Chord diagrams for every common guitar chord in all twelve keys, with finger positions, alternative shapes up the neck and the notes in each chord. Tap any diagram to hear it.
The first chords to learn
These open chords are used in thousands of songs. Learn them before you move on to barre chords.
A chord diagram shows the neck upright, as if the guitar is standing in front of you. Vertical lines are the strings, from the thick low E (string 6) on the left to the thin high E (string 1) on the right. Horizontal lines are the frets.
Dots show where to press, with the finger number inside: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger.
A bar across several strings is a barre, which means one finger presses them all at once.
○ above a string means play it open. × means don’t play it.
A number such as 5fr beside the diagram shows the fret number of the top line.
Every chart shows several shapes. The first is the easiest. The others are higher up the neck, for a different sound or an easier change from the chord before. First, make sure your guitar is in tune with the online guitar tuner.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important guitar chords for beginners?
The open chords C, A, G, E and D, plus the minor chords Am, Em and Dm. With them you can play thousands of songs.
What is a barre chord?
A chord where one finger, usually the index, presses several strings at the same fret. You can move barre chords such as F and Bm up and down the neck to play them from any root note.
How do I make chord changes faster?
Practise switching slowly between two chords with a metronome. Keep fingers that stay on the same string in place. Only speed up when the change is clean.