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Basic Chords

This document provides an approach for learning basic guitar chords. It recommends playing chords of the same type (e.g. major) in order, starting with simpler forms and progressing to more complex forms. After mastering major chords, the approach is to learn minor, dominant 7th, and minor 7th chords in a similar fashion. It also includes chord diagrams for all basic chord types to illustrate finger placements and roots.

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Brad
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157 views3 pages

Basic Chords

This document provides an approach for learning basic guitar chords. It recommends playing chords of the same type (e.g. major) in order, starting with simpler forms and progressing to more complex forms. After mastering major chords, the approach is to learn minor, dominant 7th, and minor 7th chords in a similar fashion. It also includes chord diagrams for all basic chord types to illustrate finger placements and roots.

Uploaded by

Brad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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APPROACH TO LEARNING THE BASIC CHORDS

This approach depends upon recognizing forms of the chord types. For example, A major, Bb major,
and B major are all similar in chord shape. D major, Eb major, and E major are likewise similar to each
other. One should slowly play the chords (of one type, e.g. major) in order. Note that you play a major
form until another simpler form is encountered. Then play that form until a simpler one is possible, and
take that one as far as necessary.
If you can, figure out where the root of the chord is for each form, and notice the patterns that emerge.
After you can play all of the major chords in order (slowly), go on to the minor chords, then the dominant
7th chords, etc. Your understanding of the chords will be enhanced by learning the notes on the
fingerboard, at least up to the 5th fret.

MAJOR

R1

R3

2100

3211

OR

R4

0132

R3

3211

0003

R2

1114

2230

2231

2231

2010

3121

R2

1243

3121

MINOR

OR

R1

2000

3111

R2

3111

3111

R3

0111

3111

2310

3421

0321

R4

1024

2130

0231

1342

DOMINANT 7TH

R1

R3

0100

1211

0213

1324

R4

1211

R2

0001

1112

1112

1112

1203

2314

2314

p. 2 APPROACH TO BASIC CHORDS

MINOR 7TH

R1

R3

0000

1111

0211

1322

2222

3333

R2

2204

2214

2214

0203

1324

1324

R4

DIMINISHED 7TH

ALSO Gdim
0102
Bbdim
C#dim

ALSO Abdim
1324
Bdim
Ddim

ALSO Adim,
1324
Cdim
Ebdim

Notes:
1. For diminished chords, any note upon which a finger is placed (or open strings) can serve as the
root of the chord.
2. For a dominant 7 flat 9 chord (e.g. C7b9), play the diminished of the flat 9, that is the dimished onehalf step higher. For example, for a C7b9, play a C#dim.

AUGMENTED

2110

ALSO C#aug
F aug

3221

ALSO Daug
F#aug

ALSO Ebaug
3221
Gaug

ALSO Eaug
1003
G#aug

Notes:
1. For augmented chords, any note upon which a finger is placed (or open strings) can serve as the
root of the chord.

APPROACH TO LEARNING THE BASIC CHORDS


(WITHOUT CHORD DIAGRAMS)
This approach depends upon recognizing forms of the chord types. For example, A major, Bb major,
and B major are all similar in chord shape. D major, Eb major, and E major are likewise similar to each
other. One should slowly play the chords (of one type, e.g. major) in order. Note that you play a major
form until another simpler form is encountered. Then play that form until a simpler one is possible, and
take that one as far as necessary.
If you can, figure out where the root of the chord is for each form, and notice the patterns that emerge.
After you can play all of the major chords in order (slowly), go on to the minor chords, then the dominant
7th chords, etc. Your understanding of the chords will be enhanced by learning the notes on the
fingerboard, at least up to the 5th fret.

MAJOR
A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab

MINOR
Am Bbm Bm Cm C#m Dm Ebm Em Fm F#m Gm Abm

DOMINANT 7TH
A7 Bb7 B7 C7 C#7 D7 Eb7 E7 F7 F#7 G7 Ab7

MINOR 7TH
Am7 Bbm7 Bm7 Cm7 C#m7 Dm7 Ebm7 Em7 Fm7 F#m7 Gm7 Abm7

DIMINISHED 7TH
Adim7 Bbdim7 Bdim7 Cdim7 C#dim7 Ddim7 Ebdim7 Edim7 Fdim7 F#dim7 Gdim7 Abdim7
Notes:
3. For diminished chords, any note upon which a finger is placed can serve as the root of the chord.
4. For a dominant 7 flat 9 chord (e.g. C7b9), play the diminished of the flat 9, that is the dimished onehalf step higher. For example, for a C7b9, play a C#dim.

AUGMENTED
A+ Bb+ B+ C+ C#+ D+ Eb+ E+ F+ F#+ G+ Ab+
Notes:
2. For augmented chords, any note upon which a finger is placed can serve as the root of the
chord.

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