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