Intro
This page is a resource page for open chords, bar chords and scales.
It also serves to give you a unique understanding of moveable chord positions and scales and how they relate to each other. This will give you a fundamental understanding of guitar.…it will help you make sense of this instrument which is not laid out logically, and I aim to help you understand it !
In the chord section you will notice there are some different versions of the same chord, for example there are two different G chords with different actual strings played . And sometimes there are the same chords played with different fingers used.
This is because sometimes songs will use different versions of chords , and often peoples hands prefer slightly alternate hand positions to play the same chords .
Also it is worth noting that the pictures will help you visualize what the chord should generally look like from a players point of view. Notice the finger positions within the frets change from chord to chord. This is good for you to see so you don’t get hung up on this perfectionist static idea of how a chord should be fretted. A lot of teachers can get hung up on this too.Chords look less than perfect when they are played , every ones chords will look slightly different because we all have different hands which means there are different ways to fret and grip for individuals.
How To Hold A Pick
Basic Open Chords
x means don’t play
0 means open string
Numbers below chord charts are the finger numbers used
Bar Chords
First Position Bar Chords
The first position chords root note , and name of the chord is derived from the position (or fret ) that your first finger (or index finger) is playing on the sixth string.
For example if your first finger is on the 3rd fret while playing a Major shape , the chord would be G Major
Another example would be if your first finger is on the 6th fret and you are playing a Seventh shape , the chord would be Bb7 or A#7. It can be called both,
Which means you have to learn the E string notes…..learn them!
Learn the sharps going up the neck , and the flats going down the neck.
Second Position Bar Chords
The first position chords root note , and name of the chord is derived from the position (or fret ) that your first finger (or index finger) is playing on the fifth string.
For example if your first finger is on the 3rd fret while playing a Major shape , the chord would be C Major
Another example would be if your first finger is on the 2nd fret and you are playing a Minor shape , the chord would be Bm…B minor.
Which means you have to learn the A String notes…learn them!
Learn the sharps going up the neck , and the flats going down the neck.
Open String Notes
Pentatonic Scales
Major Scale
Here Is Two Octaves Of The Major Scale ,Where You Start It (root note) On The 5th String Will Depend On The Name Of The Scale….This Is One Reason You Need To Know Fifth String Notes!