There are tons of different guitar chords, but if you’re just starting out there are only a handful that you need to be concerned with. If that’s you, I’d recommend starting with these six: G, C, D, Am, Bm, Em. With those six chords you can play literally hundreds of songs — enough to keep you busy until you’re comfortable to move on.

If you’re a bit more advanced, you’ll be looking for embellishments, new voicings, and the theory behind why certain chords work together. All of that is covered below.

Where to Start

Beginner Guitar Chords

Brand new to guitar? Start here. The essential chord shapes every player needs, laid out in the order that makes the most sense to learn them. You’ll be playing real songs within days.

Open Chords

The rich, full-sounding chord shapes played in the first few frets. Learn the essentials, then discover embellishments, variations, and tricks that make basic chords sound anything but basic.

Bar Chords

Ready to break out of the first three frets? Bar chords let you play any chord anywhere on the neck. Learn the two essential shapes, build your hand strength, and open up the entire fretboard.

Chord Theory

Understand how chords are built, why major sounds different from minor, how to transpose with a capo, and how the Nashville Number System works. The stuff that turns memorization into real understanding.

Guitar Triads

Three-note chord shapes that unlock the entire fretboard. Once you know triads, you can play chords in any position — and they’re essential for creating fills, riffs, and melodic rhythm parts.

Popular Chord Lessons

Chord Progressions

Knowing individual chords is only half the picture. Learning how chords fit together — and why — is what lets you learn songs faster, jam with other musicians, and write your own music.