Guitar chords: the essentials to get started right
The 8 essential open chords, how to finger them, how to switch between them — and your first progressions to play real songs in week one.
What is a guitar chord?
A chord is several notes played simultaneously that sound harmonious together. On guitar, a chord is formed by pressing several strings at precise frets with the fingers of the left hand, and strumming the strings with the right hand.
The guitar is particularly well suited to chords: its 6 strings allow you to play up to 6 notes at once, covering several octaves. That's what makes the guitar so effective for accompaniment — it can hold bass, harmony and melody all in one gesture.
Major, minor and 7th chords
Each chord type has its own distinct sound colour. The difference between major and minor comes down to one interval — the third — which shifts by a single semitone. That tiny difference creates a radically different emotional feel.
How to read a chord diagram
A chord diagram is a visual representation of the guitar fretboard seen head-on. It's the universal format for notating chords without needing to read music.
The 8 essential open chords
These 8 chords cover the vast majority of pop, rock, folk and blues songs. They're called "open" chords because they use open strings, making them accessible in the very first weeks.
Minor chords — Priority 1
Em and Am are the two easiest chords to finger and the most widely used. Start with these.
Les accords majeurs — Priorité 2
C, G, D et E sont les accords majeurs ouverts les plus courants. Le Do (C) et le Sol (G) sont incontournables dans le répertoire pop et folk.
How to switch between chords
Knowing how to finger a chord is one thing. Moving from one chord to another without an audible gap is another — and that's often where beginners get stuck. The good news: it's a matter of method, not talent.
🔁 Work on transitions in pairs
Don't try to practise the whole progression at once. Isolate two chords (Em → Am) and repeat just that transition until it's smooth. 5 minutes on a single transition is worth more than an hour across all the chords.
👁️ Anticipate the next chord
Before you've even finished strumming the current chord, mentally prepare the next fingering. Your hand gets ready while you're still playing — just like a pianist who reads the next bar while playing the current one.
🔍 Look for pivot fingers
Between two chords, some fingers stay in the same place. Between Am and C, the index finger (1) stays on the same fret. Identify these pivot fingers — they make the transition twice as fast.
🎯 Slow tempo, clean transitions
Play at 60 BPM with a metronome. Each chord must be clear and clean before you move to the next. A slow, clean transition is worth more than a fast, muddy one. Speed comes from precision, never the other way round.
6 progressions to play real songs
A chord progression is a repeating sequence that forms the harmonic structure of a song. These 6 progressions underpin hundreds of songs you probably already know.
The universal pop progression Pop
The most played progression in modern pop. Found in hundreds of songs from the last 20 years. In practice: 4 beats per chord, at 70 BPM to start.
The classic folk progression Folk
Three open chords, dozens of folk and country songs. The ideal progression for practising the G → C → D transitions.
The expressive minor progression Rock
Très présente dans le rock et le métal. La résolution finale sur E donne une tension caractéristique. Base parfaite pour improviser avec la gamme pentatonique de A minor.
The beginner pop-rock progression Pop
The 4 most played chords in pop-rock. "Let It Be", "No Woman No Cry", "With or Without You" — all built on this progression or a variation of it.
The blues-rock progression Blues
Three chords, hundreds of blues and rock songs. The backbone of "Johnny B. Goode" and countless blues standards. Start with 4 beats per chord.
The melancholic minor progression Rock
Widely used in acoustic rock and ballads. Starting on Em gives it a darker feel. A good progression for working on the Em → C transition.
Blues chords : la base du blues et du rock
Blues uses a specific structure called the 12-bar blues. It's built on 3 dominant (7th) chords and appears throughout a huge portion of the rock, blues and jazz repertoire.
Open 7th chords
In blues, 7th chords are dominant chords — formed by adding a minor seventh to a major chord. This tense, expressive sound is the signature of blues. E7 and A7 are the easiest to finger.
The 12-bar blues in A
🎸 70 chords on the back of the GuitarScaler
The back of the GuitarScaler ruler holds diagrams for 70 chords and power chords — major, minor, 7th, CAGED — visible right on the fretboard. No more hunting for a diagram on your phone while you play.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- 💪 Pressing too hard on the strings. Most beginners press far too hard, which tires the hand and creates unnecessary tension. A minimal but well-placed pressure is enough. If a note rings clearly with light pressure, that's sufficient.
- 📍 Placing fingers too far from the fret. The closer your finger is to the fret wire, the less effort is needed to get a clean note. Too far back = systematic buzzing and unnecessary fatigue.
- ⏩ Moving to a new chord before mastering the previous one. The temptation to learn all chords at once is strong. But 3 mastered chords let you play more music than 10 half-learned ones.
- 🔇 Practising without listening. Play slowly and listen to every note. If a note is muted or buzzes, identify which finger is responsible and fix it before continuing.
- 🙈 Avoiding difficult chords. C and G often give beginners trouble. But they're two unavoidable chords. Better to tackle them early and work on them progressively than to avoid them for months.