Open Guitar Chords Chart

What it is

A one-page chart of the essential open-position guitar chords with fingering diagrams: the major chords C, A, G, E, D and F, the minor chords Am, Em and Dm, and the common seventh chords A7, B7, C7, D7, E7, G7, Am7, Em7 and Dm7.

How to use it

• Print at 100% and place it on your music stand.
• Learn two chords at a time, then practise switching between them for one minute with the metronome at a slow tempo.
• Read the diagram: vertical lines are strings (low E on the left), dots are fingers, O is an open string, X means don't play it.

Practice tips

• Press just behind the fret and use your fingertips so neighbouring strings ring freely.
• Check each chord string by string. If one buzzes or is muted, adjust that finger.
• Good first pairs: Em–G, Am–C, D–G, E–A.

Related

Start with the 30-day beginner guitar path. Find these and more shapes in the chord builder, use a capo to play them in other keys, and draw your own on blank chord boxes.