When first starting to play the guitar one of the best ways to learn is by playing other peoples songs. The easiest and quickest way to learn other peoples songs is by the use of a chord chart.

The chord chart will help you know where to place your fingers on the fretboard and how to form each chord in the song. Most songs have at least three different chord changes and when learning these changes it is sometimes best to have the guitar chord chart infront of you as a quick reference.

I often find the ones I need and print them off so that they are within easy reach. This helps me when I get stuck as it can be difficult to remember where to place my fingers for every chord change.

Some of my favorite chord changes simply use the same finger position but in a different location on the fretboard. This makes it easier for me to make a change as I can move between chords without having to change my finger position too much.

Reading the guitar chord charts is quite easy once you know what position the notes are on the fretboard. If reading the chart from left to right the note sequence is E A D G B E. These are on strings 6 5 4 3 2 1 with the string 6 being the lowest sounding note (the thickest string).

The top line on the chord chart is the nut that the strings rest on. The following lines below are the frets. You place your fingers on the string that corresponds with the black circles on the chord chart. The lines going down are the individual strings as mentioned above.

In the example chart for 'A suspended' the X above the E string means you would not hit that string. The O above the A string means that you would leave that string open, or not place your fingers on the frets. The black circles are on the D and G strings on the second fret and on the B string on the third fret. The last E string would be left open.

This is all there is to reading the chord chart.

It can be tricky moving from one chord to another, but eventually you get used to the finger positions.