Open-Position Chords

Nearly all beginning guitarists start off by learning open- position chords, since these chords:

Are easy to play using chord diagrams
Form the building blocks of most folk and rock songs

For some open-position chords, you play the first four or five strings only; for others you play all six. All open-position chords require you to play at least one open (unfretted) string—hence the term “open-position” chord.

How to Play Open-Position Chords

Here’s the basic method for playing open-position chords:

Place each finger of your left hand on the proper fret of each string (indicated by the chord diagram).
Strum or pick the strings needed to play the chord with your right hand.

Strumming

Strumming means using a guitar pick to play the required strings all in one motion, starting from the lowest and ending with the highest string. Strum by twisting the wrist of your right arm. If you strum by moving the whole arm up and down, you’ll both tire more quickly and won’t have as much control over which specific strings you strum.

Picking

Picking refers to sounding the notes of a chord in succession, one by one, as opposed to all at once. You can pick using either the guitar pick or your fingers. Picking is also known as arpeggiating the chord.

Open-Position Chord Finger Positioning

When playing open-position chords, it’s crucial to get your fingers in the correct position and to press down against the strings with the correct amount of force. Follow these guidelines when playing:

Press down hard on the fretboard with the fingers of your left hand to keep the strings from buzzing.
Stand each finger as straight up as possible, perpendicular to the fretboard.
Keep your thumb down and behind the neck.
Position each finger as close to the fret as possible (to the left, from your point of view). This will reduce the buzz that results when notes are not fully fretted.
Keep a small open space between the guitar neck and the palm of your left hand.

20 Fundamental Open-Position Chords

These 20 open-position chords form the foundation of the vast majority of pop, rock, and folk songs, from Bob Dylan to the Beatles, from U2 to Radiohead, from Coldplay to Shakira, and virtually everyone in between. In these diagrams, the red dots indicate each chord’s root note(s). The root of an A major chord is an A, for example. An A will occur at least once (or more than once) in a chord whose root is A.