As a beginner guitarist, learning chords is an essential part of your musical journey. Chords provide the harmonic foundation for a song, and give you the ability to play a wide range of music on the guitar.

In this beginner’s guide to understanding guitar chords, we’ll go over the different types of chords and how to play them, as well as provide tips for improving your chord playing skills. Whether you’re just starting out on the guitar or have been playing for a while, this guide will help you take your chord playing to the next level.

Basic Major and Minor Chords

One of the first things you’ll want to learn when it comes to chords is how to play major and minor chords. Major chords have a bright, happy sound, while minor chords have a more somber, introspective sound.

To play a major chord, you’ll start by placing your first finger on the first fret of the second string. Then, place your second finger on the second fret of the third string, and your third finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Finally, strum all six strings to play the chord.

To play a minor chord, the finger placement is similar, but you’ll use your second finger on the first fret of the second string and your third finger on the first fret of the fourth string. Again, strum all six strings to play the chord.

Once you’ve learned how to play major and minor chords, you can start incorporating them into your playing. Some common chord progressions using major and minor chords include:

• I-IV-V (e.g. C-F-G)
• ii-V-I (e.g. Dm-G-C)
• iii-vi-ii-V (e.g. Em-Am-Dm-G)

Seventh Chords

Seventh chords add an additional note to the basic major and minor chords, creating a more complex, interesting sound. There are two main types of seventh chords: major seventh chords and minor seventh chords.

To play a major seventh chord, you’ll start by playing a major chord as described above. Then, add your fourth finger to the third fret of the first string. This will give you the major seventh chord.

To play a minor seventh chord, you’ll start by

playing a minor chord as described above. Then, add your fourth finger to the third fret of the first string. This will give you the minor seventh chord.

Some common chord progressions using seventh chords include:

• I-vi-IV-V (e.g. C-Am-F-G)
• ii-IV-V (e.g. Dm-F-G)
• iii-vi-ii-IV (e.g. Em-Am-Dm-F)

Extended Chords

Extended chords add even more notes to the basic major and minor chords, creating a more complex and rich sound. There are several types of extended chords, including ninth chords, eleventh chords, and thirteenth chords.

To play a ninth chord, you’ll start by playing a major or minor chord as described above, and then add your fourth finger to the second fret of the fifth string. This will give you the ninth chord.

To play an eleventh chord, you’ll start by playing a major or minor chord as described above, and then add your fourth finger to the second fret of the fifth string and your first finger to the first fret of the first string. This will give you the eleventh chord.

To play a thirteenth chord, you’ll start by playing a major or minor chord as described above, and then add your fourth finger to the second fret of the fifth string, your first finger to the first fret of the first string, and your second finger to the second fret of the second string. This will give you the thirteenth chord.

Some common chord progressions using extended chords include:

• I-IV-vi-V (e.g. C-F-Am-G)
• ii-IV-vi-V (e.g. Dm-F-Am-G)
• iii-vi-IV-V (e.g. Em-Am-F-G)

Suspended Chords

Suspended chords are a type of chord that replaces the third of a major or minor chord with either a perfect fourth or a major second. There are two main types of suspended chords: suspended fourth chords and suspended second chords.

To play a suspended fourth chord, you’ll start by playing a major or minor chord as described above, but instead of placing your third finger on the second fret of the fourth string, you’ll leave it open. This will give you the suspended fourth chord.

To play a suspended second chord, you’ll start by playing a major or minor chord as described above, but instead of placing your second finger on the second fret of the third string, you’ll leave it open. This will give you the suspended second chord.

Some common chord progressions using suspended chords include:

• I-IV-V (e.g. C-F-G)
• ii-IV-V (e.g. Dsus4-F-G)
• iii-vi-IV-V (e.g. Esus2-Am-F-G)

Other Types of Chords

In addition to the chords we’ve already covered, there are several other types of chords that you might encounter in your guitar playing. These include diminished chords, augmented chords, and dominant seventh chords.

To play a diminished chord, you’ll start by playing a minor chord as described above, and then lower the fifth of the chord by a half step (one fret). This will give you the diminished chord.

To play an augmented chord, you’ll start by playing a major chord as described above, and then raise the fifth of the chord by a half step (one fret). This will give you the augmented chord.

To play a dominant seventh chord, you’ll start by playing a major chord as described above, and then add your fourth finger to the second fret of the fifth string. This will give you the dominant seventh chord.

