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Beginner Guitar Chords: The First Six to Learn

These six open chords cover a huge share of popular songs, and they're the ones most teachers start beginners on first.

E minor (Em) — the easiest first chord

Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Every other string rings open. Because it uses only two fingers and every string is strummed, it is the most common starting chord for beginners.

G major

A common beginner fingering: index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string. All six strings are strummed.

C major

Ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and index finger on the 1st fret of the B string. The low E string is left out of the strum.

D major

Index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, ring finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string, and middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Only the top four strings — D, G, B, and high E — are strummed.

A major

Index, middle, and ring fingers all placed on the 2nd fret, across the D, G, and B strings respectively. The low E string is left out of the strum.

E major

Index finger on the 1st fret of the G string, middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, and ring finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. All six strings are strummed.

Why these six chords go so far

A large share of popular songs across many genres can be played using only these six open chords or close variations of them, because together they cover both major and minor sounds in commonly used keys. Learning to switch between them cleanly is often more valuable early on than rushing to learn additional chords.

Clean sound takes patience, not just correct finger placement

A muted or buzzing string is usually caused by a finger not pressing close enough to the fret, or a neighboring finger accidentally touching another string without you noticing. Pressing just behind the fret wire, rather than directly on top of it, and checking each string individually resolves most early buzzing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my chord sound muted even when my fingers seem right?

Often a neighboring finger is lightly touching an adjacent string without you noticing. Strum each string individually to find which one is muted, then adjust that finger's arch and position.

How long does it typically take to switch between chords smoothly?

It varies widely, but most beginners notice real improvement within a few weeks of short, regular practice sessions — slow, deliberate switching drills tend to build the muscle memory faster than trying to play at full speed too early.