Playing Chords



Hi everyone,

Here's some info for people starting out with chords, or for those who feel like they haven't mastered chords yet. The lessons will be divided up into open chords and barre chords, so you can choose which is most relevant to you...

 Open Chords

OK, the attached sheet contains the basic open chords I think you need to know, and their most common fingerings. There are other ways of playing these chords, but in my experience these ones are the most useful.

The most important thing is how you practice these chords - BE CONSISTENT. Imagine if you changed your name every time you wrote it down. Would your signature be fast and easy to write? Obviously not...  So, if you hold each chord the same way every time, you'll learn it faster, right? Right!

So, how do you hold the chords? Lowest (thickest) string to highest (thinnest) string

What does that mean? Go check out the sheet, and look at an E chord. You would put your fingers down in this order: 2nd (middle) finger, 3rd (ring) finger, 1st (index) finger.

You should memorize which finger each chord starts with, it will make things much faster and easier. For example, C and F start with your 3rd (ring) finger, G starts with your 2nd (middle) finger.

Some exercises for practicing are on the sheet. Try them every day for a week or two (with proper practicing), and you will be a gun on your open chords, able to handle any song using those chords.
 
download guide

 Barre Chords

OK everyone, I've attached a sheet on the basic barre chords I think you should know, and included some exercises for practicing them...

So, go have a look at the sheet and go do the exercises. I'll include some songs to play shortly, and they will be really easy once you do the exercises... 
 
download guide 

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