Chord Chart 101

Pokey Elf Music

For those of you who have just begun, or those like me who need a refresher now and then

I am reviewing how to read the chord diagram.

For this example I will use the A maj chord played on the 5th fret of the guitar.

Please refer to your chord charts and locate the A maj chord with the numbers

5 - 9 down the left side and A E A C# E A across the bottom.

There are a couple of them so look closely. The numbers in the circles represent which

fingers are used to play each note of the chord.

Notice the number 1 appears on three different strings.

This is known as a bar, which is created by placing your 1st finger across the indicated fret.

In this case the 5th fret.

Down the left side of the diagram the numbers next to each square represent which frets of the guitar to place your fingers on.

At the bottom of the diagram the notes which you will be playing are shown.

Notice that some of the notes appear more than once.

This gives the chord a full sound.

However if you were to play just the A, E, and C# shown at the right side of the chord diagram

you would still have an A maj chord.

You could also experiment with the fingering here but keep in mind that the fingering you choose

also affects your transition to and from the next chord played in your music.

The universal numbering system given to each finger of the left hand is as follows,

when looking at your left hand your index finger is 1, your middle finger is 2, your ring finger is 3

your pinky is 4. And your thumb is 5.

Some players use their thumb to play base notes along the top strings.

This technique is a lot of fun and can really add a unique sound and style to your playing.

Here is a helpful diagram to get you started when trying to choose chords which sound good together.

(cut and paste this into a word document for use with the FREE Chord Charts that I have sent to you)

You can combine the I, IV, and V chords in any key and they will sound good together.

You can also use the ii, iii, and vi chords together for a nice sound.

Or if you want to try something more elaborate try using all the chords in any chosen key.

I hope this was helpful, don’t forget to have fun and experiment. Music has a different and special meaning for each of us. So don’t be afraid to develop your own personal expression. You will be amazed at how many people will be able to relate to your musical ability.

I'd love to hear what you think about this information!

Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for my future newsletters and tell me what's working for you.

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working in different situations.

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Thank You for helping to Keep the Music Live!

Everett

Your feedback matters to me!

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