Beginner guitar chords: the 10 shapes to learn first
Ten open chords cover thousands of songs. Learn them in the right order, with clean fingering from day one, and you’ll be playing real music within weeks. Here are the shapes, the order to learn them in, how to make every note ring, and easy progressions to practise with.
Updated 3 November 2026 · 6 min read
How to read the chord shapes
Each chord below is written as six numbers, from the low E string (6th) to the high E (1st). A number is the fret to press; 0 is an open string; x means don’t play that string. So “x 3 2 0 1 0” for C means: skip the low E, 3rd fret on A, 2nd fret on D, open G, 1st fret on B, open high E. Every chord also has its own page with a diagram — follow the links, or browse the full chord library.
The 10 essential open chords
| Chord | Frets (E A D G B E) | Fingers | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| E minor (Em) | 0 2 2 0 0 0 | 2nd and 3rd fingers on A and D | Easiest |
| A minor (Am) | x 0 2 2 1 0 | 1st on B, 2nd on D, 3rd on G | Easy |
| E major (E) | 0 2 2 1 0 0 | Am shape, one string higher | Easy |
| A major (A) | x 0 2 2 2 0 | Three fingers in a row on fret 2 | Easy–medium |
| D major (D) | x x 0 2 3 2 | Triangle shape on the top three strings | Medium |
| D minor (Dm) | x x 0 2 3 1 | Like D, 1st finger moves to fret 1 | Medium |
| G major (G) | 3 2 0 0 0 3 | Spread shape; also 3 2 0 0 3 3 | Medium |
| C major (C) | x 3 2 0 1 0 | Diagonal across three frets | Medium |
| E7 | 0 2 0 1 0 0 | E with the 3rd finger lifted | Easy |
| A7 | x 0 2 0 2 0 | A with the G string open | Easy |
Then, when these are comfortable: the small F (x x 3 2 1 1), which prepares you for the full barre F.
The order to learn them in
- Em and Am — same shape, one string apart. You can play “Horse with No Name”-style two-chord grooves on day one.
- E and A — add major chords and the sound of rock and blues.
- D and G — open the door to thousands of pop and folk songs.
- C — the hardest stretch of the ten, so learn it once your fingers are a little stronger.
- Dm, E7, A7 — easy variations that add colour.
Practise changes, not just chords. As soon as you know two shapes, start switching between them in time. The chord-change guide has seven drills for exactly this.
Making every note ring
Buzzing or muted strings are normal for the first weeks. Check these five things, one at a time:
- Fingertips, not pads. Arch the fingers so the tips press down and the knuckles stay bent; flat fingers touch neighbouring strings.
- Close to the fret. Press just behind the metal fret, not in the middle of the space. You’ll need half the pressure.
- Thumb behind the neck. Rest it roughly behind your 2nd finger, not wrapped over the top (that comes later, for some chords).
- Short nails. Long fretting-hand nails stop the tip from pressing straight down.
- Pick one string at a time. Play the chord string by string. Find the one that buzzes, adjust that finger, try again.
Strumming while you learn
A simple pattern keeps you in time while your left hand learns:
| Level | Pattern (one bar of 4/4) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Down on every beat | 1 2 3 4 |
| 2 | Down-up on every beat | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & |
| 3 | The “pop strum” | D · D U · U D U |
Use a metronome around 70 BPM. When your changes keep up, try the pop strum — it fits most songs you’ll hear on the radio.
Easy progressions to practise
| Progression | Chords | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Two-chord groove | Em – Am | Moody, great first change |
| Folk / pop | G – C – D – G | Bright, classic |
| Four-chord pop | G – Em – C – D | Countless pop songs |
| Minor ballad | Am – F – C – G | Emotional, modern pop |
| Twelve-bar blues in A | A7 – D7 – E7 | Rock and roll, blues |
| Country / rock | D – A – G – D | Open and ringing |
If a song is in a key that’s hard to play, a capo moves easy shapes into any key — see how to use a capo or use the capo calculator.
Common beginner mistakes
- Squeezing the neck too hard. Tension hurts and slows you down. Use the lightest pressure that gives a clear note.
- Looking at the hand for every change. Glance before, then look away during the change; your hand will learn the shape.
- Practising chords only in isolation. You learn songs by changing between chords, not by holding one.
- Skipping the open strings in G and C. Muting them by accident is common; check each string.
- Giving up on C or F too early. These take weeks for everyone. Short daily practice gets you there.
Your first month with chords
| Week | Chords | Daily goal (15 min) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em, Am, E | Clean notes on every string; Em ↔ Am for one minute, twice |
| 2 | A, D | A ↔ D and E ↔ A changes; strum four downstrokes per chord at 70 BPM |
| 3 | G, C | G ↔ C one-minute changes; first full progression G – C – D – G |
| 4 | Dm, E7, A7 | A twelve-bar blues in A; one complete song using four chords |
Each day, spend the first five minutes on the chord you find hardest, the next five on changes, and the last five playing a song. If a week’s goal isn’t met, repeat the week — there’s no prize for rushing, and sore fingertips need a few days to toughen up.
Sore fingers are normal
Steel strings press grooves into soft fingertips for the first two or three weeks. Short daily sessions build calluses faster than long ones. If the pain is sharp rather than tender, stop and rest; and if your acoustic is very hard to press, a lighter string gauge or a setup with lower action makes a big difference.
What to learn next
When the ten shapes feel natural: learn the full F barre chord and the B minor barre, then movable barre shapes (E-shape and A-shape) that let you play any major or minor chord anywhere on the neck. Alongside, start one scale so you understand where chords come from, and build everything into a short daily practice routine.
Questions
What are the easiest guitar chords for beginners?
E minor and A minor are the easiest, followed by E, A, E7 and A7. G, C and D come next.
How many chords do I need to play songs?
Four chords (for example G, C, D and Em) are enough for hundreds of songs. The ten open chords here cover thousands.
Why do my chords buzz?
Usually the fingertips aren’t pressing close enough to the fret, or a finger is touching a neighbouring string. Arch your fingers and press just behind the fret.
How long does it take to learn basic chords?
With daily practice, most beginners can play the first few chords cleanly within two to four weeks and change between them smoothly within a couple of months.