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Guitar Chords
Guitar Chord Primer

Guitar Chord Primer
An Introduction to Guitar Chords
by Shawn Bradshaw

This guitar lesson is going to give you the basics of how to play guitar chords. You will learn how to read guitar chord charts, and get some tips on how to get the best possible sound from your chords.

 

How to Read a
Guitar Chord Chart

 

Guitar chord charts are like a picture of your guitar if it was standing up.

Guitar neck picture

 

 

finger numbers

Guitar chord chart description

 

  • the right vertical line represents the first string
  • the left vertical line represents the sixth string
  • the space between the horizontal lines represent the frets
  • the dots tell you where to put your fingers
  • the numbers underneath tell you which finger to use
  • if there is a 0 then play that string open*
  • X means don't play, or to mute that string
  • T means to play that note with your thumb

*An open string is where you don't touch the string with your left hand.

 

Play the above guitar chord (E minor) and strum down on all 6 strings so that they are all heard at the same time.

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Then pick each string individually from the 6th string to the 1st string. This will help you make sure that all of the notes of the chord are sounding.

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