| Understanding Guitar Chords, the Key Element | | | | |
| to Mastering the Guitar | | | | A, G, C, D, E, F, Am, Em, and Dm chords |
| | | | (note: the lowercase "m" next to the letter |
| Don't get discouraged if you're trying to | | | | means that it is a minor chord.) |
| learn the guitar. Follow the steps below and | | | | |
| soon you'll be playing your favorite songs by | | | | Get Out your Guitar and Strum Some Chords |
| learning basic guitar chords. Once you get a | | | | |
| feel for the basic chords, you can go deeper | | | | Now that we understand the need to learn |
| and learn how chords are made of major and | | | | chords, let's look at what steps there are to |
| minor guitar scales. | | | | help you learn chords. |
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| Popular Songs Sometimes Only Have Three | | | | 1. |
| Chords | | | | |
| | | | Get a chart of guitar chords and look at |
| Have you ever heard "Wild Thing" or "Louie | | | | where the fingering is for each chord. |
| Louie" and wondered what chords make up these | | | | |
| songs? Maybe you haven't, but at any rate you | | | | 2. |
| might be interested to know that these songs | | | | |
| along with "Twist and Shout" and "Hang on | | | | Start by simply choosing at least two of the |
| Snoopy" are all built from three major | | | | basic chords and work on the transition |
| chords. They are the A, D, and E chords. | | | | between the two. |
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| What Exactly is a Chord? | | | | 3. |
| | | | |
| What is a chord? A chord is two or more notes | | | | Make sure that it sounds good. The fact is |
| played together. A common type of chord is | | | | that if it sounds good you are probably doing |
| called a triad, which is three notes played | | | | it right. (HINT: If it doesn't sound good to |
| at the same time. With the guitar, you can | | | | you, press down on the strings firmer with |
| make chords by strumming, as a minimum, three | | | | your fingers.) |
| strings simultaneously to send out three | | | | |
| notes or more. It's simple to see that with | | | | 4. |
| the guitar having only six strings that the | | | | |
| max number of notes in a guitar chord is | | | | Now learn to enjoy playing guitar chords by |
| going to be six. | | | | choosing a few of your favorite songs that |
| | | | have these basic guitar chords and play them |
| Basic Chord Types | | | | until you can sing along. (FYI: Beatles have |
| | | | a great selection of well known songs that |
| Now it is important to understand that there | | | | use basic guitar chords as the foundation.) |
| are many different variations of chords. | | | | |
| Three of the most common types of chords are | | | | 5. |
| major, minor, and sevenths. The way in which | | | | |
| you use these chords will determine the type | | | | Play daily! You must remember that although |
| of music or mood that you will make. For | | | | its hard at first, you are going to make |
| example, if you need some solemn and | | | | progress and it will become easier to play |
| meditative chords, use minor chords. If you | | | | the guitar by consistently playing it. |
| want a really solid and stable sound, then | | | | |
| you will want to be using major chords. If | | | | 6. |
| you want a jazzier yet somewhat incomplete | | | | |
| sounding chord, you would want to go with | | | | Practice! Remember guitar practice makes |
| seventh chords. | | | | perfect guitar music! |
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| Commonly Used Chords | | | | So you've made it this far and you're hungry |
| | | | for more guitar lessons, why don't you check |
| Just as you would need to know several basic | | | | out guitar tabs for beginners Now it's Your |
| phrases in the case of learning another | | | | Turn to Learn the Guitar |
| language, so you will need to learn around | | | | |
| 6-16 chords fluently in order to really have | | | | At any rate, the only way to know that the |
| a grip on playing the guitar. Some of the | | | | guitar is for you and your friends is to give |
| most common chords are listed below. | | | | it a try. |