Free Guitar Lessons For Beginners: Part 2 - Chords and Tab

Part 2

Hopefully by this point the guitar isn't feeling as awkward anymore! You should be a little more familiar with chords, and reading tab. Now we will dive into bigger chord shapes and tab that uses string 3 & 4. Take your time with this one, it takes a second to get used to picking all these different strings and using multiple fingers for chords will feel very unfamiliar.

Let's Jump in!

Minor Chords

The two chords we have learned so far, C & G, which are major chords. In non-music terms they sound happy! Minor chords are the opposite, they are sad and dramatic sounding chords. Once you play one of the minor chords you will be able to tell that the quality is much different.

Finger Numbers

Finger numbers are very important when it comes to learning full chord shapes. Chord charts will often tell you which finger to use to avoid jumbling your fingers.

A minor

Here we have a non-simplified A minor chord

-The vertical lines represent the strings. With the far right line being the bottom E string.

-The horizontal lines represent the frets.

-The ‘x’ tells you not to strum from that string.

-1st finger on the 1st fret 2nd string

-2nd finger on the 2nd fret 4th string

-3rd finger on the 2nd fret 3rd string

E minor

Here we have a non-simplified E minor chord

-The vertical lines represent the strings. With the far right line being the bottom E string.

-The horizontal lines represent the frets.

-The ‘x’ tells you not to strum from that string.

-1st finger on the 2nd fret 5th string

-2nd finger on the 2nd fret 4th string

-Play all the strings

Chord Progression #2

Practice playing this new chord progression with the new chords!

C major

Here we have a non-simplified C major chord

-The vertical lines represent the strings. With the far right line being the bottom E string.

-The horizontal lines represent the frets.

-The ‘x’ tells you not to strum from that string.

-1st finger on the 1st fret 2nd string

-2nd finger on the 2nd fret 4th string

-3rd finger on the 3rd fret 5th string

G major

Here we have a non-simplified G major

-The vertical lines represent the strings. With the far right line being the bottom E string.

-The horizontal lines represent the frets.

-The ‘x’ tells you not to strum from that string.

-3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the first string

-1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string

-2nd finger on the 3rd fret first string

As you practice your chords make sure to have a good arch on your fingers and that you are using the very tip of your finger to press down. This will ensure a great sounding chord! Try out this chord progression again using the full C and G major chords

Reading Tab using the 3rd and 4th string

-The next step in your musical journey is reading tablature that uses the first four strings. The hardest thing about this is getting used to picking all the different strings. Take your time and make sure you are playing the correct string as you work your way through the piece.

Nice job with finishing week two. You are well on your way to becoming a guitar maestro!

If you have any questions/comments or interest in private lessons please send an email to: MaestroMusicLessonsOnline@Gmail.com