What is a chord anyway?

A group of notes that are harmonious when strummed on the guitar. A chord can be played one string at a time, or all of the strings may be strummed in unison. Whether strumming or plucking, the chord is the same. Generally comprised of several notes, a chord can sound very different depending on the strumming or plucking technique employed as you play.

Chords are divided into two types major and minor. To help you remember the primary chords, use the word CAGED. By first learning these chords and mastering the transitions between them, you are building a strong foundation towards playing the guitar. Some of the early rock and roll bands never developed much past these chords, while others were amazing musicians in their own right.

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How to Read a Chord Diagram

When you are reading guitar music, the chords can be denoted in diagrams with dots showing the finger positions. Learning to read the chords in the diagrams actually lets you play the guitar without ever having to know how to read music.

Once you are adept at reading sheet music, you can read the chords directly off of the music, until then you will very likely use sheet music with chord diagrams to make it easy for you to play guitar in time with the song.

The C-A-G-E-D Pattern

If you face your guitar and look at the frets you will notice that your guitar has six strings resting on top of the fret board which runs the length of the guitar’s neck. Plucking a string sounds a musical note. Depressing the string at a certain point on the neck determines how high or low the tone is. By practicing your finger placement across the frets of the guitar, you will have the basics mastered for playing the guitar.

By practicing the five basic chords and being able to transition from one to the other seamlessly, you have a solid foundation on which to build more difficult finger patterns.

Conditioning those finger muscles

Learning to play the guitar is not without its suffering. As you first begin to practice your fingering you may notice that your fingertips are a little sore. You will develop calluses over time, and the soreness will go away. Until then practice frequently for shorter amounts of time to keep from getting too sore. Playing a chord properly involves really pressing on the string, so you will have to condition your fingers.

Tips for Better Playing

• Trim Nails – Sure you see famous country stars playing the guitar with three inch long nails, or are they? Keeping your nails trimmed will make it easy to master your fingering.

• Arches – Make little arches with your fingers so only the fingertip touches the intended string. If you lay flat fingers across the frets, you will dampen neighboring string’s vibrations and lose your musical sound.

• Calluses – Even though your fingertips will be sore at first, if you practice consistently you will quickly develop enough of a callus on your fingertip to make playing fun instead of painful.

• Consistency – Maintain consistent pressure on all of the notes in the chord, or you will end up with a weird sound.

• Practice – There is no substitute for practice. So have fun and practice often.

• Enjoy – Give yourself time to master these skills. If you rush you will only be frustrated, but if you take your time and start with easy songs, you will have a rocking good time.

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You're sitting at the back of the movies and the opening credits for Casino Royale are mesmerizing you.

The twangy guitar of the James Bond theme is making you feel like you're a special agent, licensed to kill.

Then the credits are brought to an end by the stark chiming of one of the most recognisable chords in the world.

Can you hear it in you're head now?

It's one of those chords that can never be used again without people recognizing where it comes from.

What's it called? How do I play it?

It's a minor 9 chord with a major 7. That's right, you heard me. Min9Maj7.

Here it is in the key of A minor.

Be sure to pluck the open A string hard and hit the top 4 strings with as much zeal and international mystery that you can.

Impressive Chord Number 2

This is the Jimi Hendrix chord. Best known for it's use in Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix, our next awesome chord is the E7 sharp 9. (I can't find the wee sharp sign on my Mac keyboard. Don't they have guitar chords at Apple?).

Be sure to play this one only in E. You have to bang the bottom E string hard and hit the top 4 strings (much like the one above). Of course it can be played elsewhere on the keyboard but you miss out on the banging of the bottom E string.

Impressive Chord Number 3

You could call this a Pavlovian chord because when you strum it once, everyone listening will immediately start singing the same song.

Chickachaaaang . . . . . .it's been a hard days night . . .

What is that crazy opening chord? Well , in truth it's a combination of piano bass and guitar. To play it on the guitar, you play a G7sus4. The bass is playing a D and god knows what the piano is doing.

Here's the G7sus4 chord.

You have to barre at the third fret with your first finger to get the chord right. Or you could use a capo at the third fret and finger it with just the 2 and 3 fingers.

That's you're three chords to impress your friends with then. Enjoy them but one word of warning.

Don't wear them out. You'll never be invited back again if all you play is these 3 chords.

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