What you’ll learn
- Read a chord diagram.
- Form eight essential open chords.
- Correct accidentally muted strings.
Before you practice
A chord diagram shows the fretboard face on. Vertical lines represent strings, horizontal lines mark frets and dots show where your fingers go.
Form each chord slowly and play the strings one at a time. Adjust the angle of a finger before pressing harder. Keep fingertips clear of neighboring strings.
Start with two or three shapes and switch between them until your hand recognizes the positions.
Lesson exercise
- Form Em, release it and repeat ten times.
- Switch between G and C in one-minute rounds.
- Play Am → Dm → E at 50 BPM, one chord per bar.