing guitar when I was young, and it was hard for me to use my third finger to barre the fourth fret – so I cheated a little.  Instead, I used my pinky (fourth finger) to barre the notes on the fourth fret.  I still use my fourth finger today, but I will also use my third finger, depending on the song.

See the chord chart below.  I think this is an easier way to play the B Major chord, but it is not the best way.  There are limitations to what you can play if you play the chord this way.

Just keep practicing and practicing this chord;  you will get the hang of it!

Below are some easy songs that have the B Major Chord:

1. Secret agent man (Johnny Rivers) Em, Am, B, C – is a nice easy song to learn.
2. I Want to Be Somebody (Travis Tritt) G, D, C, B
3. Cuts Like a Knife (Bryan Adams) D, G, C, A, B

The post Learn the B Major Chord For Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

This video tutorial shows how to play the open E Chord on the Guitar.  This is one of the essential chords that you want to learn and practice.  There are many songs that use the E Chord, so watch the video and have fun!

The notes of the E chord are E, B, and G# (G Sharp).

An open chord is made up of the 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th notes of the scale.   The name of the chord is defined by the root note of the chord.  In this case, the first string in the chord (Open E) is the root note of the chord. See also, all guitar string notes for more overview

There are no muted strings with this chord, so when you play E Major, you will strum across all of the strings.  You will hear a nice full sound when you strum this chord with the bottom E as the open string, and then one octave up E note on the third string second fret. 

For another chord, see the B guitar chord.

The post E Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

One of the first songs that I played along to was the opening to the song “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.  The song begins with the chords G-D-Em-F and C.  By the end of this lesson, you can go ahead and give that a try!

The challenge with the F Chord is that if we are to play the chord properly, we will need to play it as a barre chord. We can play the chord as an open chord, but the best way to play the chord is a barre chord.  It has a fuller sound, and we do not have to mute any strings if we hold the chord as a barre chord.

However, some variations do make it easier to play. We will start with the easy way first.

If you need to revisit the basics first, see all guitar string notes.

How to Play the F Chord on Guitar

There are three different ways to play the F chord.  First, you can play as an open chord, which is the easiest way to play the chord.  Second, you can play as a partial barre chord.  The third and most common is the F major chord played as a barre chord.

We will look at all three ways.

Open Chord

The notes of the F chord are C, F, and A.  As with all of the open chords that we are starting with, they are all three notes.  Below is the chord chart for playing the open F chord. This first version is one variation of the F open chord and is the easiest way to play. If you have mastered the C chord, then this should be an easy transition.

Start with your first finger on the second string, first fret.  Then place your second finger on the third string, second fret.  Place your third finger on the fifth string, third fret, and then put your fourth finger on the fourth string, third fret.

When you look at the chord chart above, you will see that it is very similar to the C chord.  Fingers one and three are on the same strings as C. The difference is finger two is on the third string instead of the fourth string.  Your fourth finger is on the fourth string, third fret.

Since this is the “easier” version, the low E string (sixth string) and the high E string (first string) are muted – we do not strum these strings.

When you are playing a song with this version, you must be strategic about your strumming – do not strum the first and sixth strings.  It will not sound right.

Partial Barre Chord

Now let’s look at another variation of the F chord.  Below is a more standard version of F.  This version has the same notes as the first chart, and the finger placements are nearly the same.  The difference is that you use your first finger to hold down the first and second strings on the first fret.

This second version is a more accessible version of a barre chord.  This version is still easy to play. You will need to work on using your first finger to hold down the two strings. Instead of holding down all of the first fret’s strings as a barre chord, hold down the first and second strings on the first fret. (See diagram below)

Barre Chord

Playing the F major Chord as a barre chord is the most common way of playing the chord.  That does not necessarily mean that it is the right way to play, though.  The barre chord has a fuller sound since you do not mute any of the strings when you play the chord.

It comes down to what type of song you are playing and what is chord before and after.  Sometimes it more accessible to play the open F chord than the barre chord.  Many songs from Neil Young use the open F major Chord.

It is still essential to building your guitar playing skills by learning how to play barre chords.

The first thing you notice about the F chord is that it is the same as the E chord but moved down one fret.  Since E and F’s distance is a half step, the move from an E Chord to an F Chord is a half step or one fret.

To play the F Major barre chord, use your first finger to hold the strings across the first fret.  Place your second finger on the third string, second fret.  Place your third finger on the fifth string, third fret, and then your fourth finger on the fourth string, third fret.

It will be hard at first, but work at holding the strings – you will get it.  Just simple strum down on the strings and make sure that your fingers are not muting any of the other strings – you should have a nice clean sound.

