The chords below will be broken into various categories. I will also include some "levels" of chord knowledge to make sure you have not forgotten any of the basics. They are not grades, just a kind of rough level idea that I have in my head.

I will try to include other common fingerings and notes on playing each chord, not just the way that I play them. There is more than one right way to play many of these chords. And I sometimes play them a bit strange because of my stumpy little finger [excuses, excuses, lol].

I'll tell you truth here - not like those ridiculous "1,000,000 Chord Shapes" books. These are ones that you should know and will use. Those books have many dodgy chords that are just there to make the numbers up, impractical and sound awful. I know because I have friends who have written some and I know they get pressure from publishers for numbers, not quality. Same with many of the online chord things, they don't often sound good, even though theoretically they are correct...

As you can see this area is still under construction, but will be completed soon.. well actually it's probably always going to be growing... so get used to it... :) I add the new uncompleted stuff to remind myself to get onto it!

NOTE - Those looking for information on the CAGED SYSTEM CLICK HERE - most of you should check this out. Important stuff after the beginner stage - hence why it's in The Basics instead of the Chords area!

Level 1 - (Beginner)These are the basic beginner shapes. Essential for all players in every style. Even if you want to play metal you should check these out.

CH-001 • Basic Open Chords
In this lesson you will learn the eight most basic open chords: A, D, E, G, C, Am, Dm, Em.


Level 2 - (Beginner)

These are the next level for beginners. Slighly more advanced shapes. Bit more to remember and may require a little more stretching. Power Chords are also very important now as a precursor to learning Barré chords.

CH-002 • Dom 7th Open Chords
In this lesson you will check out the Dominant 7th Chords in open position: C7, A7, G7, E7, D7, B7

CH-003 • Suspended Open Chords 1
Suspended chords sound very cool and are pretty easy too: Dsus4, Dsus2, Asus4, Asus2, Esus4

CH-004 • Power Chords Part 1
This lesson covers the Power Chords with the 6th string root notes.

CH-005 • Power Chords Part 2
And this lesson develops the Power Chords technique and explains the 5th string root shape.


Level 3 - (Beginner)

This is where you get your barre chord shapes sorted, develop your left hand strength and make sure you know how to find the root notes.

CH-006 • Basic Barre Chords
This lesson includes a 4 part video series to help you learn your Major and minor, 7 and min 7 using E and A shape barre grips.

CH-007 • Slash Chords (and common open grips)
You should understand what a slash chord is and how to play the common ones! No it's nothing to do with Guns 'n' Roses before you ask...

CH-008 • Triad Chords (and how to use them) *NEW*
These chords are great to use as a second guitar part - sound really cool and make you learn your root notes and see how chords can be played all over the neck!


Level 4 - (Intermediate)

Chords start to get a bit more interesting now that you have the basic barré chords sorted, being able to play them is what got you to the imtermediate level! Really making sure that you can find your root notes in time, and be able to hold down your barrés well and comfortably.

I explain a great way to learn and UNDERSTAND most of the extended 4 note chords in my Chord Chonstruction Guide ebook. It really works and will help you understand how barre chords are constructed and how to play them - if you do it properly you no longer need to memorise hundreds of chords, you will unerstand how to create them from the basic CAGED shapes! See the unedited reviews in the forum here. It really works!

TB-030 • The CAGED System
I have a 6 lesson series on The CAGED system, starts with a video and is then text and illustrations (it's also the last part of Practical Music Theory) and at this stage you really need to understand what it is and how it works and WHY it's so important!

CH-000 • Interesting Open Chords
Introducing the lovely add 9 and minor add 9, nice open maj 7 and other nice discoveries...

CH-000 • Chord inversions
What they are and how to use them. Leads on from Slash chords.


Level 5 - (Intermediate)

Now you have to really know how to apply the CAGED system. You should also start getting familiar with the common jazz sequences and finding the root notes very quickly (well instantly really).

JA-001 • Basic Jazz Chords
This lesson cover the ten jazz chords that you will need to get down to start playing jazz. I made it for the jazz section - but it is needed here too ;)

CH-000 • Major CAGED Chords
The essential five Major barre chord shapes that make up the CAGED system shapes. (covered in CCG)

CH-000 • Suspended Open Chords 2
More advanced very cool sus chords: Csus2/4, Fsus2/4, Gsus4, Esus2, Bsus4. (covered in CCG)

Level 6 - (Intermediate)

Next up you need to be able to manipulate the CAGED concept to find other chords.

CH-000 • Minor CAGED Chords
A look at how the 5 Major chord grips in CAGED become minor (covered in CCG)

RH-021 • Basic Funk Chords
Now you can start looking at extended chords: 9, 7, 13 etc in a funk context. It's always a good idea to be putting things into practice, and funk is a great style for playing about with dominant chords!!


Level 7 - (Player)

What I think of as the "Player" level means that you understand how chords are constructed and the notes on the fingerboard - so you should now be making up your own chords and exploring them yourself!!

My advice is to print out a chord box paper page for each chord type (Major, Minor, Dominant, Altered) in each one of the CAGED positions (so you will have 20 pages) and then fill in as many chords as you can in each position.

For example in "A Shape" / "Major chords" - you should have maj, a couple of maj 7, a couple of maj 9, maj 11, maj 13, maj 6, maj 6/9, maj 7#11 etc.

It should now be up to you to find and explore chords on your own. I should just be sparking off new ideas and showing you where to look, but you need to do the finding yourself. You might want to start exploring the chord grips I show in these lessons (based on jazz)...

JA-021 • Major Type Jazz Chord Extensions
A look at some chords that you can use as Major Chord substitutions

JA-022 • Minor Type Jazz Chord Extensions
Some cool minor type chords you can substitute for minor chords.

JA-023 • Dominant Type Jazz Chord Extensions
Various chords that you can use to replace a good old 7th chord.

That should get you off to a good start - so now go out and explore some more on your own.

Level 8 - (Player)

Once you have your own chord book with all the basic chords you want to start exploring other possibilities. The altered concept (look at the way I show it not, not just what I show you) is important too.

JA-026 • Altered Chord Grips
Now we look at some common and useful chord grips for altered dominant chords

CH-000 • Chord Melody Voicings

CH-000 • Chords built in 4ths

Level 9 - (Guru, legend, etc...)

Shouldn't need my help really...