KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Learning to play guitar chords is fundamental to mastering both acoustic and electric guitars.
- Start by picking two comfortable-seeming major chord shapes and practicing them over and over. Choose from a chord diagram of minor chords, barre chords, and other basic chords.
- Add a third chord into the mix when you are ready, and practice moving between all three. This is a chord progression.
If you are new to the world of playing instruments, you may wonder how to play guitar chords. The best guitars, after all, excel at both chords and single notes. So why learn how to play chords on the best acoustic guitars in the first place, and what are some simple tips to help you get started? Keep reading to find out.
Why Learn How to Play Chords?
Before you can learn how to write a song on guitar, you need to know some chords. This even goes for easy guitar songs. The type doesn’t matter here, even if you are learning how to play 12-string guitars. The tuning also doesn’t matter, even if you are learning all about drop D tuning. Chords are just a fundamental part of the guitar-playing experience, and as an added bonus they will help you develop guitar calluses.
How to Play a Chord on Acoustic Guitar
A guitar chord is when two to five notes are played simultaneously on the fretboard. This sounds especially difficult for beginners, but there are ways to lessen the load. Here are some tips to ensure you go from zero to pro in no time flat.
Pick Two Simple Chords Shapes
Start by choosing two simple chord shapes that do not seem too outlandish to your fingers and hand. Many people swear by the G Major and D Major chords for this purpose, as several of the strings are open, making things a tiny bit easier. Beginners may also want to consider using drop D tuning too. Check out the shapes and arrange your fingers according to visual instructions. At first, just become comfortable with positioning your fingers, and don’t worry about sound or speed. That comes later.
Practice Going Back and Forth
Once you have a fair grasp on the shape of two chords, practice moving your hands back and forth between the two shapes. This is going to be extremely slow at first but stick with it. The goal here is to increase your comfort level, and with that comes speed. This is something you should be doing anytime you have a spare few minutes. While you are practicing the shapes, practice pushing down firmly on the strings and performing some simple strums.
Add a Third Chord
Once you are fairly comfortable with two chords, throw a third into the mix. If you chose G Major and D Major to start, try C Major. Remember, a great number of popular songs throughout history consist of just three chords, many using these exact three chords.
Guitar Chords FAQs
How do I strum a chord?
There are many strumming patterns available to beginner guitarists and guitar players of all skill levels. Once you are pressing down on the guitar strings of a chord, strum by moving your other hand up and down while holding a pick.
How does the “A” chord sound?
Any chord with the root note of “A” has a distinctive open sound that goes along with having the 3rd string and 4th string pressed down. This is one of the best chords for beginners, as it sounds fantastic.
How long does it take to learn guitar chords?
There are an infinite number of basic chords out there, from beginner chords to more advanced power chords and beyond. In other words, it takes a short amount of time to learn but a lifetime to master entire chord charts.
STAT
“To play the A chord, we use fingers 1, 2, and 3 – all in the 2nd fret.” (source)
TIP: You will get some finger calluses while practicing chords, but this is a good thing.
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Sources:
https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Guitar-Chords
https://www.apronus.com/music/onlineguitar.htm
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/how-to-play-the-a-chord-b1-108
https://www.fender.com/pages/guitar-chords
https://nationalguitaracademy.com/how-to-play-guitar-chords/
https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/guitar-chord-shapes-beginner-to-advanced/
