In this lesson
E minor, A minor, C, G, D and E are six open chords you can learn over time. Choose one or two that you need for a song or exercise; you do not have to learn the whole set before playing music. The fingerings below are starting points, and another fingering may suit a particular change better.
Before you place your fingers
These shapes use standard tuning: E A D G B E from the lowest-pitched string to the highest. String 6 is low E and string 1 is high E. Check the tuning guide if the guitar needs tuning.
An open string sounds without a finger pressing a fret. To fret a note, place your fingertip in the space just behind the required fret wire, towards the headstock, rather than on top of the wire. Use enough pressure to sound the note clearly and check that the finger is not touching a neighbouring string you want to hear.
The chord-diagram guide explains the dots and string symbols used in charts. Here are the same six shapes in compact form. Read each row from low E to high E; numbers are fret numbers, 0 means open, and x means leave the string out.
| Chord | Low E, A, D, G, B, high E |
|---|---|
| E minor (Em) | 0 2 2 0 0 0 |
| A minor (Am) | x 0 2 2 1 0 |
| C major (C) | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| G major (G) | 3 2 0 0 0 3 |
| D major (D) | x x 0 2 3 2 |
| E major (E) | 0 2 2 1 0 0 |
0 2 2 0 0 0. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.
x 0 2 2 1 0. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.
x 3 2 0 1 0. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.
3 2 0 0 0 3. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.
x x 0 2 3 2. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.
0 2 2 1 0 0. The small numbers in the dots are finger numbers.1. E minor: two fretted notes
Place your middle finger on the A string (5) at fret 2 and your ring finger on the D string (4) at fret 2. Leave low E, G, B and high E open. Strum all six strings.
Pick the strings separately first. Listen for the open G string in particular: a fretting finger can accidentally touch it.
2. A minor: start from the A string
Place your index finger on the B string (2) at fret 1, your middle finger on the D string (4) at fret 2, and your ring finger on the G string (3) at fret 2. Leave A and high E open.
Strum from A (5) through high E (1), leaving out low E (6). Check that the index finger is not muting the open high E.
3. C major: keep the open strings clear
Place your index finger on the B string (2) at fret 1, your middle finger on the D string (4) at fret 2, and your ring finger on the A string (5) at fret 3. Leave G and high E open.
Strum A (5) through high E (1), leaving out low E (6). This fingering shares the index and middle finger positions with Am; the ring finger moves between the A string at fret 3 for C and the G string at fret 2 for Am. Keeping the shared fingers in place is an option if it feels comfortable.
4. G major: play all six strings
Place your middle finger on low E (6) at fret 3, your index finger on A (5) at fret 2, and your ring finger on high E (1) at fret 3. Leave D, G and B open. Strum all six strings.
This is the three-finger version of G. You may meet other G fingerings, including one with the B string also fretted at 3. Follow the shape you have chosen rather than mixing its finger instructions with another version.
5. D major: play the top four strings
Place your index finger on G (3) at fret 2, your middle finger on high E (1) at fret 2, and your ring finger on B (2) at fret 3. Leave D (4) open.
Strum D (4) through high E (1). Leave out low E (6) and A (5). Aim the strum from the open D string, and check the high E note separately if it is muted.
Once D is clear, compare D with Dsus2 and Dsus4. The lesson changes the high-E note and explains what the chord symbols mean.
6. E major: add one finger to Em
Place your middle finger on A (5) at fret 2 and your ring finger on D (4) at fret 2, as for Em. Add your index finger on G (3) at fret 1. Leave low E, B and high E open. Strum all six strings.
Lift the index finger for Em and add it for E. Listen to the difference while the other two fingers stay in position comfortably.
To hear chord tones one at a time, try the first fingerpicking pattern. Em and Am get separate counted examples with exact picking fingers and strings.
Check a chord before repeating it
Pick each intended string once. If a note buzzes or disappears, check finger placement and accidental contact with neighbouring strings before squeezing harder. The lesson on getting the hang of new chords gives you a way to work through this check and then practise a change.
Release unnecessary pressure between attempts and take breaks. Stop if playing hurts; seek qualified healthcare advice if pain or other symptoms persist or keep returning. If a shape remains difficult, a teacher can help you choose a comfortable fingering or smaller version.
Try Em and E in time
First form both shapes slowly without a beat. When you can reach them comfortably, try this exercise in 4/4: four quarter-note beats per bar.
- Count a full bar,
1 2 3 4, before playing. - Strum Em down once on each number for the first bar.
- Add the index finger for E and strum it down once on each number for the second bar.
- Lift the index finger for Em on beat 1 of the third bar, and repeat the two-bar sequence.
If you use the online metronome, select four beats per bar and let each click mark a number. Try 60 BPM as an example, then adjust to a pace you can follow. If a change needs more time, stop and work on the movement separately before returning to the count.
The easy chord progressions give you other sequences with exact bar lengths. Use the chord charts when you need another shape, and the beginner practice routine if you want a session plan to adapt.
When G, D, Em and C feel comfortable, use those shapes with a capo and work out which chords they sound at a new position.
Source notes
These open-position fingerings follow Fender’s written Em instructions, its G, C and D lesson, and the finger-placement instructions in D’Addario’s Am and E lesson. The counted Em/E exercise was written for this page.