September 4, 2023 by Klaus Crow
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The first thing you want to do when you start out playing guitar is learn how to read a chord diagram (and buying a guitar).
Knowing how to read a chord diagram or other types of chord notations is pretty much essential when you want to learn pop, rock, blues or any other style of music.
When you go out and buy a guitar book, most books will show the chord diagrams for the appropriate song, but you will also find them on the web, in music notation software and apps.
In the beginning you will only have to acquire a small chord vocabulary to get you playing lots of songs. So let’s get this baby rolling!
There are different types of chord notation. We’ll start with the most traditional and accurate one.
How to Read a Chord Diagram
The chord diagram represent the neck of the guitar (see image below).
The six vertical lines represent the six strings on the guitar. From left to right; low E string, A string, D string, G string, B string and high E string or also called: 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st string.
The horizontal top line (which is thicker than the lower horizontal lines) indicates the nut of the guitar. The second horizontal line is the 1st fret, followed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th fret.
The black dots show you where to press down the string with your left hand fingers.
The numbers on the dots indicate which finger to use.
1 = index finger 2 = middle finger 3 = ring finger 4 = pinky
An “x” means that you “mute” or don’t play that particular string.
An “o” means that you do play that string. You play the string open.
Chord Example
In the example above a C major chord is played.
Press down your first finger (index finger) on the B-string (2nd string), 1st fret (place your finger just behind the first fret, don’t touch the fret).
Press down your second finger (middle finger) on the D-string (4th string), 2nd fret
(just behind the second fret).
Press down your third finger (ring finger) on the A-string (5th string), 3rd fret
(just behind the third fret)
The Low E-string (6th string) is not played or muted.
The G string (3rd string) and high E-string (1st string) are played open. No fingers are pressing down on the string here.
Now strum with your right hand all five strings simultaneously (6th string is not played). Voila!
If the chord doesn’t sound as good as you would like to, check out 10 Vital Tips to Get Your Chords Sound Clean and Clear
How to Read other chord notation
Numeric Chord Notation
Another way of chord notation is via a numeric way. The C major chord will be notated like this: x32010
What you see is actually the frets you need to press. Reading from left to right you start with the Low E-string, A-string, D-string, G-string, B-string and high E-string.
The first thing you see on the left is an “x”. That means you “mute” or “not play” the Low E-string. Then you see a “3” on the A-string, which means 3rd fret on the A-string. Then 2nd fret on the D-string, the G-string is played open, 1st fret on the B-string and finally the high E-string is played open as well.
You will see this type of notation a lot across the internet, because it’s a lot easier and faster than creating a chord diagram. The only downside is you won’t able to see which finger (index, middle, ring or pinky) exactly needs to press down on the string, but for most intermediate guitar players this is not an issue.
Tab Chord Notation
And there’s chord notation in Tablature. Also called TAB.
You can see in the image below it’s exactly the same as the numeric chord notation. The only difference is the fret numbers are now displayed vertically. Starting from the bottom to the top you will read x32010.
In tablature the Low E-string is the lowest line and the high E-string is the top line, followed by the B-string, G-string, D-string and the second lowest string is the A-string. Again the numbers indicate the fret numbers you have to press down on the string.
C MAJOR CHORD e:-------0--------------------------------------------| B:-------1--------------------------------------------| G:-------0--------------------------------------------| D:-------2--------------------------------------------| A:-------3--------------------------------------------| E:-------x--------------------------------------------|
Have fun expanding your chord vocabulary!
Three chords and the truth - that's what a country song is." ~ Willie Nelson
Pliz….. That’s not sufficient ! I need More Explainations on reading guitar tablature diagrams…. can you pliz help ?
Thank You !
Hi Exalt,
Here’s how to read guitar tabs:
https://www.guitarhabits.com/how-to-read-guitar-tabs-tablature/
Every beginner must read this guide. Very informative to start with the guitars.
hi, i am a guiter leaner thanks for great lessons you gave to me.
I can only play A D E chord and D G A chord and GDA… my fingers can not press hard enough to play F and C…what can I do about that?? Use a capo??
Do you have a left handed chart of the same chords? I play left handed on a left handed guitar. ⬅️⏪?
Thanks for sharing the post. The way you narrated the post is good and understanding. After reading this post I learned how to read guitar chords. Keep posting. Please let me know for the upcoming posts.