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Guitar Chord

Definition: A combination of usually three or more musical tones (strings) sounded simultaneously.

Chord Shape 

Cord shapes are referred to by the "shape" of the hand. All instances of guitar chords on this site will use basic fingering notation.

Index Finger - #1

Middle Finger - #2

Ring Finger - #3

Little Finger "Pinky" - #4

 

Fret Numbering 

Frets are numbered starting with fret #1. Therefore, a G Major chord is displayed as:

3,2,0,0,0,3 

Tablature Notation 

The same G Major chord is displayed as:

E String    --------3---------

A String    --------2---------

D String    --------0---------

G String    --------0---------

B String    --------0---------

E String    --------3---------

ASCII Diagram

This would be an ascii (text picture) or the G Major chord. (All strings played on this chord). Remember the finger numbers mentioned above.

NOTE - An "X" indicates the string is not played, an "O" indicates that it is.

(Every string is played in the G Major Chord below). 

 

O ---------|---------|----1----|---------

O ---------|----2----|---------|---------

O ---------|---------|---------|---------

O ---------|---------|---------|---------

O ---------|---------|---------|---------

O ---------|---------|----3----|--------- 

 

Lets do a D Major chord, so we can see the "X" and "O" thing at work...

 

X---------|---------|---------|---------

X---------|---------|---------|---------

O---------|---------|---------|---------

O----1----|---------|---------|---------

O---------|----3----|---------|---------

O----2----|---------|---------|---------

Notice how above, on the D Major we didn't play the 2 strings. We only used 4 strings in this chord.

And now, the tablature notation of the D Major chord... The tablature number refers to the fret numbers, not the finger numbers. Also, notice the "0" on the "D" string, this simply means the string is played with no fretting.

 

E String    ------------------

A String    ------------------

D String    --------0---------

G String    --------2---------

B String    --------3---------

E String    --------2---------

 

Now, to simplify the D Major chord, we could display it as:

X,X,0,2,3,2

So, that about summerizes the demonstration of guitar chord notation for this site. Now, lets go Find Guitar Chords at the links to the right and start learning to play guitar!