If you followed the instructions above you should be confident with your first chord! Well done. If not go back and try again. Unfortunately I'm not aware of any one chord songs so now we have to move onto our next two chords so you can play a song.

 

The A Chord

The next chord to approach is the A chord. There are two ways to play it.

The traditional approach which I taught for many years until only recently (and is shown in the photo) has the first, second and third fingers, all in a row in the second fret. If you have big fingers you may find this quite hard.

The newer method (shown in the neck diagram) is to swap around your first and second fingers. This makes as all the fingers closer to the frets, making fingers 2 and 3 right next to it and with the first finger just pushing in from behind.

It is up to you what method you choose. I would recommend that you use the new method but if you have learned the traditional way them stick with that.

You should not pick the 6th string, but all the rest should sound. Put your fingers down and then strum, check individually, and then strum again.

<<..........>>

On the A chord the bits to watch out for are that your third finger is not touching the 1st string, and that your fingers are pressing hard enough to get all the notes sounding out. This chord can take bit of adjusting, and check that your left hand palm is not touching the neck. .

 

Did your A Chord sound like this?

 

The E Chord

Next is the E chord, and it is quite a bit easier than the A. Arrange your fingers as shown on the neck diagram below and then strum, check individually and then strum again. Check that your 1st finger is not touching on any of the strings that it should not touch and check that all the strings are nice and clear. This one is also made easier by the fact that all the strings are played.

<<..........>>

 

Did your E Chord sound like this?

 

Onwards...

Spend some time working on changing between the chord shapes and find ways to help yourself remember these chords.

It is very important that you commit these chords to MEMORY.

Check out the video below and then goto the next lesson: BC-004 • Some very easy songs

 

Video Lesson

 

Donate

Please remember to make a donation if you like these lessons, I keep them free because there are many people that can't afford lessons, but it means that I rely on YOU honourable people that can afford it to donate. The beginners courses I run "in the flesh" cost over £200 (US$400) so you get great value if you only donate 20 bucks :) Don't leave it for others. Donations mean I can spend more time making this site even better!! PLEASE DONATE NOW!

 

HELP!!!!

If you need to ask a question about this lesson - there is a topic set up specifically to help you with this lesson. To help you find it easily you can click the following link and it will take you right the topic. You'll be able to see questions that other people had and ask your own questions! Hopefully one of the very helpful members of our community will be there to help you soon, I do go there and answer stuff too - but there are just too many questions for me to answer alone! So click this link to get help with this lesson!

 

.