What Chords Should Beginners Learn First?

Where do I start as a beginner?

So, you've bought your first guitar! Your fingers are itching to play, but you don't know where to begin. Most people in this position pick out one or two chords that might sound reasonable — usually the G major they saw somewhere on YouTube.

If there's one thing I've learned in over 25 years of teaching, it's which chords are easiest for beginners. Here are four chords every beginner should learn first. If you're new to chord diagrams, have a look at how to read a guitar chord diagram first. In the diagrams below, × means don't play that string, ○ means play it open, and the numbers show which finger to use.

1. The easy G chord

Place your ring finger (3rd finger) on the 3rd fret of the thinnest string, the high E. Only strum from the D string — the fourth string — downwards. This is the most straightforward chord to play, and it has a lovely open sound.

The best way to practise is to give four downstrokes per chord: | D D D D |. You'll find a strumming pattern further down.

2. The easy E minor chord

From the G chord, keep your ring finger where it is and place your middle finger (2nd finger) on the 2nd fret of the D string. Strum the same four strings as before. Voilà — that's your second chord.

3. The easy C chord

The C chord is easy because your middle finger is already in the right place from E minor. Simply add your index finger (1st finger) to the 1st fret of the B string, and you have a C chord. Practise it with the same downstrokes.

4. The easy D chord

The D chord looks different from the others, which is why many people struggle with it. This easy version is actually a Dsus2 — don't worry about the name; you'll learn the full D chord as you improve.

Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, then your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Strum from the open D string downwards.

There you have it — four beginner chords on the guitar!

A simple strumming pattern

Practising with a metronome helps tremendously with your rhythm. Set it to 70 BPM (beats per minute) and try this pattern, which works for almost any song you start with:

| Down Down Down Down Up | Down Down Down Down Up |

Songs you can play with these chords

• Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
• Knockin' on Heaven's Door – Bob Dylan
• Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver
• Love Me Do – The Beatles
• I'm Yours – Jason Mraz
• Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
• Good Riddance – Green Day
• Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
• Viva La Vida – Coldplay

A great one to start with is Leaving on a Jet Plane, which only uses G, C and D. Follow the Leaving on a Jet Plane chords guide to play it all the way through.

I hope this has helped you get started. If you have a question or a topic you'd like me to cover, send me a message — and if you're ready for lessons, I'd love to help you play with passion.