Guitar Chord Chart for Beginners: 20 Essential Chords You Need to Learn

The 20 essential guitar chords every beginner needs to learn are the 6 basic open chords (G, C, D, Em, Am, E), then A, Dm, Bm, F, and 7th chord variations. Master these 20 chords and you can play virtually any folk, rock, pop, or country song ever written. The correct learning order is Em → Am → E → A → D → C → G → F — starting with the easiest shapes and building toward the hardest. Spend 1–2 weeks on each group before moving to the next.

The 6 Priority Open Chords (Learn These First)

These 6 chords cover more than 80% of popular songs and should be your first focus:

Em (E minor) The easiest chord on the guitar. Place your middle finger on the 5th string 2nd fret and your ring finger on the 4th string 2nd fret. All 6 strings ring open or fretted — strum all of them. Em sounds rich and resonant from your very first try.

Am (A minor) Place your index finger on the 2nd string 1st fret, middle finger on the 4th string 2nd fret, ring finger on the 3rd string 2nd fret. Strum strings 5 through 1 (avoid the 6th string). Am is one chord shape away from Em — practice switching between them continuously.

E major Similar to Am but shifted: index on 3rd string 1st fret, middle on 5th string 2nd fret, ring on 4th string 2nd fret. Strum all 6 strings. E major is a full, powerful chord — the foundation of countless rock songs.

A major Three fingers squeezed onto the 2nd fret of strings 4, 3, and 2 (ring, middle, index from low to high), with string 5 open and strings 6 and 1 avoided/muted. Many players use a small barre with their index finger across strings 4-3-2 at the 2nd fret — experiment to find what fits your hand.

D major Index on the 3rd string 2nd fret, ring on the 2nd string 3rd fret, middle on the 1st string 2nd fret. Strum strings 4 through 1 only. D major is one of the most common guitar chords and pairs naturally with G and A.

C major Index on the 2nd string 1st fret, middle on the 4th string 2nd fret, ring on the 5th string 3rd fret. Strum strings 5 through 1. C major is the trickiest of the first six due to the stretch required — but it unlocks an enormous repertoire once mastered.

G major Multiple fingering options exist, but the most common: pinky on 1st string 3rd fret, ring on 6th string 3rd fret, middle on 5th string 2nd fret (some players also add index on 2nd string 1st fret for a fuller voicing). Strum all 6 strings. G major sounds big and open — worth the effort to learn well.

The Recommended Learning Order

Learn chords in pairs that share similar hand shapes to minimize the effort of switching:

| Step | Chord Pair | Why This Order | |------|-----------|----------------| | 1 | Em → Am | Both use similar 2-finger shapes; switching between them is the first chord transition exercise | | 2 | E → A | Builds on the Em/Am hand position with minor adjustments | | 3 | D → C | Both are 3-finger shapes on upper strings | | 4 | G major | Requires a stretch most hands need a few days to develop | | 5 | F major | Requires a full barre — save until hands are stronger |

Practice each pair 50 times in a row before moving to the next. The goal isn't to know chord shapes — it's to switch between them without thinking.

Secondary Chords: The Next 7 to Learn

Once you have the 6 basics, these 7 expand your reach significantly:

Dm (D minor): Index on 1st string 1st fret, middle on 3rd string 2nd fret, ring on 2nd string 3rd fret. Strum strings 4 through 1. Dm has a sadder, darker sound than D major and appears frequently in minor-key songs.

Bm (B minor): A partial barre chord — index finger barres strings 5 through 1 at the 2nd fret, then add middle on 4th string 3rd fret, ring on 3rd string 4th fret, pinky on 2nd string 4th fret. Bm appears in virtually every song in the key of D major. It's challenging but essential.

F major: A full barre across all 6 strings at the 1st fret with the index finger, plus ring finger on 5th string 3rd fret, pinky on 4th string 3rd fret, middle on 3rd string 2nd fret. F is notorious for frustrating beginners. An easier alternative: a "mini F" using only the first 4 strings, avoiding the 6th and 5th. Build to the full barre over several weeks.

G7, C7, D7, A7, E7 (Dominant 7th Chords): These add a jazzy or bluesy quality to a chord progression. G7 is one finger different from G major (replace the ring finger position on string 1 with open). D7, A7, and E7 are all easy modifications of their major equivalents. C7 requires a small adjustment to C major. Learn these after the major and minor basics — they are worth knowing for blues and jazz.

Power Chords: The Electric Guitar Essential

Power chords aren't technically full chords (they use only the root and fifth), but they are the backbone of rock and metal guitar:

E5: Index on 6th string anywhere, ring finger 2 frets up on the 5th string, pinky 1 more fret up on 4th string (optional). Move this shape to any fret for any power chord on the 6th string.

A5: Same shape, starting on the 5th string. Combined with E5-based power chords, you can play virtually any rock riff.

Power chords require no barre, use only 2–3 fingers, and produce the distorted, driving sound characteristic of rock rhythm guitar. For beginners on electric guitar, learn power chords before worrying about open chord shapes.

Common Chord Progressions to Practice

Learning chords in isolation isn't enough — practice them in sequences that appear in real songs:

• G – C – D – G: The foundation of country and folk. Hundreds of songs use this progression.
• Am – F – C – G: One of the most common pop chord progressions in the world.
• Em – C – G – D: Appears in rock, pop, and folk across every decade.
• I – IV – V (in G: G – C – D): The blues progression. Three chords, infinite possibilities.
• 12-bar blues in E (E – A – B7): Essential for any guitarist interested in blues.

FAQ

How long does it take to learn all 20 essential guitar chords? At 20–30 minutes of daily practice, most beginners can form all 20 chord shapes (even if not switching smoothly) within 2–3 months. Smooth, automatic switching between chords takes 4–6 months of consistent practice. The F barre chord typically takes 1–3 months of specific work after the open chords are mastered.

What is the hardest beginner guitar chord? F major is the chord that stops the most beginners. The full barre across all 6 strings at the 1st fret requires finger strength that takes weeks to develop. Practice the "mini F" (4-string version) first. Bm is the second-hardest for most beginners — its partial barre and wide finger spread are difficult until hand strength builds.

Do I need to learn music theory to use these chords? No — you can learn chord shapes entirely by feel and by following chord diagrams. Understanding why chords work together (key signatures, the I-IV-V relationship, relative minors) makes learning easier and faster, but is not required to start playing songs. Basic theory is worth studying after 2–3 months of playing, once the physical fundamentals are in place.

Explore complete chord diagrams, strumming patterns, and song tutorials at [professionalgl.com/knowledge-hub](https://professionalgl.com/knowledge-hub).

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See also: [Best Guitar Songs for Beginners](/knowledge-hub/2026-07-01-best-guitar-songs-for-beginners) | [How to Play Barre Chords](/knowledge-hub/2026-06-20-how-to-play-barre-chords) | [How to Read Guitar Chord Diagrams](/knowledge-hub/2026-06-11-how-to-read-guitar-chord-diagrams) | [Guitar Theory Basics](/knowledge-hub/2026-06-25-guitar-theory-basics) | [Guitar Practice Schedule for Beginners](/knowledge-hub/2026-06-04-guitar-practice-schedule-beginners)