Guitar Chord Library: Diagrams for Every Chord (With Sound)
Choose a root note and chord type to see every common way to play it — open and barre shapes — and hear how it should sound.
Numbers in dots are suggested fingers (1 = index … 4 = little). × = don't play the string, ○ = open string. Share a chord by copying the page address.
Most-used chords
Tap a chord to load it in the library above.
CDEGAAmEmDmFBmA7E7D7G7B7Cmaj7Fmaj7Dsus4Asus2F#m
How the library chooses shapes
For each chord, you see the open-position shape if one exists, plus the two essential movable barre shapes: the E-shape (root on the 6th string) and the A-shape (root on the 5th string). Learn those two barre shapes and you can play any major, minor or seventh chord anywhere on the neck. See our barre chord lesson.
Chord types explained
| Type | Formula | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 1 3 5 | Bright, happy, stable |
| Minor (m) | 1 b3 5 | Sad, dark, emotional |
| Dominant 7 | 1 3 5 b7 | Bluesy, wants to resolve |
| Minor 7 (m7) | 1 b3 5 b7 | Soft, jazzy minor |
| Major 7 (maj7) | 1 3 5 7 | Dreamy, smooth |
| Sus2 | 1 2 5 | Open, airy |
| Sus4 | 1 4 5 | Suspended, wants to resolve to major |
More on this in guitar theory without the pain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an open chord and a barre chord?
Open chords use open strings and are played near the nut. Barre chords use your index finger across several strings and can be moved anywhere on the neck.
Why are sharp and flat names both shown?
Notes like C# and Db are the same pitch. Which name is used depends on the key of the song.
