Now it's time to check out some more chords so you can start really playing :)

OK. Hope all the chords are sounding good. Make sure you have them down and memorised before you move onto these new chords. Minor chords are no harder than Majors, they just have a sad sound. Check out these new chords.

It is very important to follow the fingerings for chords when you start, so we will go over the fingerings for these like we did on the chords in the earlier lessons (later when you know them well, you will discover that sometimes it is easier to use different fingerings).

A minor (Am)

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

You should notice that the first chord that we come to is very similar to the E chord that we learnt last lesson, but it placed on different strings. You should find changing from A min to E pretty easy. Make sure that your first finger is not muting any of the strings, by checking each note individually (like I hope you have been doing with A, D and E).

 

Did your Am Chord sound like this?

D minor (Dm)

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

D minor requires a different type of hand position to any of the chords so far, but it is not hard. Put your fingers as shown, and make sure that your third finger is not muting the 1st string. Also check that you are only strumming the four strings shown.

You can use either fingers 1,2 and 3 (shown in the photo) or use 1, 2 and 4 (as shown in the chord box). See what feels good for you. Both have pro's and cons depending on the circumstances...

 

Did your Dm Chord sound like this?

E minor (Em)

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

E minor is very easy and you should have no trouble with it, just like an E but with one less finger to worry about.

 

Did your Em Chord sound like this?

 

 

***Make sure you learn these thoroughly before moving onto our last two open position chords.***

 

 

G Chord (G)

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

Both these two new chords can be quite a challenge because of the finger stretch involved. I had many problems with G when I was learning. Take your time stretch the finger and play them often, soon the stretch will feel easy. Make sure you are checking all the notes and that they are all ringing out clearly.

There are a few variations on basic ways to play G chord, this is the one that I think is best to start with, but if you have learnt a different one, stick with that, all the same in the end.

You can also finger this chord using just fingers 2,3 and 4 and not using 1st finger. Makes for an easy change to C Chord when you have learnt it.

 

Did your G Chord sound like this?

C Chord

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

Be particularly careful with C to make sure that you get all the notes clear. Strum, Pick Out and Strum again. The 3rd finger will often mute the D string, so watch out for it!

 

Did your C Chord sound like this?

 

Onwards...

And then....

Once you get these chords down you will find there are many more songs that you can play. Just take it slow and remember that practice makes perfect!

Now learn a bunch more tunes before going on to the next lesson BC-006 • Basic Rhythm Guitar

 

Video Lesson

 

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