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The 8 guitar chords to learn first

With just eight open chords you can play thousands of songs. Here they are, in the order that makes them easiest to learn.

Start with these two-finger and three-finger chords

Em and Am are the friendliest first chords: few fingers, all close together. Add E (Em with one more finger) and A next.

12EADGBEEm×231EADGBEAm231EADGBEE×123EADGBEA

Then the big four of pop music

G, C and D appear in a huge number of songs, often together with Em. Dm completes the set.

213EADGBEG×321EADGBEC××132EADGBED××231EADGBEDm

How to change chords cleanly

  • Practice just two chords at a time, switching back and forth for one minute.
  • Look for “anchor” fingers that stay on the same string between chords (for example, from C to Am).
  • Move all fingers together as one shape instead of placing them one by one.
  • Use a slow metronome and change on beat 1; speed up only when every change is clean.
Practice changes with the metronome

Your first progressions

  • G – D – Em – C: one of the most common progressions in pop music.
  • C – G – Am – F (when you are ready for F).
  • Am – G – F – E: a classic in Spanish and rock music.
Browse all 192 chords

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Frequently asked questions

Which guitar chord is the easiest?

E minor: it uses only two fingers on neighbouring strings, and you strum all six strings.

Why do my chords buzz?

Press just behind the fret (not on top of it), keep your fingertips upright so they do not touch other strings, and check that your thumb sits behind the neck.