Fingering of chords
There are actually many ways to finger each of chords, but I'm about to explain you the easiest fingerings for each of basic chords.
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Chord |
Fingering |
Notes |
Description |
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E minor (Em) |
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This is probably the easiest of basic chords to play. Just strum each string at the time to hear if you accidently mute any string while pressing the strings. |
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E major (E) |
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Already now you can see that major and minor chords differ in only one note. In this case it's G and G#. This chord is pretty simple to play and I'm sure you'll get it right in no time! |
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A minor (Am) |
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Index finger might present you a problem here, while pressing the C note on 2nd string. Make sure you don’t mute the 1st string in the process. Also, you don’t play 6th string here. |
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A major (A) |
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It might be hard to put all 3 fingers in the same, 2nd, fret, but you’ll get it eventually. Again, you don’t play 6th string here. It only creates unwanted noise unless you know what you’re doing. |
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C major (C) |
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Although this one might be the easiest one to remember, it might be the hardest one to execute. It takes some stretching (especially on acoustic guitar), but with decent practice, it becomes a piece of cake. It helps to press the chord tightly and then loose it, and repeat the process several times. |
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D major (D) |
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This one may also be pretty tough, so focus on each finger until you get them all together creating this cool chord. Ring finger will often want to hook on 1st string, so keep your ears and eyes on him. And don’t play 5th and 6th string on this chord. |
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D minor (Dm) |
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Again you don’t play 5th and 6th string here. This is nice opportunity to work on stretching of your index and ring finger. What a sad chord this is… |
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G major (G) |
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This chord might seem it’s hard to play, because it takes fingering over all 6 strings. But, it’s not that hard at all. First focus on getting index and middle finger on the spot, and then add the ring finger. Exercise it a bit and soon it will go just like that! |
Clarity Of Notes
Important thing in everything you play is that all you play is clear and sounds natural and noiseless. Most of unwanted noises that guitar produces while you play actually come from your fingers. Focus on each note you play and does it sound right. See if you accidentally strum any other string. Do you mute some strings in the way. Be sincere with yourself and see where's the real issue. In only 1 of 100 cases it's the fault of instrument when some noises occur.
What also helps in playing clearer and getting fuller tone is fretting the string strong enough. In beginning fretting anything is pretty hard, but over time it gets easier and easier. And the tone gets fuller and fuller. What I just said can't be achieved overnight, but it's one of things worth having in mind.
Memorizing Chords
There are several exercises you can do to memorize the chords faster.
- Randomize chords and guess their name without help sheets. This is pretty self-explanatory.
- Attach their name to their visual appearance. This helps the most. You'll easily remember the G chord by knowing that it's the only chord that you have to finger across all 6 strings, that C chord is the chord that has 3 fingers lined up from 5th string, etc.
- Remember how each chord goes without having guitar in your hands. This is really cool exercise to do while you're travelling or something. You don't necessarily have to know chord names, but if you remember how to finger those chords, that's a big leap forwards!
And what is farmost important, don't learn chords just for the sake of learning them. Play with them, experiment, jam! See which one goes well after another! That's the best way to learn anything, and especially basic open chords.
