Guitar Chords Diagrams Help Make Playing Guitar Chords Easy!

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Dennis St Germain

You need to develop a good understanding of how to read and use diagrams if you want to learn to play guitar chords. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a bit experienced, the easiest path to becoming a pro guitar player is by learning some simple chords. That way, you can apply them to learning to play the rhythm part of songs. Guitar chord diagrams will help you to do just that!

So, what is a chord diagram?

A guitar chord diagram is basically a visual representation of a single chord, which is often referred to as a “chord box”. It’s essentially a rectangle shaped box that shows you how to play a specific chord. It represents the fretboard on the guitar, and shows you precisely where your fingers need to go in order to form a chord. Needless to say, it can help make it playing guitar chords easier. It’s truly amazing just how a small package can present so much information!

How to read a guitar chord diagram.

There are a dozen or so different formats and styles, but all guitar chord diagrams have these common features:

· There are 6 lines that symbolize the strings on a guitar. Depending on the format of the box, the strings either run across the page horizontally or up and down the page vertically.

· When looking at a vertical diagram, the string on the left side represents the low “E” string, and the one on the right is the high “E” (the thinnest string).

·    There are lines running along the string lines at a right angle. These represent the frets. This is an important thing to remember when taking your guitar chords lessons.
·    Dots are placed on the grid to show which strings need to be pressed on which fret in order to play the chord.
While this is just basic information on a chord diagram, it can still be enough to teach you how to form and play a guitar chord. The greatest part is that you do not need to even know how to read standard music, or even guitar tablature, to read a chord diagram!
Here are some more features of guitar chord diagrams that feature even more important info:
·    On the top part of the box there is a thick line representing the end of the neck—the nut.
·    An “x” symbol on top of the nut line means, “Don’t play this string!”
·    An o” symbol above the nut line means that the string is played open (not fingered).
·    Numbers 1-4 under the box (usually on the dots) indicate the finger you must use on that string. One is for the index finger, and four is the little finger.
· A bar or line running across more than one string indicates a “barre chord”, which means one finger has to press more than one string.

To understand easy to learn guitar chords here are some tips on reading the diagrams:

· Make use of guitar chord diagrams, as they are the single most powerful resource for learning the guitar!

· Individual chord diagrams can be combined together to form charts. These are a simple means to learn basic chords, families of chords, sequences, and songs.

· Check into online resources and tools, such as The Guitar Players Toolbox, to help you learn about diagrams and charts. You will find out about all the easiest guitar chords to learn!

Good luck and play well!

Guitar Chord Lessons: Top 10 Mistakes

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Dennis St Germain

Image via Wikipedia

Anyone currently practicing guitar, especially beginners, may be curious to know what the most common mistakes made by novice guitar players are. Knowing this information will not only give one the incentive to learn to play guitar chords correctly but will let the new guitarist know that in times of trouble he or she is not alone. Experienced players can more likely guess what a lot of them are. The top ten mistakes made by novices are as follows:

1. Giving up too soon

Without doubt this is the most common mistake new guitar players make. What these people fail to realize is that whenever you learn a new skill, you’re going to be extremely poor at performing it. As for playing the guitar even stars like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton sucked at it when they first started out. It’s going to be very difficult when you try playing guitar chords for the very first time. This is when perseverance is needed most. The most crucial time is when you’re almost there, you’re able to make the shape of a chord and at times you can strum it clearly. So, you’ve been practicing for 7 days straight and haven’t seen any improvement. That’s the worst time to give up at learning guitar chords. Just hang in there, keep reading and keep practicing, but whatever you do, don’t give up.

2. Not visualizing finger movements

Here are some simple steps when forming a chord: Notice where your fingers are at and next, visualize where they need to be. Figure out how you’ll move them the least distance possible as you form the new chord. You may not even have to move half your fingers since they’ll be used in the other chord. Meanwhile, keep thinking up ways you can speed up your playing. If you follow these steps I guarantee you’ll change chords more quickly. Just remember, it’s imperative to visualize where each finger is going to move to and how that will happen while you are trying to play easy to learn guitar chords.

3. Making it too hard for yourself

The best way to learn guitar chords is by switching from one guitar chord to another. This definitely goes without saying. Just concentrate on the easy chords and don’t attempt to play chords that are way too difficult. Trying to play too hard of chords will just make you forget what you were trying to do. Choose some easy ones like G to A, E to A, or D to G.

4. Not working on your fingers

It’s apparent that you use your fingers to form chords and to strum them as you learn the guitar chords. Don’t you think you need to exercise them as well as build strength in them? Absolutely! You can do this by pressing down hard on the strings, doing wide scale exercises (stretch those fingers and use that pinky), and doing finger press-ups (one that very few like to do). There are also little finger weights you can use.

