Before you dive in, I have one huge piece of advice:
DON’T MEMORIZE ALL THE CHORDS BEFORE YOU START LEARNING SONGS!
If you do that, it’ll get boring fast, and it’ll be really hard to feel motivated to practice guitar enough to get to the point where you can play songs.
Just Getting Started on Guitar?
Please take a look at this page, which will show you how to learn guitar chords and easy guitar songs at the same time.
It outlines a process where you start by picking an easy 2 chord song you want to learn, and then focusing on JUST those two chords, working out the switching, developing the muscle memory and so on. It’s the best way to start guitar and will help you stay motivated.
Want To Play Popular Songs Right Away?
If you want a quick way to be able to play thousands of different songs right away, there’s a little chord progression trick that I’d like to share with you. It uses modified “beginner friendly” versions of 4 common shapes, and with them we can play the most popular chord progression used in all music.
Learn songs on guitar RIGHT AWAY with the 4 easiest absolute beginner guitar chords that I teach my beginner guitar students on their first lesson.
These Are The 8 Basic Guitar Chords
The first 8 chords are THE shapes. The entire fretboard is based on them, so even if your goal is to play rippin’ guitar solos, these shapes will keep coming up as everything from scales, to modes to arpeggios are based on these shapes.
I have set up a reference guide for each of these shapes, including a video tutorial, songs you can play and more…
- Learn the C chord on Guitar
- Learn the A chord on Guitar
- Learn the G chord on Guitar
- Learn the E chord on Guitar
- Learn the D chord on Guitar
- Learn the Am chord on Guitar
- Learn the Dm chord on Guitar
- Learn the Em chord on Guitar
Here’s a cool way to play them all, in a certain order where they lead into one another nicely.
These beginner chords for acoustic guitar are essential no matter your goals. Every guitar player should know these regardless of their end goals.
Whenever I have a student who’s having issues with chord shapes, I take them through this simple checklist and the problem is always resolved.
Whether you’re strumming along to your favorite songs or gearing up for a jam session, mastering this skill will take your playing to the next level and help you unlock percussive strumming.
Other Guitar Chords You Must Know
Once you’ve mastered the basic guitar chords, I recommend learning these additional shapes. These may seem a little complicated, but they’re still considered guitar chords for beginners. By learning them, you’ll increase the number of songs you can play EXPONENTIALLY!
Here are two more shapes that are worth learning early on:
- Learn the B7 chord on Guitar
- Learn the F chord on Guitar
Here Are Some EASY Barre Chord Alternatives
- The easy way to play Bm on Guitar
- The easy way to play F on Guitar
- The easy way to play F sharp minor on Guitar
- The easy way to play Gm on Guitar
- The easy way to play Fm on Guitar
Struggling with barre chords like Bm or F? Try these easy chord hacks instead!
How To Read A Guitar Chord Diagram
No matter what the shape, whether it’s one of the beginner guitar chords, a barre chord, or the Jazziest Minor 13th, they can all be written out in a simple way. Everyone who plays guitar NEEDS to know how to read a chord diagram.
A chord diagram is just a picture of the fretboard with the guitar standing upright. They are easy to read and can instantly show the guitarist how to play any chord with the correct fingering.
Improving Your Guitar Chords
Once you have the basics down, you can do a LOT with just a handful of chord shapes. Check out these videos to expand your guitar chord horizons.
Learn how to switch chords better, make cleaner chord changes, enhance your chord mastery and elevate your playing to new heights
In this tutorial, I carefully curate a selection of easy-to-learn chords, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable learning experience for mature beginners.
These colorful chord progressions use shapes that are like… 1 finger different from ones you already know! And they sound SUPER COOL.
Learn how to impress with simple guitar shapes, picking patterns, and cool sounds – even if you’re a beginner. These easy tricks sound pro with minimal effort.
Master jazz guitar basics in minutes using just 3 chord shapes. A fun party trick that builds into essential fingerstyle and jazz skills.
Guitar Chord Tricks
These simple tricks can completely refresh your practice routine. They’re a fun, musical way to break out of standard chord transitions, explore dynamics, and start sounding more like the artists you love.
Unlock that iconic 90s acoustic sound with this easy E chord trick. Learn how to move it up the fretboard, develop technique, and sound like Foo Fighters or Radiohead in minutes.
Discover a simple A chord trick that opens up new sounds and creativity on guitar. Perfect for beginners and songwriters looking to level up with one easy chord move.
Learn the classic 90s “G chord trick” used in songs like Wonderwall and Good Riddance. Build smoother chord transitions and explore iconic shapes with this beginner-friendly guitar lesson.
All-Access Pass
Start your 10-day FREE trial
- Step-By-Step Courses
- Exclusive YouTube Bonuses
- Members-Only Community
Learn More
