Learning Guitar
Simple Guitar Chords for Beginners
Reference guide · Acoustic or electric
Most beginner songs use just a handful of chords. Learning these four first will let you play a surprising number of songs.
The four chords
- G major: a bright, open chord often used to start songs.
- C major: one of the first chords most players learn.
- D major: pairs naturally with G and C in countless songs.
- E minor: the easiest minor chord to fret, only needs two fingers.
Tip: practice switching between just two chords slowly before trying full songs. Smooth transitions matter more than speed at first.
Once these four feel comfortable, try strumming a simple G–C–D–G pattern to get a feel for chord changes.