Looking at your hands too much

Once you master guitar chords changing from one open chord to another should be second nature. That means you must be able to switch without looking at your hands. In fact, you should be able to form and play each guitar chord blindfolded. You don’t see professional guitar players looking at their guitars every time they need to make a chord change, do you? Absolutely not! Still some may if they’re making a tricky change or when they’re playing a solo. (We’ll get more into this later). This comes with practice and as they say, “practice makes perfect”.

5. Only practicing one chord at a time

Here is a common trap many players fall into when they practice: only practicing one chord at a time. Still, these novices are not to blame. This is simply the way they’ve been instructed by tutors or books they’ve read. Unfortunately, many of these training sources don’t really comprehend the learning process of guitar playing. By practicing 3 chords at the same time, you’ll discover that you’ll learn the fingerings for each of them more rapidly than practicing only one of them at a time. This all depends on how your brain functions. You simply give your brain 3 different patterns to memorize but in different orders. This strengthens the pathways in your brain enabling it to pull up information faster. Give it a try and you’ll see what I mean.

6. Leaving your pinky out of sight

As strange as this may sound, this is something I see a lot of guitar players do. Your fingers should be hovering over the strings of the guitar AT ALL TIMES. So when you form a D chord your pinky should be hovering somewhere over the high E string or the B string. Many players have a tendency to hide their pinky behind the fretboard or in some other weird place. This makes it even harder for them to learn more advanced chords later on as they progress in their practice.

7. Not understanding the root note

A chord’s bass not is also its root note. This is the beginning string to strum or pick from. The root note for an E chord is E which is played as the open low E string on your guitar. This simply means you start strumming or picking at that note.

8. Not picking the chord

When strumming a chord you will often realize you’re hitting a lot of dead notes. Still, most beginners will tend to stop there and keep strumming until it comes out right. This is a rather difficult way to learn guitar chords. Experienced players realize it’s better to pick each note one by one until they find the string causing them the dead note. They can either apply more pressure or move the finger slightly to get it into a better position. Doing this saves one a lot of time and frustration.

9. Not using all your senses

Learning to play a guitar should be a sensual activity as well. One who practices would benefit from seeing the guitar chord in a photo of someone playing it, in a diagram that illustrates where your fingers should be, or better yet, in a video so you can watch the player put his fingers into position. Sight, no doubt is a great way to learn. Still, as you try to learn guitar chords, you won’t get very far without hearing the chord strummed or picked. Once you hear the chord played, you’ll be able to compare how it sounds when you play it versus when a professional plays it. The more ways you can get information into your brain at once, the more successful you’ll be at learning how to play guitar chords in a short amount of time.

In conclusion, these tips are in no particular order. Still they are very valuable tips to know when learning to play guitar chords faster than anyone else. What you might like to do is write each one down on a piece of paper and start using it in your daily practice. You’ll be surprised at how fast you’ll see results.

Tips To Learn & Master Guitar Chords

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Dennis St Germain

For most, guitar chords are the most difficult part of learning how to play. These series of notes can be difficult to remember, and can challenge even the most talented guitarists.

Get The Most From Your Guitar Chord Lessons

When you learn to play guitar chords, you are using multiple fingers and strings at the same time. The combinations can be awkward, and it can be very difficult to retain all of the information that you need.

A common problem for beginners is hand placement. Many guitarists, when first starting out, get discouraged because they have difficulty getting a clean note. This is especially true of people with larger hands. The reason for this is not about hand size at all, but about hand position.

If you are struggling to learn guitar chords, check the position of the thumb on your fret hand. If your thumb is high on the back of the neck, your position is wrong. It should actually be sitting on the lower portion of the back of the neck, behind the second finger. It will be uncomfortable at first, but it will give you a much better reach at the frets, and a cleaner sound. It is very easy to revert back to old habits, so make sure that you spend some time practicing this position. Concentrate more on your hand position than your playing, and soon, it will become natural to you.

The guitar is very difficult to learn if you do not have the right knowledge or support. For example, if you have a five string chord that you are having trouble with, there are probably two main problems. First, if you are just starting out, attempting a five string chord just doesn’t make sense. This is an advanced technique. Focus on two or three string chords first, then work your way up. Second, correct finger placement is crucial. The trick to learning is having good resources. You can find videos and information all over the Internet, at sites like learnandmasterguitar.com, that can help you. Just a small change in finger position can make a huge difference.

The best way to learn guitar chords is with some form of training. However, guitar lessons are not cheap. Internet resources like learnandmasterguitar.com can give you many of the same techniques, tips, and lessons that an instructor can, but for much less.

