May 12, 2019 by Klaus Crow
There are so many beautiful sounding chords you can play on the guitar. It’s one of the triggers that makes me want to grab my guitar daily. I love sitting in my comfty chair, strumming a couple of those chords, fiddling around with the sounds, adding or lifting some fingers here and there, and see where it takes me and how it evolves into a piece of music.
I couple of years ago I wrote a similar post on this topic 10 Ways to Play the Most Beautiful Open Chord Shapes, but today I want to share with you my personal top 12 favourite sounding chords. This top 12 does change from time to time, nevertheless these chords sound amazing, each in their own right.
You can use these chords to add some extra flavour, brilliance or spice to your songs. It’s also nice to end your song with a divine or dreamy chord as icing on the cake.
While strumming these chords, you also want to put effort in making them sound beautiful. Strum your strings delicately, elegantly and skillfully to hear the qualities and bright sparkling sounds of each chord.
Play them in arpeggiated style (down or up strumming, where the strings are played one at a time) or try them with a fingerstyle pattern. Play with them softly with the flesh of your fingers, the attack of your nails or a combination of both. Play them gently or firmly with a pick. Experiment, feel and listen with your ears.
Some of the chords shown here, might already be familiar to you like the G major chord, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great sounding chord. It’s big, solid, flexible and sparkly. It’s a chord you can rely on.
Also, some chords just sound really great or even better when you play them with a capo on the first, second or third fret. Playing chords like an open C or G major chord a little higher up the neck with a capo, and it will make your guitar (preferably acoustic in this case) sound like a true angel.
The chords shown below are not particular beginner chords, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t play all of these right on the spot. Be persistent and keep practicing.
The E/A chord sounds really nice when you follow it up with an A major chord. Although all the chords sound just great on their own, the trick is to incorporate them into a nice chord progression and make some music with it.
Without further ado,
Enjoy!
So what is your favourite sounding chord? Please share in the comments. Write it down like 320033 (G major chord). I’d love to know.
Have a wonderful day!
Tony Dinelli says
Asus2. Love that sound! x02200
Alo says
Dmadd9 XX3230, the common but lovely Cadd9 X32030 and G6 320030. Nice when strung together, and easy fingering changes!
Jack says
Some sort of Em chord: Em7/9/11?
025232
And some sort of A chord: A9/11/maj7?
X02424
Brendan Fitzgerald says
Love the sound of an F barre for the simple reason that it took so much hard work to get it right!
Punchdrunk says
Csus2 chord. love it.
Rivk says
Bro D major 7 all the way, one finger, beautiful melting sound!
Marc says
That is not a CMaj7 chord, it s F#ย maj7, just saying….
Klaus Crow says
Hi Marc,
It says 7th fret next to the diagram, so that makes it Cmaj7 ;)
Paddy says
EMin9 (X7577x) to A13 (5x567x) to A flattened 13 (5×566) to DMaj7 Triad (X576XX)
Noah W says
next time u should add GM7: x20032
x=not played
Brent says
I like Aadd9 x02420 and Em add 9 0240xx
Jared B says
I love A Major with a minor 7th – X02120
Everett Bonds says
I like chords. Amaj 7- Amaj6th- Bmin 7th-E9.
Hedioucha says
I love the sound of a Bm, it almost cries, and goes so well with and A and Em.
Apple says
X20235 (Dm7/B)
I think…?
Anyways, I like how full it sounds due to its doubling up on two D notes and two A notes. The B makes it a bit lighter.
John says
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