Beginner Guitar Chords Lesson – The E and G Major Chords

Chords are your gateway to learning songs, and songs are probably the reason you wanted to learn the guitar in the first place. Today I'm going to share with you how to play two of the seven major chords you're going to learn as a beginner. We're going to look at the E major and G major chords.

Things to Remember

Always use the tips of your fingers when playing chords or single notes. Using the fleshy part of your finger can cause you to mute or blunt the strings that are above or below the one your pressing the fret on. A good way to ensure you're doing this is to keep your thumb down and not allow it to come up over the top of the neck.

Also, practice makes perfect when learning chords. Don't get too frustrated with yourself if you're having trouble getting it the first time. Chords take work and at first your fingers aren't going to feel comfortable making the shapes you want them to.



E major Chord

E – 0 —
B – 0 —
G – 1 —
D – 2 —
A – 2 —
E – 0 —

To play the E chord you're going to strum all 6 strings and use your first three fingers starting from your index finger to make the chord shape. The shape is: 2nd finger on 2nd fret of A string, 3rd finger on 2nd fret of D string and 1st finger on 1st fret of G string.

G major Chord

E – 3 —
B – 0 —
G – 0 —
D – 0 —
A – 2 —
E – 3 —

When you play the G chord you also play all 6 strings at once and use the same three fingers you used for the E chord. The shape you make for the G chord is: 2nd finger on 3rd fret of the low E string, 1st finger on 2nd fret of the A string and 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string.

The G chord is a more difficult shape to make then the E. When you're starting out I suggest you concentrate on first making the shape correctly. You can build muscle memory for your hand by making the shape correctly, squeezing the neck of the guitar for a few seconds then relaxing. Do this a few times each day and eventually the shape will start to feel more natural.

The video below explains the chord shapes again with some close up shots of your left hand so you can see the correct positioning of the fingers. There's also a practice exercise to try once you're making the shapes correctly.



Ready to learn more beginner guitar chords and skills? Why not try studying on your own using a beginner guitar dvd. DVD and online video lessons are quickly becoming the method of choice to learn guitar for beginners. You can learn at your own pace, on your own time and for less money then private lessons.

By Guest Blogger: Ian Fraser