Tips for Improving Your Chord Playing

Now that you have a basic understanding of the different types of chords and how to play them, here are some tips for improving your chord playing skills:

• Practice regularly: As with any aspect of playing the guitar, the more you practice, the better you’ll get. Make sure to set aside time every day to work on your chords, and you’ll see your skills improve over time.
• Experiment with different chord voicings: There are many different ways you can play each chord, and experimenting with different voicings can help add variety and interest to your playing. Try playing chords in different positions on the neck, or using different numbers of strings to play the same chord.
• Use a chord chart or dictionary: A chord chart or dictionary is a valuable resource for learning new chords. These resources provide diagrams and notation for a wide range of chords, making it easier to learn and

incorporate new chords into your playing.

• Incorporate chords into your guitar practice routine: In addition to practicing chords on their own, try incorporating them into your overall guitar practice routine. Play along with songs that use chords, or try writing your own music using chords. This will help you get more comfortable using chords in a musical context.

Conclusion

Learning guitar chords is an essential part of your journey as a musician, and with some practice and dedication, you can master a wide range of chords and use them to play a wide range of music. By following the tips outlined in this beginner’s guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled chord player.

So grab your guitar, and start practicing! With some time and effort, you’ll be playing all your favorite songs in no time.

When first starting out on the guitar it’s difficult to know what kind of instrument is best for you and it’s all too easy getting stuck with the assumption that you need to spend a lot of money to get something good. However, you don’t need to spend a bunch of cash to get a quality instrument. Here are some basic things to look out for:

Solid construction, especially when it comes to the top.

The top of acoustic guitars (both steel-string and classical) is the primary component in the production of a guitar’s sound and tone (no matter how pretty that cocobolo or Brazilian rosewood back and sides may be, they play a lesser role in the overall sound of the instrument). When a string vibrates it transmits that vibration through the bridge into the air inside the body of the guitar so that the air resonates with the pitch, but then comes the top: the top literally oscillates up and down and pushes that resonating air out of the body. The point, then, is you want a guitar with a solid top. Laminate top guitars will stand up much better to weather, but they don’t have the same vibrating power and tone as solid tops. Not only that, but solid tops will also sound better as they age.

Laminate back and sides? No problem.

While a solid top is a must and is not a huge price premium, laminate back and sides will differ little in sound production and tone from solid back and sides…while the latter will be quite a bit more expensive. So save your pocketbook a bit of cash and opt for a solid top and laminate back and sides unless you can really afford to spend extra on an all-solid instrument.

Tuners (tuning machines, not those little devices that tell you when you’re in tune)

Inexpensive beginner guitars tend to have very cheap tuners and this can affect the overall intonation of the instrument. Investing just a bit more for a guitar that has a decent set of tuners on the headstock, like a set of Gotohs or Schallers, will go a long way in the long run.

Scale length

Many makers of beginner guitars will offer different scale lengths for their instrument. Scale length refers to the entire length of the vibrating string, or, the distance from the nut to the saddle. The traditional standard for scale length on a classical guitar is 650mm, while it’s shorter on acoustics. If you have smaller hands it may make a difference to try out a smaller scale length guitar, so keep that in mind as you shop around.

Give a few a try

Once you have a pretty good idea of what kinds of guitars fit your budget and what you’re looking for it is highly recommended that you go to a store or two and try out several guitars in person. If you are brand new to guitar or haven’t started out yet at all, maybe ask someone at the store to play for you. This will give you a pretty good idea of the kind of sound each guitar can produce. Even if there are two copies of the exact same model guitar sometimes they can sound quite different. It’s always best to try before you buy.

So that’s it. Many different brands fit these specifications and finding a guitar that fits you will be very personal. However, I recommend checking out the Cordoba C5 or C7 for classical guitars, or if you need something even a bit cheaper the Yamaha C40. For acoustic steel strings, the Yamaha FG series guitars are great, but I would avoid the lowest of the line, which has “open gear” tuning machines (it’s always best to go with closed gear tuners for acoustic and electric guitars because dust can get inside the mechanism and cause it to decay quicker). I hope you found this useful. See you next time!

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this subject, I wanted to write a little introduction to make my intentions clear.

