Beginner Guitar Chords | Open String Chord Chart

Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 15:47
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9 comments

Most of the first guitar chords we learn incorporate notes from our open strings. These open string chords are some of the easier chords to play yet possess a beautiful, full-bodied sound that bring even advanced guitarists back to them time and again. The following chart should be review by beginning and intermediate guitarists. It includes the typical “cowboy chords” along with some less expected open-string seventh chords that I find commonly used.

Beginner Guitar Chord Chart - Open String Chords

The only chord in the chart that doesn’t fit the exact definition of an “open-string” chord is the F chord. It, in fact, is a bar chord (or barre chord, if you prefer) in that it does not use any open strings. Still, it is such a common companion to many of the chords listed, I included it here for easy reference.

Note: A PDF document for the Open String Chord Chart in this lesson can be found here.

Printable version

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9 Comments on “Beginner Guitar Chords | Open String Chord Chart”

Jomann wrote on 30 January, 2010, 13:59
Nice! I’ve been trying to find a good place to learn all the best chords! thanks
Dominic wrote on 28 February, 2010, 17:54
This is definitely the site ive been lookin for i will sneak in a few words for you guys. Thanks Dominic@catenamusicgroup.com
kofi wrote on 2 March, 2010, 15:24
Wow… I luv dis site:)
saiful wrote on 31 May, 2010, 9:03
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kelvin wrote on 26 December, 2010, 15:25
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chinedu ukairo wrote on 30 October, 2011, 8:37
iam very glad to have discoved this great site, how i wish you can help me to get what i want in learning guitar
Lynne Cason wrote on 6 February, 2012, 11:23
Great Site!
Can the author please help me with a bit of confusion?
I have pictures from the internet of the F#m chord and it looks exactly like the Dmaj7 chord you have on this chart. Why is that? The Fm is the same but on the first fret, so that makes sense that if moved up a fret it would become an F#m. But why is the Dmaj7 identical?
There are other notes that do this. But I’m really puzzled about these two. Please email me either the answer or that you have answered it here. Otherwise i might not get a chance to see it.
Thanks much!
Lynne
Lynne Cason wrote on 6 February, 2012, 11:25
PS apologies for duplicates on my previous question. My browser didn’t indicate it was sent so I kept clicking “send Comment”.expecting to see a notice that it was sent. Hopefully the host will delete all but one.
Lynne
fredrick mwihia wrote on 19 May, 2012, 1:32
am very interest but confused on how to play a guita.i have been taught by many guitarist but i cant understand i hear about key, chords i have a guita i fail to understand .i hope i will be the best when i refresh with you.