Chord Chart 101

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.

And 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 fuller 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 PDF file that I will be sending 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

up coming information and tell me what's working for you.

I appreciate all of your feed back.

It helps to hear all of the specifics because this helps others to see what's

working in different situations.

If you have a Success Story, write

"Success Story"

in the subject line of the email.

I read those first.

At the end of the email, tell me where you're from.

I receive mail from all over the world and

it is fun to see where they are coming from

Send your questions and advice to:

webmaster@printablechordchartsonline.com

Thanks!

Everett

Your feedback matters to me!

--------------------------------------------------

and Guitar Tips are trademarks of Printable Chord Charts Online.

You agree to the following by accepting and reading this:

You understand the information provided by Printable Chord Charts Online

is to be a method of guitar instruction

and not professional advice. It is only to be

used for personal entertainment purposes. You are

solely responsible for the use of the ideas,

concepts, and content and hold Printable Chord Charts Online and all members and affiliates

harmless in any event or claim

Thank You for visiting:

Printable Chord Charts Online Guitar Tips