You don’t need to know advanced theory to write a song on guitar. If you can play a handful of chords, you’ve already got everything you need to start creating your own music. The trick is understanding which chords naturally go together — and that’s simpler than you think. (Our chord theory section breaks this down in more detail, but here’s the practical version.)
Start With a Key
Pick a key to work in. G major is a great starting point because you probably already know most of the chords. In the key of G, here are the chords that naturally fit together:
- G major (the I — “one” chord)
- A minor (the ii)
- B minor (the iii)
- C major (the IV)
- D major (the V)
- E minor (the vi)
Any combination of these chords will sound good together. That’s not a simplification — it’s how keys work. These six chords are all built from the notes of the G major scale, so they’re harmonically related by default.
The Quick Way to Find Chords in Any Key
If you know your bar chords and your major scale, you can figure out the chords in any key. Play the major scale, then build a chord on each note. The pattern is always the same: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. (You can safely ignore the diminished one for songwriting purposes.)
Or just use the capo transpose tool to figure out which chords go together in any key.
Pick a Progression
Most songs use three or four chords. The simplest starting point is G, C, and D — three chords, hundreds of songs. But try rearranging and adding to them:
- G ? C ? D — the classic three-chord progression
- G ? Em ? C ? D — the pop/rock staple
- Em ? C ? G ? D — same chords, different starting point, completely different mood
- G ? D ? Am ? C — the “four chord” progression that powers half of modern pop
Play each one a few times through and notice how the mood changes just by rearranging the order. The starting chord sets the emotional tone — starting on G feels bright and resolved, starting on Em feels darker and more open.
Add Rhythm and Feel
Once you’ve picked your chords, the rhythm you play them with is what turns a progression into a song. Try strumming the same four chords with a slow, even strum. Then try a syncopated pattern. Then try fingerpicking. The chords are identical — but the song feels completely different each time.
Don’t try to write the whole song at once. Start with a four-chord loop that feels good, get comfortable playing it, and then start humming or singing over it. Melodies come naturally when the chords are solid underneath.
Once your progression feels solid, try adding embellishments to the chords or riffs between the changes — small details that make a simple progression sound like a finished arrangement.
What type of guitar are you playing, can’t quite see its name , could it be a Martin?
Good guess – but actually it is a very old Takamine, from back when they had the headstock & logo that looked like Martin. In fact, Martin threatened to sue unless they changed it, which they did.
It sounds great,and answers my question as to why I thought it was a Martin, the headstock and labeling on it looked like it …not that I’m stalking you but also noticed a les paul in you’re collection, or is it strike two and another look a like, actually I enjoy you’re playing and love the fact you are willing to share you’re knowledge for free…a very wise man once told me the meaning of life is to find you’re passion, and the purpose of life is to give it away…live long and I will prosper, thanks Jonathan
Haha, strike two my friend. That one is a Hagstrom Super Swede.. but yeah, looks very similar. Sounds & plays just as well as a Les Paul.
Hey Jonathan, I have a friend who is looking for a guitar for her daughter. What should she look for? Do you have a post for this? Thanks buddy!
Hey Abner, yeah, you can checkout this post / video:
https://playguitar.com/tips-n-tricks-for-buying-a-used-guitar/
Hey Jonathan, the 7th chord in the key of Gmajor (or any major key) is a diminished chord (as it has a flat 5th), not a minor chord, as you played in the above lesson.
Re my above comment, the 7th chord in a major key is a diminished chord with a flat 5th and flat 3rd which actually makes it a diminished minor. As in the key of G, the 7th chord consists of F#, A (flat3), C (flat5).
Hey Johnathon, simple idea but gives me real inspiration for adding a bit of colour to simple chords and progressions. How about using two strings eg. 1 nd 2 up to fret 5 back to 3 and off and on while using a G chord etc. Sounds quite cool i think thanks
There’s no F#m is in the key of G, I think you mean an F# diminished chord?
You’re right – however we often swap a minor chord for the diminished on the guitar… usually as a passing chord or something like that. Try it out, your ear will tell you whether or not it’s going to work.
Any songwriters out there?
That Depends’ What kind of songs are you looking for?
Good ideas. I am hopping that I may very near future try to get something written down. I’m a very bad at writing as well at rhyming which I know is important to song writing as well. Anyways great lesson and hope to have some more to this subject.
Jonathan, In learning how to write your own songs, it would be simple to give people the actual chords that follow each other. This system apples to songwriting and doesn’t work with all songs that have been written. Say you’ve pick the key of G. The first chord of the key G can go to any chord you pick on the scale. lets say the next chord you’ve picked is Em that is the 6 chord of the G Scale. the next chord has to go to the second chord of that scale. that would be the 5th chord of that scale and then back to the first chord that is G. Here is the system I am talking about.
First chord of any key can go anywhere on the scale.
Second chord of that scale must go to the 5th chord of the scale
Third chord must go to the 6th chord of the scale.
fourth chord of the scale must go to the first or the fifth chord of the scale.
Fifth chord of the scale must go the the first chord
and the sixth chord of the scale must go to the second chord of the scale.
In writing a song if a chord lands on the 5th you must go the to first chord and to continue the song remember the first chord can go to any chord on the scale and continue to work from there.
Songwriting System
C Dm Em F G Am B C
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 = anywhere
2 = 5
3 = 6
4 = 1 or 5
5 = 1
6 = 2
This would be a lot better then just picking any chord that sounds good together in the chosen scale to write a song. Learn this and then you will be able to write songs by just choosing any chord that sounds good together. This system will make since and then you will be able to go further in songwriting. I am not telling you how to teach but a lot of people don’t know this system for songwriting. I hope I made myself clear for I do have trouble writing what I am trying to explain.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
Thanks for your thoughts Sylvia – the system you’ve mentioned is definitely one way to go about song writing, although there are many examples of course that would go against that as well. For instance, many songs use chord ascending or descending chords scales in the progression, which isn’t accounted for in the system you’ve mentioned. But it is as good a place to start as any – thanks! And yes, I found it laid out clearly! Regards, Jonathan
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