Learn to Play Easy Guitar - Free Online Guitar Chords Lesson for Beginning Guitarists

Did you ever want to start playing guitar, but don’t feel like you have the time or ability? Or maybe everything was just too hard for you? Well, you have come to the right place! A lot of songs can be played using only the three primary chords in the key of G – G, C, and D. These will take some practice, but aren’t too hard to learn and once you learn them, most common songs are within your reach. A lot of songs are written in G, and many that are not can be easily transposed (changed from the original chords to the chords you know). There are many easy guitar songs to play, if you look around.

Consider learning to play on an acoustic guitar, even if you would prefer to play electric guitar later. Acoustic guitar is slightly harder to play, because the strings are heavier and higher off the neck, but that will give your fingers more strenght and make it easier to switch over.

Just for a little background, there are six strings on a guitar (Example 1). From the top string to bottom string, they are tuned to the notes of E, A, D, G, B, high E. This means that plucking the A string open will make an A note. In guitar lessons and tablature, the strings are numbered 1-6, where the bottom string (high E) is 1 and the low E is 6. The frets are the little metal strips that run up and down the neck. In common usage, “fret” stand for the wooden space between two metal strips. The first fret stands for the space between the nut at the upper end of the neck and the first metal strip. The second fret is the wooden space between the first and second metal strips, and so on down the neck. If I say to put your finger on the 2^nd string, 2^nd fret, that would mean to put your finger on the B string between the first and second metal strips. Now, on to the chords!

The G chord is probably the hardest of the three to learn, but is well worth learning!  To play a G, put your second finger (middle finger) on the 5^th string, 2^nd fret; your third finger on the 6^th string, 3^rd fret; and your fourth finger (little finger) on the 1^st string, 3^rd fret (Example 2).  You can use other fingers, but these are the best to start.  Hold all three of these notes down at the same time and strum down all six strings.  You have now played a G chord, and it probably sounded horrible!  If a buzzing sound occurs, your finger is interfering with other strings.  You might be touching the 5^th string with the finger holding down the 6^th string, or you might be partly touching the 2^nd string with the finger holding down the 1^st string.  This just takes a lot of practice to resolve, but it will happen eventually.  The G chord is quite a stretch for unpracticed fingers, but if you can get it down, the others will be a little easier.

To learn the C chord, put your first finger on the 2^nd string, 1^st fret; your second finger on the 4^th string, 2^nd fret; and your third finger on the 5^th string, 3^rd fret (Example 3). Now, hold these down all at once and strum the 5^th to the 1^st strings. You don’t normally play the 6^th string in a C chord. Again, this is a bit of a stretch, but you will quickly get used to it.

Now, you are on the last chord! The D chord is not too much of a stretch, but you do have to cram three fingers in pretty close together. Put the first finger on the 3^rd string, 2^nd fret; your second finger on the 1^st string, 2^nd fret; and you third finger on the 2^nd string, 3^rd fret (Example 4). Strum the lower five strings, just like for C. Now you have all three chords that you need for basic songs!

Here is a very simple song that you can play using just these three chords – Amazing Grace.  Strum down every time that a chord name appears.  This is a very simple arrangement, but as you get better, you can arrange as you would like.

     G           G                  C          G              G         G              D       

A-ma-zing grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 

  G             G           C           G            G            D        G

I once was lost, but now am found was blind, but now I see.

Guitar is a lot of fun, once you get into it.  The early practice makes your fingers sore and does hurt a little, but don’t let that discourage you.  Once you get into it, it can be really hard to put down!