Definitely make sure that you find some form of training. Learning guitar chords is difficult enough without going through everything on your own. If you try to teach yourself, you will be lucky to learn the chords within months. Whether you have the time or money for an instructor, or simply find a few good lessons online, make sure that you have some form of training. Once you have a chance to learn, all you need is practice.

Practice is the most important part of learning to play guitar and chords. You should set aside a half hour a day for practice. While many guitarists have longer practice sessions, beginners tend to get bored very quickly, or start developing bad habits. Once you have developed your technique, you can begin to lengthen your sessions.

Make sure that you have no distractions. Find a quiet room and pick a time of day when you have the most energy. Since chords are such an important part of guitar playing, you should devote half of your practice time exclusively to them. Start with simple chords, and work your way up. Within two weeks, you should be playing the basic chords like a pro, with clean and easy chord progressions. It takes patience and dedication to learn and master guitar chords, not just knowledge and skill.

Keep in mind that guitar chords and songs are directly related. Once you learn the chords, you can play thousands of different songs, or even write your own.

Learn Guitar Chords – Top 10 Mistakes

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Dennis St Germain

Learning guitar chords does not have to be difficult, but there are some mistakes that many beginners make that can be avoided.

The Top 10 Mistakes

1. Giving up too soon

No matter what you decide to learn, you will not get it right on the first try. This is especially true of guitar. When you learn the guitar chords, chances are that you will have some trouble, but you must stick with it. Many beginners give up on a chord at the worst possible time. They learn the finger position, and they can occasionally strum it cleanly, but they see no improvement from this point. Once you get to this point, it’s only a matter of time. You have the basics, you just need to keep practicing.

2. Lack of visualization

When you are forming a chord, visualization is very important. You have to “see” where each finger is going to move to before it happens. The best way to speed up your chord changes is to look at where your fingers currently are, and think about where they need to be. Then, you visualize the shortest route they need to take to get there. There are times when you won’t need to move much, because some of the basic chords use common notes.

3. Challenging yourself too much

Chord changes, or progressions, are the best way to master guitar chords. The problem is that many beginners choose difficult progressions, and get discouraged when they can’t get it right. Make sure you choose easier progressions, like G to A, E to A, or D to G. They might seem easy, but repetition will train you for the more advanced chord changes.

4. Lack of finger strength

Beginning guitarists do not understand the value of finger strength. This should be obvious, since the fingers are used to play the guitar. To build up your finger strength, a great thing to try is wide scale exercises. Also, there are other exercises involving pushing down hard on the string of your guitar, finger press-ups, or even finger weights.

5. Looking at your hands too often

Once you learn to play guitar chords, you should be able to do so without looking at your hands. The finger position should become second nature. You don’t see professionals looking down all the time while they’re playing, do you? You should be able to switch between open chords without looking at your hands.

6. Practicing one chord at a time

Through the use of books, videos, or even instructors, beginning guitarists have gotten into the habit of practicing only one guitar chord at a time. This is a huge mistake, and will actually take longer to learn. The best and fastest way to learn chords is in groups of three. When you give your brain a varying pattern of three chords to learn, this is more likely to solidify the information. It will help you remember the fingering, and it will help you learn chord progressions.

7. Hiding your pinky

It seems a little odd, but a great deal of beginners tend to move their pinky out of the way when it is not in use. All of your fingers should be hovering over the fretboard at all times. Getting into this habit will help you learn more advanced chords later.

8. Not understanding the root note

Many people do not know what the root note of a chord is. The root note is a chord’s bass note. It determines what string you begin strumming from. For example, the root note of an E chord is an E, played by strumming an open low E string, or your thickest string. What this means is that you begin strumming from the E string when you are playing an E chord.

9. Not picking the chord

When beginners are playing guitar chords, they will often notice dead notes within the chord. Usually, this is caused by a fingering problem. Many beginners will simply keep strumming the chord until they get it right. This is a brute force method of learning, and a great deal of wasted practice time. To avoid this, try picking the chord instead. By picking each individual string, you can isolate the problem area more efficiently. Then, you can apply more pressure on that string or fix your finger position to get a better note.

10. Not using all your senses

To make it easy to learn guitar chords, you should look at every angle. You should look at pictures of someone playing the chord, look at a chord chart, and even watch a video of someone playing the chord. This will help you learn where your fingers should be, and how to get them there. Of course, you can’t play a chord correctly until you have heard the way it is supposed to sound, as well. Processing all of this information will help you visualize the correct technique.

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Tag Archives: learn to play guitar chords

Guitar Chords Diagrams Help Make Playing Guitar Chords Easy!

Guitar Chord Lessons: Top 10 Mistakes

Tips To Learn & Master Guitar Chords

Learn Guitar Chords – Top 10 Mistakes