6 Tips for Learning How to Play Guitar Chords

June 7, 2022 1 6 min read

Chords are an essential foundation when playing the guitar. They lay the groundwork for melodies and harmonies. And if you’re looking to improve your guitar skills, learning the guitar chord chart is a great place to start. Here are some tips for making the learning process easier and more fun.

1. Create a practice plan

When starting to learn chords, you need to have a practice plan. This will help you learn guitar chords quickly and efficiently. Here are some tips for making a practice plan:

● Start by practicing the basic chords. Learn A, D, E, G, and C. These are the most common chords and will be used in a variety of songs. As you get better at playing these chords, you can add more difficult chords to your repertoire.

● Jot down the songs you want to play. Choose songs that use the chords you know, and challenge yourself to learn new songs as you learn new chords.

● Set aside time to practice your chords. Even just 15 minutes of practice can make a big difference. The more time you spend practicing, the faster you will learn new chords and be able to apply them to songs.

● Be patient with yourself. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t learn new chords as quickly as you want. Everyone learns at different speeds, so just focus on making progress each day.

With a little practice, you’ll be playing all your favorite songs in no time!

2. Find reliable resources

When you play chords for the first time, you need reliable sources. Many people who want to play guitar turn to the internet for lessons and tutorials. While there are some great websites and videos out there, it’s important to be aware that not all of them are created equal. There are many sites that don’t provide accurate information or try to sell you something. To ensure that the site is reliable, here are several things to look for:

● Look for sites created by guitarists who are well-known and respected in the music community.

● Check out the site’s reviews before you commit to anything.

● Make sure the information on the site is free of charge. If a site asks for money, be wary.

● Read through the material on the site and make sure it’s easy to understand. If it’s confusing, chances are it’s not a good source.

With these simple tips, you can get accurate information from a reliable source when learning to play chords on acoustic guitars.

3. Start playing open chords

Guitar beginners must start with open chords. These chords are easy to play as they use open strings. Learning to play open chords is a great way to improve your guitar playing. By adding these chords to your repertoire, you will be able to play many more songs. Here are tips to remember:

● Use a metronome or other rhythm-keeping device to help you keep time while you play. This will ensure that your chords sound clear and consistent.

● Experiment with different fingerings for each chord. You may find that some fingerings are easier than others or that certain fingerings produce better sound quality.

Open chords are an essential part of playing the guitar, so it’s important to spend some time learning them.

4. Learn to read guitar chord diagrams

Learning to read guitar chord diagrams is a valuable skill for any musician. Chord diagrams are helpful for understanding the relationship between the notes in a chord and their respective positions on the fretboard. By taking the time to learn how to read chord diagrams, you’ll be able to more quickly and easily visualize the guitar chords you’re playing and ultimately become a better musician. Here are a few things to keep in mind when reading chord diagrams.

● The vertical lines represent the guitar strings, with the low E string being at the bottom and the high E string being at the top.

● The numbers you see on the left side of the chord diagram represent the frets, with 0 being an open string.

● The dots on the chord diagram indicate where your fingers should go.

Once you’ve memorized some basic chords and their corresponding diagram, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a guitar virtuoso!

5. Learn to play Barre chords

Barre chords are essential tools for any guitar player. They allow you to play a wide range of notes and move quickly up and down the fretboard. Barre chords can be tricky chord shapes to learn at first, but once you get the hang of them, they open up a whole new world of possibilities on the guitar. There are two main types of barre chords: major and minor. Here’s a comparison:

Photo of guitar fretboard — Photo by Juan Pablo Amador Díaz via Pexels

Types	Description	How to Form It	Example
Major Barre chords	Used to play major chord progressions	You place your index finger across the six guitar strings at a specific fret.	If you place your index finger at the third fret, you would be playing a G major chord.
Minor Barre chords	Used to play minor chord progressions	You place your index finger across the six strings at a specific fret and also use your middle finger to hold down the second string at the third fret.	If you place your index finger at the third fret and your middle finger at the fourth fret, you would be playing an A minor chord.

6. Train your ears whenever you practice

When you begin to learn guitar chords, it can be difficult to tell if you’re playing the chords correctly. This is because our ears aren’t yet attuned to the guitar chord sound. However, it’s important to train your ear whenever you practice, as this will help you to improve your playing and make it sound more polished. Here’s how to do this:

● Try to listen carefully to how the chords sound when played correctly.

● Practice them slowly and deliberately, making sure that each note is clear and distinct.

● Play along with a metronome or drumbeat to help keep time.

With a little bit of consistent practice, you’ll soon be able to play guitar chords like a pro!

Wrapping Up

We hope that you have found these guitar tips helpful in learning chords. Remember to practice regularly and be patient. With enough time and effort, you will play any chord shape you come across. Once you have mastered a few basic chords, start branching out and trying new ones. Soon, you’ll find yourself playing your favorite songs on the guitar.