Guitar Chord Chart

How to Read a Guitar Chord Diagram

1. The six vertical lines represent the six guitar strings. The leftmost line is the low E string which is the thickest string. The rightmost line is the high e string which is the thinnest.
2. The horizontal lines represent frets. The thick bar at the very top of the diagram represents the nut which is the open position.
3. Numbered dots show exactly which finger to place on which string and fret. The number 1 is the index finger. The number 2 is the middle finger. The number 3 is the ring finger. The number 4 is the pinky.
4. An X symbol above a string means do not play that string. Mute it with a fretting finger or avoid strumming it.
5. An O symbol above a string means play it open which means play it without pressing any fret.

Essential Open Chord Chart

These ten chords are the foundation of rhythm guitar in pop, rock, folk, and country music.

Source: Standard CAGED chord system — JustinGuitar CAGED System

Barre Chord Chart

A barre chord uses the index finger laid flat across all six strings to act as a moveable capo. The E-shape major barre is the most commonly used. Moving it up the neck changes the root note.

Common Chord Progressions Chart

These are the chord progressions that appear in the majority of popular songs across multiple genres.

Capo Chord Chart

Placing a capo at a fret raises the pitch of open strings so you can use familiar open chord shapes to play in a different key.

Power Chord Chart

Power chords contain only the root note and the fifth interval, which gives them a strong and neutral sound used widely in rock and metal music.

To play a power chord, place your index finger on the root note fret, your ring finger two frets higher on the next string, and your pinky one fret higher still on the string after that. Mute all other strings.

Source: Standard CAGED power chord notation — MusicTheory.net

Guitar Tuning Reference

Standard tuning is the most common guitar tuning and forms the basis of all chord charts and diagrams on this page.

All chord diagrams and fingering charts on this page use standard EADGBE tuning. If your guitar is in a different tuning the chord shapes will produce different-sounding notes.

Chord Progression Builder

Select a key and progression type to see the exact chord names. Use the transpose buttons to shift everything up or down.

KeyCC#/DbDD#/EbEFF#/GbGG#/AbAA#/BbB

ProgressionI – IV – VI – V – vi – IVI – vi – IV – VI – IV – vi – Vii – V – II – IV – I – V12-Bar BluesI – iii – IV – VI – V – vi – iii – IVvi – IV – I – V

Key ofG

Transpose:−+

G

C

D

I – IV – V in the key of G

Copy Result

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest guitar chords to learn first?

The easiest guitar chords to learn first are Em and Am because they require only two fingers and involve no difficult stretching. From there, progress through E, A, D, C, and finally G in roughly that order of physical difficulty, as G requires more finger reach and string coverage.

How do I play the F chord on guitar?

The F major chord is played as a barre chord with the index finger pressed flat across all six strings at the 1st fret, forming the standard E-shape major barre chord pattern. A beginner-friendly alternative is to use only fingers 2, 3, and 4 on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings at the 2nd fret, which produces an Fmaj7 sound and is significantly easier to fret cleanly.

What is the most common chord progression in pop music?

The most common chord progression in pop music is the I–V–vi–IV, which in the key of G is G, D, Em, and C. This four-chord pattern has been used in hundreds of hit songs and is sometimes called the axis progression or the pop progression.

What is the difference between a chord chart and a chord diagram?

A chord chart shows the sequence of chords to play over a song in the order they appear, often written above lyrics or on a separate stave. A chord diagram is a visual grid showing exactly where to place your fingers on the guitar neck to form a single specific chord.

What is a power chord?

A power chord contains only the root note and the fifth interval with no third. This makes it neither major nor minor, giving it a neutral powerful sound commonly used in rock and metal.

How do I read guitar tabs?

Guitar tablature shows six horizontal lines representing the six strings with the thickest string at the bottom. Numbers on each line show which fret to press, with 0 meaning play the string open without fretting.

What is the CAGED system in guitar?

CAGED is a system for understanding the fretboard using five open chord shapes: C, A, G, E, and D. Each shape can be moved up the neck using a barre to play the same chord type in any key, allowing you to visualise the entire fretboard as a connected series of familiar patterns.

How many different guitar chords are there?

There are theoretically thousands of chord voicings across all types and positions on the fretboard. In practice most guitarists use a core set of 20 to 30 chord shapes to cover the vast majority of songs, with open chords and barre chord variations forming the foundation of that set.