If you’re ready to move on, see next B Guitar Chord or take a look at the G Major Scale for Guitar

The post Play the F Chord on Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.

Many people are overwhelmed with the complexities of music theory. That is one of the reasons most guitars stay in some backroom collecting dust. When you start out learning simple chords and simple but great songs,  you learn fast and have fun playing.

Ok -it’s time to start playing the guitar!  There has never been a better time to learn.  If you have thinking about it and considering it – right now is the time.

And here is the thing – it is not all that hard to learn!  If you have the right motivation and discipline to take time out to practice, you can be playing songs on the guitar in 30 to 60 days!

My goal is to help you get past that first step in your guitar playing.  The first step is where you want a guitar, or you have a guitar (maybe someone loaned you one), and you want to become a “rock star”, but you have never played seriously.  But now you are ready to start playing.

I have taught many people how to get to the first and second levels of playing guitar – family, friends, and friends of friends – all for free.  However, once you decide to become a serious guitar player, I hand off to someone who can guide and teach at the highest level.  I know some really good teachers who can do that – online and offline.

I have watched friends, family, students, young and old pick up the guitar for the first time, and in a matter of months, they were playing songs and sounding good on the guitar.  Some of them, including my son, got really good.

Granted, all of these people practiced a lot.

The best part is that learning to play guitar is something you can start at any age, at any time in your life, and get good at it – fast.  It does not matter how old you are – it doesn’t.  Unlike sports, you will have the skill for the rest of your life.

Start with these eight basic chords and work your way through the many variations.

If you practice these every day for 30 minutes (minimum) to an hour for 30 straight days, you will get good.  You will be able to play and transition through these chords!  If you can play these, you will be able to play many, many songs on the guitar.

Open Chord vs Bar Chord (or Barre Chord)

An open chord is where at least one string is not muted or fretted by a finger when holding the chord on the fretboard.  These are the easiest, least tiring chords to play.

This is in contrast to a bar chord where your 1^st finger is used to hold down all of the strings on the fretboard and the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th fingers are used to hold the chord.  This takes more effort and training.  Barre chords are more advanced but are very important to learn.  We will learn these when we get to the B major chords and F chords.

For example, see the figure below.  The figure on the left is the A major open chord, and the figure on the right is the A major barre chord.  They are both A major chords with the root note of the chord being the A note.   The difference is that they are played in different positions on the neck of the guitar.

When you play these, they sound the same.  However, they each have a special purpose in a song.  Some guitarists like the power of the barre chord and others like to play open chords.  Which one you play depends on the purpose and the transition to other chords in the song.

This lesson will focus on open chords!

The Eight Most Important (Easy) Open Guitar Chords

The chords that we will be learning and using to play our first songs are:

• A major or A
• A minor or Am
• C major or C
• D major or D
• D minor or Dm
• E major or E
• E minor or Em
• G major or G

These are the most important chord shapes to play on the guitar and ones that you will use often.  We call these the eight master chord shapes.

What is great about learning these is that you will be able to play many songs with them.  Also, there are many variations of these chords.  When you learn and master these chords, it is easy to transition to a variation.  For example, the Dsus4 chord (not complicated) is a slight variation of the D major chord and is commonly played with the D chord.

The same can be said for the Asus4 chord.  This chord is a very slight variation of the A major chord and is commonly played with the A chord.  They are easy variations but you sound like a seasoned pro when you play them.

Yes, some chords are missing from this list – namely B (B major), Bm (B minor), F (F major), Fm (F minor), Cm (C minor), and Gm (G minor.)  These chords are slightly more complex as they require a barre chord or more stretching of the hand.  We will come back to these in another lesson.

The E Major Chord

We will start with what is arguably the most common chord – the E chord. Granted, most guitarists play this in different ways, but it is one of the most widely used chords in music.  It has a deep rich sound when played as an open chord.

Below is the chord chart and tab for the E Chord.  The chord chart shows where the fingers need to be placed on the fretboard to play this chord.  We covered this in the section on how to hold a chord.

The notes of the E chord are E, B, and G# (G Sharp).  Yes – there are only three notes in the open chord!  Most new guitarists are surprised by this – most chords have only three notes.

An open chord is made up of the 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th notes of the scale.   The name is defined by the root note.  In this case, the first string in the chord (Open E) is the root note.

How Do you Play the E chord on Guitar?

Place your first finger on the third string on the first fret of the guitar.  Now place your second finger on the fifth string, second fret. Place your third finger on the fourth string of the second fret. See the figure below.  Your hand should look like the picture below.   Now, just strum down on the strings with your right hand.

