Easiest chords.

Hi Maisie,

Did you already read the lessons on the main site? There is section with Easy Songs where you will find songs with more or less 'easy chords'.

Perhaps a teacher or a good instruction book on guitar could be useful as well.

And welcome to GN!

Probably the two easiest chords are A minor (written as Am) and E

Both require the same three fingers and the fingering is similar.

For the Am chord:
-Index finger on the second string at the first fret
(Strings are numbered 1 through 6 . . . 1 is the thinnest string)
(Fingers are also numbered . . . but I won't go there)

-Middle finger is on the 3rd string at the second fret
-Ring finger is on the 4th string also at the second fret

Look at the chord chart to see how the chart relates to what I'm writing . . . you'll see the connection.

The E chord . . . everything is the same just shifted up (towards the ceiling . . . lower in tone since the string are thicker)
-Index finger on the 3rd string at the first fret
-Middle finger is on the 4th string at the second fret
-Ring finger is on the 5th string also at the second fret

You'll know if you have the fingering correct because when you strum the strings it should have a harmonious sound.

These are usually the very first chords player learn . . . and a good start for being able to change back and forth between chords as you strum.

It's going to be hard to change chords fast enough to play a song . . . at first.
Don't get frustrated . . . you won't be able to do it in a matter of days . . . it's more like a matter of weeks or months.

Don't over practice.
It takes time for your fingers to get used to being used in a new way.

Your fingers will gradually get used to it and it takes time to build the strength and dexterity.

Remember when you first learned to write?
You weren't able to write like you can now when you first started . . .
that took years to develop . . . same thing with learning the guitar . . .
. . . you learn by doing . . . if you don't do, you won't learn.

KR2

Sounds like you are a perfect candidate for David's lesson entitled Absolute Beginner Part 1: Chords.

Among the things that David teaches in that lesson are 8 of the easiest chords there are. And how to read those chord charts.
He also points the way to some of the next lessons you might want to look at.

Isn't the easiest chord to play G6add9? :lol:

Isn't the easiest chord to play G6add9? :lol:

It's easier to play it than it is to say it... :wink:

The easiest chord is an Em11 - you play all the open strings!

Jokes aside, I figured out a way to play the I (E), IV (A) and V (B) in E major with only 1 finger (with a little leeway). You can use any finger you like, I prefer index or middle.

E is like this:

e|------x------
B|------x------
G|------x------
D|------2------
A|------2------
E|------0------


Yes, I know it's strictly speaking an E5 or E power chord. You strum only the bottom 3 strings and try to mute the 4th (G). If you accidentally don't you get an Esus4. Not the end of the world.

A is like this, same finger, one string up:

e|------x------
B|------2------
G|------2------
D|------2------
A|------0------
E|------x------

Again, try to mute or avoid striking the high E string. If you don't you get an A6. Not the end of the world.

B is like this, same finger, two frets up:

e|------x------
B|------4------
G|------4------
D|------4------
A|------0------
E|------x------

Yes, strictly speaking it's a B7/A (3rd inversion). If you accidentally don't mute the high E string you get a B13. Not the end of the world.

Works well for 12 bar blues and several easy riffs using this fingering sound so authentic I'm certain a lot of real blues is played this way. Enjoy.

C and G7

one finger on the first fret of the B string for C
one finger on the first fret of the high E string for G7

that doesn't get you much however. Read the absolute beginners lesson on chords. It only takes a week or two until your fingers stop hurting.

C and G7

one finger on the first fret of the B string for C
one finger on the first fret of the high E string for G7

that doesn't get you much however. Read the absolute beginners lesson on chords. It only takes a week or two until your fingers stop hurting.

You get the opening for the Stones' "Heart Of Stone". :)

And you can't forget the ever so easy E5 and A5 :D

Yeah, yeah, I know they are not really chords but close enough.

If you reeaaaalllly want a cheap and easy way to learn chords then do drop D tuning and simply hold a bar to any fret and you'll have a chord. A lot of bands do it these days because it's easy to play while performing plus it has a deeper sound. Won't do much for your guitar cred but definately an easy option to do. I would'nt recommend doing it right away though. Learn your standard chords first.

If you reeaaaalllly want a cheap and easy way to learn chords then do drop D tuning and simply hold a bar to any fret and you'll have a chord.

With drop-D tuning you get a 5th chord if you strum only the bottom 3 strings. If you strummed all 6 strings you'd get D-A-D-G-B-E, a fairly nasty sounding melange of notes (D=1, A=5, D=8, G=11, B=13, E=9). It would probably sound more like a G 6/9 than any kind of D.

Of course this is used all the time, you just strum 2 or 3 strings.

To get a chord on all 6 strings you'd need to tune to open D (DADF#AD), open G (DGDGBD) or open E (EBEG#BE) for example.