I was asked by Ira, Christopher, Steve and Leo who are readers of the blog, to discuss ideas and challenges for an older guitarist. The word old, is a loaded one, and I want to be clear that I intend no disrespect by using it, I am just not going to dive into euphemisms.

Ok. Let’s get down to business.

Yes. You can.

I have been asked several times by readers of the site if I think they can take up guitar study at a later age. The resounding answer is yes.

There really is no limit to what each one of us can achieve, and in many respects age is no restriction. The basic tenets of learning apply to everyone, regardless of age, advantages or disadvantages. Success requires hard work, dedication and perseverance.

More often than not, the marker of success will not be receiving a standing ovation at Madison Square Garden, the mark of success will be reaching goals, expressing yourself through music and having fun along the way. If that happens to be on stage at the Garden, so be it, but believe me when I say there is no “making it”. There is only the journey we each take, guitar in hand.

Choosing your pieces.

This might be the biggest take home point, and I am going to repeat myself later, but I believe the point is so important it warrants repetition.

Music that is too difficult is the biggest impediment of your progress.

I have some young kids that I teach. They are great fun, and they will do anything for a sticker. More often than not, they are not familiar with the guitar repertoire, and as I work through books that have simple melodies and a steady progression, they just accept what I give them and will be happy if it is not too difficult. As a teacher, this means I can build their technique and foundations to be strong and comprehensive. As students, this means that they improve, and they improve fast. Have you ever seen a little kid play like a pro at the age of 8? It is because they had a good teacher, and did what she asked.

Adults and teenagers, however, will most likely come to the classical guitar because they know and love the repertoire. Because they know the repertoire, they want to play it. Even if it isn’t going to be good for them! This means, as a teacher, I am constantly trying to bargain about what piece to play. I know that simpler pieces will be more productive, but they want to get to the greats as soon as they can.

There are two ways to go about this. The first is to look at the goals and objectives, if the answer is to have fun and you don’t want to go through the less entertaining studies and simple pieces, then, go for it. You need to know, however, that you might be plugging away at your favorite Hendrix piece for a number of years, and it might cause great frustration as it may never reach the level you had hoped. It might not be “fun” for that long.

The second way, is to play the long game, and hold off on the more advanced pieces. Start with simple pieces, and progress through the repertoire to arrive at your dream pieces with a technique that is up to the task. I think the payoff of this route is bigger, and if you can learn to enjoy the process, then you might forget about rushing to those concert pieces and start enjoying what is right in front of you.

Goals and objectives

At the outset of study, you need to answer the question:
Why am I doing this, and what do I want to achieve?
The answer will be different for everyone, but as an older student you might be looking for personal enjoyment and fulfillment over career aspirations.

By no means is someones age a requirement for a professional career. Actually if there ever was a requirement, it would be sustained passion and hard work.

If your goal is personal enjoyment, perhaps the realization of a long time desire to play music or learn the guitar, you need to think about how you are going to achieve that goal. What is actually going to make you happy during this process?

Professional Career

If your goal is going to be along the lines of a professional career, I would simply advise to start from the beginning and work patiently and steadily through a comprehensive method. No corner cutting.

Dedicated Amateur

An amateur is someone who loves the craft. For me this is the most pure of pursuits. It is not distracted by trying to earn money or appease others.

Goals I have encountered in the past from older students have included:

• Wanting to play a certain piece or pieces like Tears in Heaven or Blackbird
• To play in a band
• Study for the sake of studying and have projects to work on

If you want to perform a masterwork, you can. Know, however, that the path is long and if you want to make it to your destination you need to be mindful of developing frustrations and being impatient. Be focused on your own development and do not try and compare yourself to anyone around you. The speed at which you progress might be slow, so I believe at an older age you will need to exercise even more patience, and be more disciplined than others to achieve your goals.

Play in an ensemble

Playing with others is a wonderful experience and education in itself. If you want to play in an ensemble, you will need to develop good reading skills, and a technique that is sufficient to play fluently. Not a virtuosic technique, but one that allows you to play in time and respond to changes in tempo/dynamics etc. Once again, these skills will need to be developed steadily and comprehensively.

A great goal to aim for is to play in a jam session, or perhaps team up with some colleagues to form a band.

Study to study

This goal is a little different to the others. It is the only one where I would be inclined to give a green light on difficult songs. If you don’t want to spend time on studies and technique, and just want to approach the pieces that inspire you, you can. I strongly believe, however, that this is a short sighted approach and that it will lead to frustration very quickly, and abandonment soon after. It will be ten times slower than walking a steady path, and it can be tiresome for the teacher too. So it might make you happy, but not for long.

