Complete Beginner Chord Chart
All chords taught in this course. Each diagram shows six strings (low E on the left, high E on the right), fret positions, finger numbers, and open (O) or muted (X) string indicators.
Finger numbering: 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky, T = thumb
How to Read These Diagrams
Section titled “How to Read These Diagrams”- Each column represents a string (left = low E, right = high E)
- Numbers in the grid show which finger to place at that position
Oabove a string = play the string open (unfretted)Xabove a string = do not play this string- Fretted strings have no marker above them (the finger number in the grid shows the fretting)
- Fret numbers appear on the left side
Minor Chords
Section titled “Minor Chords”Em — E Minor
Section titled “Em — E Minor”- Introduced: Session 2
- Used in: Sessions 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 18
Em
OOOO
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 2 on A string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on D string, fret 2
- All other strings open
- Strum all 6 strings
Am — A Minor
Section titled “Am — A Minor”- Introduced: Session 3
- Used in: Sessions 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16, 18, 22
Am
XOO
1
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 1 on B string, fret 1
- Finger 2 on D string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on G string, fret 2
- A string open
- Do not play low E string
- Strum strings A through high e (5 strings)
Major Chords
Section titled “Major Chords”E — E Major
Section titled “E — E Major”- Introduced: Session 5
- Used in: Sessions 5, 6, 8, 12
E
OOO
1
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 1 on G string, fret 1
- Finger 2 on A string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on D string, fret 2
- All other strings open
- Strum all 6 strings
D — D Major
Section titled “D — D Major”- Introduced: Session 7
- Used in: Sessions 7, 10, 11, 12
D
XXO
1
3
2
EADGBe
- Finger 1 on G string, fret 2
- Finger 2 on B string, fret 3
- Finger 3 on high e string, fret 2
- D string open
- Do not play low E or A strings
- Strum strings D through high e (4 strings)
A — A Major
Section titled “A — A Major”- Introduced: Session 8
- Used in: Sessions 8, 12
A
XOO
1
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 1 on D string, fret 2
- Finger 2 on G string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on B string, fret 2
- A and high e strings open
- Do not play low E string
- Strum strings A through high e (5 strings)
G — G Major
Section titled “G — G Major”- Introduced: Session 10
- Used in: Sessions 10, 11, 12
G
OOO
1
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 2 on low E string, fret 3
- Finger 1 on A string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on high e string, fret 3
- D, G, B strings open
- Strum all 6 strings
C — C Major
Section titled “C — C Major”- Introduced: Session 11
- Used in: Sessions 11, 12
C
XOO
1
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 1 on B string, fret 1
- Finger 2 on D string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on A string, fret 3
- G and high e strings open
- Do not play low E string
- Strum strings A through high e (5 strings)
Barre Chords
Section titled “Barre Chords”F — F Major (Simplified)
Section titled “F — F Major (Simplified)”- Introduced: Session 17
- Used in: Sessions 17, 18
F (simplified)
XX
2
3
EADGBe
- Finger 1 barres B and high e strings at fret 1
- Finger 2 on G string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on D string, fret 3
- Do not play low E or A strings
- Strum strings D through high e (4 strings)
F — F Major (Full Barre)
Section titled “F — F Major (Full Barre)”- Introduced: Session 17 (stretch goal)
F (full barre)
2
3
4
EADGBe
- Finger 1 barres all 6 strings at fret 1
- Finger 2 on G string, fret 2
- Finger 3 on A string, fret 3
- Finger 4 on D string, fret 3
- Strum all 6 strings
Power Chords
Section titled “Power Chords”E5 — E Power Chord
Section titled “E5 — E Power Chord”- Introduced: Session 9
- Used in: Sessions 9, 13, 20
E5
OXXXX
1
EADGBe
- Low E string open (root note)
- Finger 1 on A string, fret 2
- Mute or do not play strings D, G, B, high e
- Often played with palm muting
A5 — A Power Chord
Section titled “A5 — A Power Chord”- Introduced: Session 9
- Used in: Sessions 9, 13, 20
A5
XOXXX
1
EADGBe
- Do not play low E string
- A string open (root note)
- Finger 1 on D string, fret 2
- Mute or do not play strings G, B, high e
- Often played with palm muting
Quick Lookup Table
Section titled “Quick Lookup Table”| Chord | Type | Strings | Frets Used | Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Em | Minor | All 6 | A2, D2 | Session 2 |
| Am | Minor | A-e (5) | B1, D2, G2 | Session 3 |
| E | Major | All 6 | G1, A2, D2 | Session 5 |
| D | Major | D-e (4) | G2, e2, B3 | Session 7 |
| A | Major | A-e (5) | D2, G2, B2 | Session 8 |
| E5 | Power | E, A (2) | A2 | Session 9 |
| A5 | Power | A, D (2) | D2 | Session 9 |
| G | Major | All 6 | A2, E3, e3 | Session 10 |
| C | Major | A-e (5) | B1, D2, A3 | Session 11 |
| F (simplified) | Barre | D-e (4) | B1, e1, G2, D3 | Session 17 |
| F (full) | Barre | All 6 | All-1, G2, A3, D3 | Session 17 |
Common Chord Progressions in This Course
Section titled “Common Chord Progressions in This Course”| Progression | Key | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Em - Am | E minor | Sessions 3, 6 |
| Em - Am - E | E minor/major | Sessions 5, 6 |
| D - Am | D major | Session 7 |
| A - D - E | A major (12-bar) | Session 8 |
| Em - G | E minor | Session 10 |
| G - D - Am | G major | Session 10 |
| G - Em - C - D | G major | Session 11 |