How to use
- Choose a root, then a chord type such as major, minor or 7th.
- Read the diagrams — dots are fingers, a bar is a barre with the index finger, a circle is an open string, × is a string you don't play.
- Press Play to hear how the chord should sound.
- To print, add or remove chords under Printable chord chart, choose the paper size and download the PDF.
Options explained
- Open chord
- A shape that uses open strings. Easier to hold and bright-sounding; beginners usually start with C, G, D, A, E, Am, Em and Dm.
- Barre chord
- The index finger presses several strings at one fret while the other fingers form the shape. Slide the same shape along the neck to play the chord from a different root.
- Chord notes
- The notes the chord is made of — C major is C, E and G. Every note in the diagrams is one of these.
How to read a chord diagram
A chord diagram shows the fretboard with the guitar standing upright, headstock at the top:
- Vertical lines are strings. The thick low E (6th string) is on the left, the thin high E (1st) on the right.
- Horizontal lines are frets. The thick line at the top is the nut; if there is a number on the left, the diagram starts at that fret.
- Dots are where your fingers go, and a bar means the index finger presses several strings (a barre).
- A circle above a string means play it open; × means don’t play it — skip it or mute it lightly.
Chord names
| Written | Name | Notes (in C) |
|---|---|---|
| C | major | C E G |
| Cm | minor | C E♭ G |
| C7 | dominant 7th | C E G B♭ |
| Cmaj7 | major 7th | C E G B |
| Cm7 | minor 7th | C E♭ G B♭ |
| Csus4 / Csus2 | suspended 4th / 2nd | C F G / C D G |
| Cdim / Cdim7 | diminished / diminished 7th | C E♭ G♭ / C E♭ G♭ A |
| Cm7♭5 | half-diminished | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| Caug | augmented | C E G♯ |
Common shapes for 7th and 6th chords sometimes leave out the fifth; they still sound like the same chord.
Which chords to learn first
A lot of songs use just four or five chords, and they come in families by key:
| Key | Chords you’ll meet |
|---|---|
| C | C, Am, F, G (plus Dm, Em) |
| G | G, Em, C, D (plus Am, Bm) |
| D | D, Bm, G, A (plus Em, F♯m) |
| A | A, F♯m, D, E |
F in the key of C, and Bm and F♯m in D, are barre chords. Print a chart of the open chords first and add the barre chords one at a time. A guitar that is out of tune sounds wrong whatever you play, so tune with the guitar tuner first, and practise changes with the metronome running.
Frequently asked questions
My F chord buzzes. What can I do?
F is the first barre chord most people meet. Roll the index finger slightly onto its bony edge, press close to the fret wire, and keep your thumb in the middle of the back of the neck. Start with the small F (x x 3 2 1 1) and work up to the full barre.
What does the number beside a diagram mean?
It is the fret the diagram starts at. Diagrams without a number start at the nut, drawn as the thick line at the top.
Why does one chord have several shapes?
A chord only says which notes to play, and those notes appear in many places on the fretboard. Open shapes ring brightly; barre shapes make it easy to change key or move to the next chord.
Does this work for ukulele?
No — these are for six-string guitar in standard tuning (E A D G B E). Ukulele strings and tuning are different. To tune up, use the [guitar tuner](/guitar-tuner) or the [ukulele tuner](/ukulele-tuner).
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