So, as you can see, the best approach to all of these goals will be to study from the basics and build your way up in a comprehensive fashion. The goals you set might influence the type of repertoire you choose, and the training you get (for instance sight reading will be important for ensemble playing), but in reality the most fulfilling, enjoyable and fun way to achieve these different goals is to work slowly and steadily.

Enjoying the process

I could get very philosophical here, but I think there is a great deal of fulfillment and enjoyment to be found in the learning process itself. Small increments and small achievements can feel as profound as any other. Make sure you celebrate, or at least acknowledge, when some progress has been made and know that you are in good company if you get mired in doubt and frustration. Not just good company, everyone’s company. We all go through peaks and valleys.

I sometimes like to work on pieces that I never intend to perform and that are well within my technical abilities. In them I find joy because I can focus on making a good sound, phrasing and expression. In a word, I am focusing on music and I can assure you that even in the simplest folk song, there is music to be enjoyed. Don’t always feel like you have to push and progress.

Challenges

Speed of progress

At an older age progress could be slow, and for this reason, it is important to set realistic short term goals and celebrate successes. I would advise this for anyone at any age, but I think that older guitarists can be impatient as they will often have a great knowledge of the classical guitar repertoire. Being familiar with all of the great works for our instrument and knowing how the masters can perform them might give you doubt and frustration at how far away it seems. Once again, focus on your path, your playing, and your progress.

Physical challenges

Almost every individual has physical challenges that need to be addressed when it comes to playing the guitar. It is very rare to come across someone with a good back, good nails, good memory, and good hands, regardless of age.

I have had my fair share of run-ins with physical therapists by the age of 32 and I am not looking forward to when the famous “Powis back” and gout come into play. Genetics, gotta love ‘em.

An older age brings the likelihood of more problems, however, by no means should that discourage you from learning the guitar. You, and I just need to get creative about adapting your technique to make it work for you.

Let’s take my student, Peter. He has some tendons that don’t work in his left hand (he is left handed so that is his “strumming” hand. Because of this, finger style guitar is not going to be an option, well, it could be but only with his thumb and index. Instead we are using a pick, and playing single melodies, along with strumming chords. Having a good plectrum method, can almost be as agile as the fingers when developed well.

So, if you have some fingers that are not going to work for you, maybe you can leave them out of your technique? In the very famous case of Django Rheinhardt, he had several joints of his fingers missing and he actually used the shorter fingers to create a barring technique that influenced his sound and overall style. He also did some AMAZING things with just the index and middle finger in his left hand.

The point is, your physical impediment does not have to be a roadblock to your learning, just be open minded about adapting your technique to make music.

Preventative measures for physical health

At an older age you need to be more mindful of how you treat your body, and playing a musical instrument is quite demanding on the body. It may seem passive, even sedentary, but you are holding tensions in unusual places (neck, back, shoulders) for large amounts of time.

You should incorporate stretching, breaks, and be mindful of your posture.

Also consider your set-up. Is your chair at the right height? Are you using a footstool or a more ergonomic solution like an ergo play or guitar support? Is the stand at a good height so your neck is not strained?

These considerations are important for all of us, but the negative effects will surface more quickly as an older student.

Mental focus and memorization

At an older age focus and memorization can prove a challenge. To this I say as the Delphic oracle did, “know thyself”. You need to consider your strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly.

If you have poor focus. Set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes and decide on a specific exercise or passage to work on. That timer can end up being a great focus motivator.

If your memory is not strong, develop your reading skills so that you perform from the score, not from memory. If your sight is not great, blow up the print to a large size.

You get the idea. Where there is a will…

Patience & Discipline

You can achieve your goals, but you will have to exercise more patience and discipline than others. Getting frustrated can be avoided by working in small increments and being mindful of how you practice and progress. Returning to the role of a student can be intimidating and feel unnerving but the joys that are awaiting you are many and varied.

Summary

Many of the points here pertain to everyone. Young, old, beginner and advanced. I have chosen them, however, because these points are the most important ones to consider as an older guitarist.

I hope that you found some ideas and inspiration here, and if you have your own knowledge or experiences to add please share them in the comments below.

Cheers,

Simon