There are no muted strings, so when you play E major, you will strum across all of the strings.  You will hear a nice full sound when you strum this with the bottom E as the open string, and then one octave up E note on the third string second fret.

This has a happy, positive sound to it – as do all major chords.

Practice strumming with a simple down, down, down, down strumming pattern. Do not concern yourself with your rhythm right now – that will come.  Work on holding the chord and building strength in your fret hand.

The A Major Chord

Now let’s move to the A major chord- or the A chord.   The A chord is defined by the root note of the chord, which is the open A string.

The notes of the A chord are A, E, and C# (C sharp).  If you look at the diagram below carefully, you will notice that both the low E string (sixth string) is muted.   You do not play this string when you strum the chord.

You will learn to control your strumming so that you do not play this string.  I can say that many guitarists still hit the low E string when they play! It does sound a little off, but that is OK – the guitar police will not come to your door!   However, the correct method is to mute the low E string. See also A Major Scale Guitar for a comparison between the A Chord and the A Major Scale

How Do You Play the A chord on guitar?

You will use your second, third, and fourth fingers to hold this  – this is the most common way to play the chord.  Like most chords, you can play these multiple ways.  For example, you will see guitarists hold all three strings with their first finger in a barre chord fashion.

This is a great way to play the chord and provides many options when playing.  However, we will start with the most common way.

Place your second finger on the fourth string second fret; place your third finger on the third string, second fret, and then place your fourth finger on the second string, second fret.  All of your fingers will be on the same fret and will look like a straight line although they will be at a slight slant.

Make sure all of your fingers are on the second fret.  When you are first working with this chord, it is easy for your fourth finger to sneak down to the third fret or be on top of the fret.  They should all be on the same fret.

See the above figure for how to hold the A chord.

Bend your fingers so that the tip of each finger is on the string and you are not muting any string.

The D Major Chord

Many argue that the D chord is the most common chord of them all.  The reason is that it is very easy to play and you can move the shape up and down the neck of the guitar easily.  Also, there are many great sounding variations of D.

Dsus4 is an easy variation that is played (very) often with D. We will go into this chord later, but it is simply adding the fourth finger to the third fret, first string.

Look at the diagram below. D has a shape that looks like a triangle.  This is an easy way to remember how to play the chord!

The notes are A, D, and F#, with the low E string muted. The root note is the D note.  Again, look at how many notes there are in this chord – three.  These are the 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th intervals of the D scale. (D, F#, A).

How Do you Play the D chord on Guitar?

Place your first finger on the second fret, third-string; place your second finger on the second fret, first string, and place your third finger on the third fret, second string. Once you have your fingers holding the chord as shown in the illustration below, play this by strumming down on the strings.

Now, work on these three chords; E, A, and D.  Work on transitioning from E to A, A to D, and then D to E.  You will get the hang of it – just keep working at it!

Easy Three Chord Songs with E, A, and D Chords

Are you ready to play a song with the three chords you have learned?  Below are fun songs to play.  The first one on the list is one of the first songs I learned a long, (long!) time ago, and one of the first I teach students.

1. Wild Thing! – A, D, E.  That’s it – and no fancy strumming.
2. You are my Sunshine – A, D, E.  Johnny Cash version in the key of A.
3. Glory Days – A, D, E
4. Louie, Louie – A, D, E
5. Folsom Prison Blues – A, D, E
6. Sweet Caroline (Capo 2^nd Fret) – A, D, E

The C Major Chord

Ok, we are going to make you work a little harder now with the C chord.  You will need to stretch your fingers more on this.

Once you are comfortable with this chord, you can add several easy variations.  Also, it is much easier to transition to learning the F chord after mastering the C chord.

The notes of the C chord are C, E, and G with the root note being the C note. The sixth string (low E) is muted on this chord, with the C note being the root note. So when you are strumming this chord, you will strum all of the strings except the low E string.

It just takes a little practice!

How Do you Play the C chord on Guitar?

To play the C chord, place your first finger on the second string, first fret; place your second finger on the fourth string, second fret, and then place your third finger on the fifth string, third fret.

This finger placement can be more difficult.  You will need to keep the tips of your fingers on the fretboard without muting the other strings – especially the fourth string (G).  Many new guitarists have trouble with this.

Keep a nice arch on your fingers and adjust your hand position to get a nice clean sound. By now, you should be developing some callouses on the tips of your fingers so that it is easier to hold the chord.

Continue using a simple down, down, down, down strumming pattern just to get the feel of holding and playing the chord.

The G Major Chord

We finish out with this round of easy chords with the G major chord. The notes of G major are, G, B, and D with the root note being G.   As you see the pattern with all of these chords – there are only three notes!

