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Guitar Chord Chart for Beginners

The twelve chords every beginner should learn first, with diagrams and fingering numbers. Click any chord for a full lesson with step-by-step finger placement and practice loops. These twelve chords cover the large majority of popular songs.

How to read a chord diagram

Each grid is a slice of the fretboard: vertical lines are the strings (thickest low E on the left), horizontal lines are the frets. A dot means press that fret with the numbered finger (1 = index, 4 = pinky). ○ above a string means play it open; ✕ means do not play it. New to this? Lesson 3 explains chord diagrams slowly.

A practice order that works

1. Start with Em and E - two fingers each.
2. Add Am and A.
3. Add C, G, and D. You can now play thousands of songs.
4. Add Dm, G7, and Fmaj7.
5. Tackle F and Bm last - barre chords take weeks, not days. That is normal.

Keep going

• Fretboard notes tool - see where every chord tone lives.
• Lesson 6: smooth chord changes - the skill that makes chords sound like music.
• Ready for more? Extended chords and keys