Your First 7 Guitar Chords: Am, Em, C, G, D, E and A
With these seven open chords you can play hundreds of songs. Learn them in the order below — each one builds on the last.
How to read a chord diagram
A chord diagram is a picture of the fretboard as if the guitar is standing up facing you. Vertical lines are the strings (thickest on the left), horizontal lines are the frets, and the thick bar at the top is the nut.
- Orange dots show where to press, with the finger number inside (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = little).
- O above a string = play it open (not pressed).
- × above a string = do not play that string.
- The numbers below the diagram are the fret for each string, low E to high E.
The seven chords
1. E minor (Em) — the easiest chord
Two fingers, all six strings. Place finger 2 on the 5th string, 2nd fret, and finger 3 on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Strum all six strings. Start here to get a feel for pressing and strumming.
2. A minor (Am)
Same shape as E major, moved over one string. Finger 1 on the 2nd string, 1st fret; finger 2 on the 4th string, 2nd fret; finger 3 on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Skip the 6th string.
3. E major (E)
Take your Am shape and move it one string towards the ceiling. Strum all six strings. Changing from E to Am is great practice because the shape stays the same.
4. A major (A)
Three fingers side by side on the 2nd fret of the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings. It feels cramped at first. Some players use fingers 2-3-4, or even one finger barring all three strings. Don't play the 6th string.
5. D major (D)
A small triangle shape on the top four strings: finger 1 on the 3rd string, 2nd fret; finger 3 on the 2nd string, 3rd fret; finger 2 on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Strum only the four thinnest strings — hitting the 6th and 5th strings makes D sound muddy.
6. C major (C)
A stretch across three frets: finger 3 on the 5th string, 3rd fret; finger 2 on the 4th string, 2nd fret; finger 1 on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Make sure the open 3rd string rings — keep your fingers arched.
7. G major (G)
Finger 2 on the 6th string, 3rd fret; finger 1 on the 5th string, 2nd fret; finger 3 on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Some players prefer a four-finger version (adding finger 4 on the 2nd string, 3rd fret), which makes changing to C easier later.
Play each string of the chord slowly one at a time. If a string buzzes or is muted, adjust that finger: press closer to the fret, arch the finger more or rotate your wrist slightly.
The best order to practise chord changes
Changing chords smoothly is harder than learning the shapes. Practise these pairs in this order — each pair shares finger positions, which makes the change easier:
| Change | Why it is easy | Anchor tip |
|---|---|---|
| Em ↔ Am | Fingers 2 and 3 keep the same shape | Move the shape as a unit |
| E ↔ Am | Identical shape, one string across | Lift and place all fingers together |
| Am ↔ C | Fingers 1 and 2 stay in place | Only finger 3 moves |
| D ↔ A | Both use the 2nd fret | Slide finger 1 lightly |
| G ↔ C | Common in songs | Move finger 3 first |
| G ↔ D | Finger 3 stays on the 3rd fret area | Pivot around it |
| Em ↔ G | Fingers 2 and 3 shift one string | Move them together |
The one-minute changes exercise
This is the single best exercise for chord changes, used by teachers worldwide:
- Pick two chords, e.g. Am and C.
- Set a timer for one minute.
- Switch between them as many times as you can, strumming once each time. Count only clean changes.
- Write down your score. Do it every day for each pair — watch it climb from 15 to 40+ changes a minute.
Once you can do 30 changes a minute, you are ready to play songs. See our 3-chord songs list.
Next steps
- Add rhythm: learn the essential strumming patterns.
- Add two more chords: Dm and the easy F (small F), then work towards barre chords.
- Look up any chord in our interactive chord library.
Frequently asked questions
Which guitar chord should I learn first?
E minor. It uses only two fingers and all six strings, so you can focus on clean pressing and strumming.
How long does it take to learn basic guitar chords?
Most people can form the seven basic chords within 1–2 weeks. Changing between them smoothly in time usually takes 3–6 weeks of daily practice.
Why does my C chord sound bad?
Usually the open 3rd (G) string is being muted by finger 2 or 3. Arch your fingers more and press with the very tips.
