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Writer's pictureShivani Rajput

8 Most Important Open Guitar Chords for Beginners who are taking guitar classes online

Updated: Jul 6, 2022


 Guitar for beginners
Guitar for beginners

The chords serve as the building elements for your tunes, providing you with the necessary harmony. Together, the strumming and the singing voice generate the beat, which is then accompanied by the melody provided by you or someone else's singing voice.

The eight most essential chords that anyone who wants to learn guitar, or take guitar classes online should master are as follows:

You can memorise the first 5 open major chords by the mnemonic CAGED.

1. C Major Chord

2. A Major Chord

3. G Major Chord

4. E Major Chord

5. D Major Chord

6. A minor Chord

7. E minor Chord

8. D minor Chord


Songs with Chords for Beginners

As you just begin to learn guitar, take hope. Mastering these 8 chords will allow you to play your favourite songs on the guitar in no time as you breeze through your guitar classes online!

With only three basic chords, you may build an almost unlimited number of simple tunes to accompany yourself on the guitar. It is possible to find the chord sequence G – D – Em – C (commonly known as the I – V – vi – IV progression) in almost a million songs globally, which is an excellent example. Almost any guitar class online, will introduce to this chord progression.


It is possible to play songs such as "I'm yours" by Jason Mraz, "With or without you" by U2, by relying just on these four chords as the foundation for their arrangements. You may easily remedy this by just using a capo and performing the song in the proper key, even though not all of those songs were originally created in the key of G.

The open chords serve as a starting point and building block for the more complex chords that will come later, such as barre chords and diminished chords, which are slightly more advanced.


How to Play Beginner Guitar Chords in your guitar classes online (h2)



guitar chords
guitar chords

We'll teach you to step by step how to play each guitar chord, as well as how and where to place your fingers on the guitar strings. The chords of the guitar should be learned properly and memorised so that you may construct your most crucial chord vocabulary:



The finger location is indicated by the numbers on the dots in such as in the chord diagram.

In any chord diagram, 1 represents the index finger, 2 represents the middle finger, 3 represents the ring finger, and 4 represents the pinky.


chord diagram
chord diagram






1) C major chord

C major is a fundamental guitar chord that is played in the key of C. The following are the notes that make up the C major chord: C – E – G – C are the letters of the alphabet (first, third and fifth notes of the C major scale).

c major
c major

1. First, put your first (index) finger on the second string (B-string) on the first fret and play it

2. Pick up the 4th string (D-string) on the second fret of the guitar with your second finger (middle finger) using your middle finger.

3. Finally, the pattern is completed by placing your third finger (ring finger) on the third fret of the fifth string (A-string) to finish it.


To avoid accidentally striking the 6th string with the strumming hand (see X above 6th string), only the first 5 strings should be hit with the strumming hand.

The fact that the G and high E strings are "open strings" is signified by a little 'o' on the top of the strings, which denotes that they are "open strings."

2) A Major Chord

The notes of the A major chord are as follows: A – C# – D – A – C# (first, third and fifth notes of the A major scale).

The A major chord is formed by

A major
A major

1) Place your first (index) finger on the 4th string (D-string) on the second fret and play it.

2) Now using your second finger (middle finger), pick up the 3rd string (G-string) on the second fret of the guitar.

3) Finally, place your third finger (ring finger) on the second fret of the second string (B-string).

Because the 6th string is muted (see X atop 6th string), only the lowest 5 strings should be struck with the strumming hand.

This is indicated by the little 'o' on the top of the A and high E strings, which indicates that they are "open strings."

3) G Major Chord

The G major chord is a fundamental guitar chord as you start your online guitar classes to learn guitar. There are three notes in G major, and they are as follows: G, B, and D. This is the key of G major (first, third and fifth notes of the G major scale).

1) To play the G major chord, first place your first (index) finger on the 5th string (A-string) on the second fret and move your finger down the neck of your guitar.

2) It is recommended that you position your middle finger on the 6th string (low E-string) of the instrument, which is located on the third fret.

