There are 6 strings on a standard guitar
The guitar neck is divided into segments by vertical metal bars called frets.
Look at the frets on your guitar.
You make music notes by placing your finger on the spaces between the frets.
When a string is played with no fingers on the fingerboard (neck), it means playing the string open.
It is called an "open" string.
The notes (sounds) of the open strings from lowest (thickest string) to highest (thinnest string) are
E A D G B E
Holding a guitar pick.
Try this!
Using a guitar pick or your thumb, with no fingers on the fretboard,
play each string from lowest(sixth) to highest (first) string.
Then strum downward across all six strings.
All the strings are open or not fretted.
If your guitar is in tune it will not be a bad sound.
It will sound like this.
The simple chord formation is called a triad.
The two basic chord types are the major chord and the minor chord.
There are 8 simple open chords.
There are 5 Major open chords and 3 minor open chords.
E Major, A Major, D Major, G Major, C Major, A minor, D minor , E minor.
Open chord means that some strings are played open, not fretted.
You play a chord by strumming the strings by dragging a pick, your thumb,
or the back of your index finger's fingernail across the strings in an up or down motion.
Let's start with some simple chords.
These are the chords used by all beginner guitar players.
Are you comfortable and relaxed and sitting up straight, not slouched!!
If you are not relaxed, it will affect the smoothness of your your playing.
You play a chord by by strumming across the strings from the lowest string to the highest string.
I recommend that you use a pick, one that is not too thin.
Important!
Make sure that the fingernails on your fretting hand are cut short.
If they are not short the cuticle will interfere with pressing the string down.
Let's start with two easy "open" chords... E minor and A minor.
They can also be written as Em and Am.
Yes, your fingers will hurt at first because you have not developed calluses on the tips of your fingers.
This is a small sacrifice to make. After a few weeks of regular practice, you will develop calluses on the tips of your fingers and you won't feel any pain.
When placing your finger between the frets, the string is made shorter
making a higher sound or note, because it is stopped at the chosen fret.
While it is common to say " place your finger on the fret",
it actually means on the space before the fret.
Chords are made by playing three notes together, the root, the third and the fifth.
Place your fingers on the strings as shown in the chord diagrams.
The fingernails on your fretting hand must be cut short
because they will prevent you from pressing the string all the way down.
The number in the black dot indicates the finger that you use.
The O is an open string that is played, the X is the string you do not play.
Before you start strumming the chords, do this.
Move your fretting hand from the E minor chord to the A minor chord, back and forth slowly.
You are creating "Muscle Memory", meaning your fingers know exactly where to go,
ultimately without looking down at the fretboard.
When you are confident moving between the two chords smoothly, you can start to strum the chords.
Using a pick or your thumb or the back of your index finger,
slowly strum the strings from the 6th string to the 1rst string for the E minor chord,
and from the 5th string to the 1rst string for the A minor chord, one strum for each chord.
Do this as many times needed to create your "Muscle Memory"
You will notice when at first starting this exercise, you will inadvertently
strum the 6th string on the A minor chord.
Play the "A minor" chord from the 5th string to the 1rst string.
"Muscle Memory" applies to the picking hand as well as the fretting hand.
Try the E minor chord first.
It will sound like this.
The A minor chord will sound like this.
Chords are played in bars, generally with four beats to a bar.
In this excercise below you will play E minor for 2 bars and A minor for 2 bars,
one strum for every four beats in a bar.
Play again 1 one more time and end on E minor.
Play along to this audio track.
Excellent!!
Next are 8 Open Chords
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The guitar neck is divided into segments by vertical metal bars called frets.
Look at the frets on your guitar.
You make music notes by placing your finger on the spaces between the frets.
When a string is played with no fingers on the fingerboard (neck), it means playing the string open.
It is called an "open" string.
The notes (sounds) of the open strings from lowest (thickest string) to highest (thinnest string) are
E A D G B E
Try this!
Using a guitar pick or your thumb, with no fingers on the fretboard,
play each string from lowest(sixth) to highest (first) string.
Then strum downward across all six strings.
All the strings are open or not fretted.
If your guitar is in tune it will not be a bad sound.
It will sound like this.
The two basic chord types are the major chord and the minor chord.
There are 8 simple open chords.
There are 5 Major open chords and 3 minor open chords.
E Major, A Major, D Major, G Major, C Major, A minor, D minor , E minor.
Open chord means that some strings are played open, not fretted.
You play a chord by strumming the strings by dragging a pick, your thumb,
or the back of your index finger's fingernail across the strings in an up or down motion.
Let's start with some simple chords.
These are the chords used by all beginner guitar players.
Are you comfortable and relaxed and sitting up straight, not slouched!!
If you are not relaxed, it will affect the smoothness of your your playing.
You play a chord by by strumming across the strings from the lowest string to the highest string.
I recommend that you use a pick, one that is not too thin.
Important!
Make sure that the fingernails on your fretting hand are cut short.
If they are not short the cuticle will interfere with pressing the string down.
They can also be written as Em and Am.
This is a small sacrifice to make. After a few weeks of regular practice, you will develop calluses on the tips of your fingers and you won't feel any pain.
When placing your finger between the frets, the string is made shorter
making a higher sound or note, because it is stopped at the chosen fret.
While it is common to say " place your finger on the fret",
it actually means on the space before the fret.
Chords are made by playing three notes together, the root, the third and the fifth.
Place your fingers on the strings as shown in the chord diagrams.
The fingernails on your fretting hand must be cut short
because they will prevent you from pressing the string all the way down.
The number in the black dot indicates the finger that you use.
The O is an open string that is played, the X is the string you do not play.
Before you start strumming the chords, do this.
Move your fretting hand from the E minor chord to the A minor chord, back and forth slowly.
You are creating "Muscle Memory", meaning your fingers know exactly where to go,
ultimately without looking down at the fretboard.
When you are confident moving between the two chords smoothly, you can start to strum the chords.
Using a pick or your thumb or the back of your index finger,
slowly strum the strings from the 6th string to the 1rst string for the E minor chord,
and from the 5th string to the 1rst string for the A minor chord, one strum for each chord.
Do this as many times needed to create your "Muscle Memory"
You will notice when at first starting this exercise, you will inadvertently
strum the 6th string on the A minor chord.
Play the "A minor" chord from the 5th string to the 1rst string.
"Muscle Memory" applies to the picking hand as well as the fretting hand.
Try the E minor chord first.
It will sound like this.
The A minor chord will sound like this.
In this excercise below you will play E minor for 2 bars and A minor for 2 bars,
one strum for every four beats in a bar.
Play again 1 one more time and end on E minor.
Play along to this audio track.
Excellent!!
Next are 8 Open Chords
Previous