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Chords two

These next three chords should be quite easy to learn!! They all involve three fingers and once you have mastered them you will be able to play a lot of country or folk songs.

The G chord


This is a classic folky chord chord. Your ring finger plays the second fret on the A string and your middle finger plays the third fret on the bottom E string, your littlefinger plays the third fret on the top E string. You strum all six strings.
E Chord

G

    |E -3----------------------------------|
    |B -0----------------------------------|
    |G -0----------------------------------|
    |D -0----------------------------------|
    |A -2----------------------------------|
    |E -3----------------------------------|
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Garpeg.mp3" loop="false"> G chord arpegio

Click to hear the individual notes. Now practice until it sounds right (don't worry if it isn't perfect yet). Then try a strum! Try to get rid of any BUM notes (buzzing or dead) by adjusting yours fingers slightly.

The C chord


This is the next chord of this group. Your index finger plays the first fret on the B string and your middle finger plays the second fret on the D string, your ring finger plays the third fret on the A string. Alternatively, you can lay the top part of your index finger flat across all three strings. There are advantages to both fingerings as you will find out later. You strum from the A string (try not to hit the bottom E string marked 'X').
C Chord

C

    |E -0----------------------------------|
    |B -1----------------------------------|
    |G -0----------------------------------|
    |D -2----------------------------------|
    |A -3----------------------------------|
    |E -X----------------------------------|
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Cchord.mp3" loop="false"> C chord strum

Click to hear the chord. Now practice until it sounds right (don't worry if it isn't perfect yet). Try to get rid of any BUM notes (buzzing or dead) by adjusting yours fingers slightly. Now try to play the individual notes!!

The D chord


We learned this chord in chord lesson one. Your index finger plays the second fret on the G string and your middle finger plays the second fret on the E string, your ring finger plays the third fret on the B string. You strum from the D string (try not to hit the bottom E and A string marked 'X').
D Chord

D

    |E -2----------------------------------|
    |B -3----------------------------------|
    |G -2----------------------------------|
    |D -0----------------------------------|
    |A -X----------------------------------|
    |E -X----------------------------------|
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Dchord.mp3" loop="false" width="260" height="14"> D chord strum
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Darpeg.mp3" loop="false"> D chord arpegio

Click the top one to hear the chord. Click the next one to hear the individual notes. Now practice both of these until it sounds right (don't worry if it isn't perfect yet). Try to get rid of any BUM notes (buzzing or dead) by adjusting yours fingers slightly.