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Chords one

These first 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 half of the songs in the history of rock and roll.

The E chord


This is the lowest chord on the guitar, your index finger plays the first fret on the G string and your middle finger plays the second fret on the A string, your ring finger plays the second fret on the D string. You strum all six strings.
E Chord

E

    |E -0----------------------------------|
    |B -0----------------------------------|
    |G -1----------------------------------|
    |D -2----------------------------------|
    |A -2----------------------------------|
    |E -0----------------------------------|
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Echord.mp3" loop="false" width="260" height="14"> E chord strum
<bgsound src="http://burnmybanjo.com/MP3/Earpeg.mp3" loop="false" width="260" height="14"> E 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.

The A chord


This is the next chord of this group, your index finger plays the second fret on the B string and your middle finger plays the second fret on the G string, your ring finger plays the second fret on the D 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').
A Chord

A

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

The D chord


This is the last chord of this group, 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" width="260" height="14"> 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.