All you need is a few simple chords to get started. Don't try to learn everything in one day. Take it slow and focus on learning one chord at a time.
Nobody starts their guitar journey by jumping straight into barre chords and sevenths. It all begins with building a strong foundation and mastering the basics. In the world of guitar, you might hear these chords referred to as open chords or cowboy chords — that just means they're played at the top of the neck.
In this guide, we'll focus on the essential chords you need to start playing your first songs. Go ahead and tune up if you haven't already and let's get started!
First, we'll start by learning the easiest chord of them all, E minor. Index and middle fingers on the strings, everything else left open.
🔑 KEY IDEA
Play the open strings too
Next up, we have the famous G major chord. Something about this one just feels like home. Don't worry too much about being able to switch between chords at this point, focus on playing each cleanly.
The C major chord is great because you can usually keep your middle finger planted while you switch to another chord. Practice swapping from to without looking at the fretboard. Easy right?
The last chord we'll learn today is the D major chord. Notice the open D string in the chord diagram. You can play this open string to add a bit of extra bass, or leave it out for a brighter sounding D.
Bringing it all together:
- 1Start with .
- 2Then practice , , and major individually.
- 3Practice switching between these four chords with a metronome at 60 BPM.
- 4Shuffle the order of your chords and practice different transitions.
- 5Bonus challenge: Try changing chords without looking.
🚨 WATCH OUT
F is not on this list on purpose
Here's the secret nobody tells you. Once you learn open chords, you can use a capo and play the same chord shapes anywhere on the fretboard for a fresh sound. Magic!
Your turn ⭐
Chord foundation check
Question 1 of 3
Which chords are good starter chords to learn if you're new to guitar?
The cheat sheet
- Four chords are enough for one sitting: Em, G, C, and D.
- Em first: index and middle finger, strum all the strings for the full sound.
- Play each chord cleanly on its own, then drill switches with a metronome at 60 BPM.
- F needs a barre and can wait. When a song calls for it, skip that part and keep going.
Common questions
Which chord is the easiest to learn first?
E minor: two fingers, and you strum every string. You can get a full, real chord sound in your first few minutes, which matters more than it seems, because that sound is what convinces you this is going to work.
How long until the chords sound clean?
A few weeks of short daily practice for the open chords, and buzzy versions along the way are part of the process rather than a warning sign. Play songs with the buzzy versions. Clean arrives while you're busy playing.
Does it matter if I practice while looking at the fretboard?
There's absolutely nothing wrong with looking at the fretboard while you learn the basic chord shapes. Once you feel comfortable and your fingers start moving on their own, you'll know you're ready to stop peeking.