There are no muted strings, so strum all the way through all of the strings. See also G Major Scale Guitar for a comparison between G Chord and G Major Scale

How Do you Play the G chord on Guitar?

To play the G chord, place your first finger on the fifth string of the second fret; place your second finger on the sixth string (low E) of the third fret, and then stretch your third finger to the first string (high E) the third fret.

Watch for muting the second string with your second finger – arch your finger high enough to avoid muting any strings. Now strum the chord once again using down, down, down, down strums to get the hang of playing the chord.

More easy chord songs with C Major and G Major Chords

Below are more songs you can work on to build your guitar playing skills.  These are nice easy songs and they incorporate the chords that you have already learned.  Learn the song first, and then play along with the song to build your strumming skills.  It will take practice to master the chord changes, but you will catch on.

1. Bad Moon Rising – A, D, G
2. Achy Breaky Heart – C, G
3. Sweet Home Alabama – C, D, G
4. Stuck in the Middle with You – A, D, E, G
5. Barbara Ann – A, D, G
6. Bye, Bye Love – A, C, D, G
7. Can’t You See – D, C, E

The E Minor Chord

The notes of the E minor (Em) chord are E, G, and B.  Can you guess what makes this a “minor” chord?  By moving the 3rd note of the scale down a half step, that is G# to G, you have a minor chord!  This is known as the “flat third”

How Do you Play the Em chord on Guitar?

For the Em chord, we simply remove the first finger from the E chord shape.  Place your second finger on the fifth string, second fret, and then place your third finger on the fourth string of the second fret. See the figure below.  Your hand should look like the picture below.   Now, just strum down on the strings with your right hand.

The hallmark of the minor chord is that it has a sad, or mysterious sound to it.  Even though we just removed our first finger, this has a completely different sound than E major.

The A Minor Chord

Just like the Em chord,  A minor (Am) takes the third note of the scale and moves down a half step (flat third).   The notes of Am are A, C, and E.

The A minor chord looks just like the E chord, but shifted down one string – the fingering is the same.  If you have memorized the E chord, this will be an easy chord to play.

How Do you Play the Am chord on Guitar?

Place your first finger on the second string, first fret; the second finger on the fourth string, second fret, and the third finger on the third string second fret (as shown in the picture below).

The D Minor Chord

We finish up our list of the eight most essential chords with D minor (Dm).  To get the minor chord of D, once again, we move the 3rd note of the scale down a one-half step from F# to F.  The notes of the Dm chord are  D, F, and A.

How Do you Play the Dm chord on Guitar?

Place your first finger on the first string, first fret; place your second finger on the third string second fret and place your third finger on the second string, third fret.

This is a little harder to play, so you will need to practice stretching your fingers to play this.  The sixth string (low E) is muted, so when your strum the chord, only strum from the A string (fifth string) down to the first string.

This is one of the harder chords to play of the “easy chords”.  Most new guitar players accidentally mute the fifth string with their second finger when they first play the chord.  I have seen guitarists substitute their fourth finger for the third – although this is not recommended.

Easy Chord Songs with Em, Am, and Dm

1. Brown Eyed Girl – G, C, D, Em
2. Ain’t no Sunshine – Am, Dm, Em, G (A little more practice!)
3. Hey Soul Sister – G, D, Em, C
4. Hello (Adele) – Em, C, G, D
5. Marry You – D, Em, G
6. Run Around –  G, C, Am D
7. Fire On The Mountain – Em, C, G, D, Am

With all of these chords, you just need to practice and train your fingers.  You will build up the coordination, strength, and finger memorization to glide through each of these chords effortlessly.  That is when it becomes really fun!  Playing the guitar is a lot of fun – especially when you are playing with friends who also love to play guitar.

Remember – everyone struggles at first.  Every great guitar player started as a beginner having problems holding chords, strumming chords, and playing notes.  The difference is how much you want to learn and the amount of time you spend practicing.

I have seen guitar students go from struggling big time to become good in less than a year.  Each one practiced and played along to songs learning the different techniques and styles.

They also honed their skills with more advanced teachers.   My focus is on helping the beginner or intermediate guitar player learn to love to play the guitar and develop a passion for playing without the pressure to be perfect.  There is a place for perfection, but not when you are first learning.

If you are looking to get to the next level, I have several friends that I can hook you up with to help you become that expert.  For now, keep learning and practicing.

Our next lesson is on the B Guitar Chord and F Chord.

The post Eight Easy Guitar Chords to Start Playing Guitar appeared first on Guitar Chords Player.