G major
G major


3) It is on the third fret of the sixth string that you will place your third finger (ring finger) on (high e-string).

Open strings are indicated by the little 'o' on the top of the D, G, and B strings, which stands for "open strings." You have the ability to strum all of the strings on the guitar using your strumming hand. There are no muted strings in this song.



4) E Major Chord

E major chord is another basic guitar chord for beginners who want to learn guitar. The notes of the E major chord are as follows: E – G# – B (E major chord) (first, third and fifth notes of the E major scale).

E major
E major

To begin playing the E major chord,

1) Place your first (index) finger on the 3rd string (G-string) on the first fret of your guitar.

2) Use your second finger (middle finger), place it on the 5th string (A-string) at the 2nd fret of the guitar.

3) Now, place your third finger (ring finger) on the third fret of the fourth string (D-string).

The little 'o' on top of the Low E string, as well as the B and high E strings, indicates that they are 'open strings.' With your strumming hand, you may strum all of the strings on the guitar. There are no muffled strings.


5) D Major Chord


D major chord - beginner guitar chord

These are the notes that compose the D major chord in the key of D: D – F# – A. (first, third and fifth notes of the D major scale), as you will learn in any beginner online guitar classes.

D major
D major


1) The D major chord is formed by placing your first (index) finger on the third string (G-string) on the second fret and playing down the neck of your guitar.

2) You should place your second finger (middle finger) on the 1st string (high e-string) at the second fret of the guitar.

3) Finally, put your third finger (ring finger) on the third fret of the second string (B-string).

The 5th and 6th strings are muted (as shown by the Xs), therefore only the lowest four strings should be struck with the strumming hand.

The little 'o' at the top of the D-string indicates that it is an 'open string.'


6) E minor Chord


Em or E minor chord is the next basic guitar chord for beginners that you will learn in your online guitar classes. The notes that make up the E minor chord are as follows: E – G – B. (first, flattened third and fifth notes of the E major scale).

E minor
E minor

1) The Em (E minor) chord is formed by placing your second (middle) finger on the 5th string (A-string) at the second fret and playing the chord backwards.

2) On the second fret of the 4th string (the D-string) you should place your third finger (ring finger) on the string.

Because the low E, G, B, and high e-strings have an 'o' on top of them, they are known as "open strings." With your strumming hand, you may strum all of the strings on the guitar. There are no muffled strings.


7) A minor Chord

Am chord - a basic guitar chord for beginners that you will learn in all guitar classes online.

The notes of the A minor chord are as follows: A – C – E (first, flattened third and fifth note

A minor
A minor

s of the A major scale).

1) The Am (A minor) chord is formed by placing your first (index) finger on the 2nd string (B-string) of the first fret and playing down the neck.

2) Your second finger (middle finger) is now placed on the second fret of the fourth string (D-string).

3) Additionally, place your third finger (ring finger) on the second fret of the third string (G-string).

This is indicated by the little 'o' on the top of the A and high e-strings, which indicates that they are "open strings." Since the 6th string is muted (see X above 6th string), only the lowest 5 strings should be struck with the strumming hand.



8) D minor Chord for those who want to learn guitar

The Dm chord is yet another basic guitar chord for beginners who want to learn guitar. These are the notes that compose the D minor chord in order: DF – A. (first, flattened third and fifth notes of the D major scale).

1) The Dm (D minor) chord is formed by placing your first (index) finger on the 1st

D minor
D minor

string (high e-string) on the first fret and playing the chord backward.

2) Your second finger (middle finger) is placed on the second fret of the third string (G-string).

3) Additionally, place your third finger (ring finger) on the third fret of the second string (B-string).

The little 'o' at the top of the D-string indicates that it is an 'open string.'

Because the 5th and 6th strings are muted (see X above 6th string), the strumming hand should only strike the lowest 4 strings.



The most effective approach to learning these chords is to apply them to tunes that will get you all pumped up and energized as you learn to play the guitar. Start with three-chord songs to get your feet wet, and as you gain confidence in your ability to play and transition between chords, you may go to four-chord songs.


Happy Learning!


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