How to use this library
Pick a chord, study the dots, place your fingers, then click play to hear what it should sound like. Compare your guitar’s version to the recording. If they don’t match, one of three things is wrong: the guitar is out of tune, a finger is muting an adjacent string, or you’re not pressing close enough to the fret wire.
The diagrams use the standard convention: low E on the left, high E on the right. Numbers inside the dots are finger numbers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky). X above a string means don’t strum it. O means play it open.
Which chords to learn first
If you’re brand new, learn Em, Am, C, G, D in that order. Em is two fingers and almost foolproof. Am is one finger more than Em. C and G unlock most folk and pop. D rounds out the four-chord trick. Once you have those five, the rest of this library expands your vocabulary one shape at a time.
For a deeper walk-through with practice tips and finger-by-finger placement, see our guide on the first five chords.
Where to use them
Once you’ve got a few chords down, the fastest motivation boost is playing real songs with them. Our easy guitar songs list is grouped by chord vocabulary so you can scan straight to the section that matches what you know.
A note on barre chords
You won’t find F (full barre) or B (full barre) in this library yet. They use the same finger pattern as E and A but pressed across all six strings with the index finger. They’re the next jump after open chords, and they deserve their own focused practice. The mini-F shown here (top three or four strings) is the bridge: it teaches the shape without the full barre, and it gets you through 90 percent of beginner songs that need an F.
FAQ
- How do I read a chord diagram?
- Six vertical lines are the strings, low E on the left, high E on the right. Horizontal lines are frets. The thick top line is the nut. Numbers on the dots are which finger to use (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky). An X above a string means don't play it. An O means play it open.
- Why does the same chord have different shapes?
- Most chords can be played in several positions on the neck. This library shows the most common open-position shape for beginners. As you grow, you'll learn barre and movable shapes that let you play the same chord higher up the neck.
- Can I hear what each chord sounds like?
- Yes. Click the play button on any chord card to hear it strummed. The audio uses an acoustic guitar sample, so it's a fair approximation of how the chord should sound on your instrument.