By Shawn Leonhardt
The easiest chords to play on the guitar are open chords.
Open chords will most likely be the first thing you pick up when learning how to play guitar.
In this article we'll go over the main open chords that will allow you to play hundreds of songs:
Major open chords
Minor open chords
Minor7 open chords
Open chords are played in 'first position' closest to the nut and you use strings that are not fretted - i.e. open strings.
The important part to remember is that these open strings cannot be touched by your fingers or it will cause dead notes or muted sounds.
Guitar chords are stacked notes from a scale that when played together form a consonant or dissonant sound depending on the notes used.
Any chord that has an open string is considered an open chord, and while there are far too many to include in this article, we will show you the most common.
Each time you learn a new chord make sure that every string is playing clearly and check your notes!
Major Open Chords
Let's jump right in with a G major chord.
Check the chord diagram above while you work on these chords.
Try fretting an open G major chord - 320003.
Those notes are G-B-D-G-B-G.
Notice the 3 open strings, hence an open chord!
We can also form a G at the 3rd fret with 354433 which is G-D-G-B-D-G.
This is actually a barre chord and they are a bit more challenging to play.
Next let’s look at C major X32010.
Notice we mute (X) the low E string here so doesn't ring out as the bass note.
For this open chord we want the note C to be the lowest note played.
(Technically playing an open low E string would create C 2nd inversion, but that's a topic for another post).
The D major chord has two muted strings XX0232.
Since the D string is ringing open, this is a D open chord.
Practice playing through these major open chords and focus on really nailing your finger positions before you strum the chord.
The great thing is that you can play a ton of songs with just C, G and D!
By adding other chords to this basic progression like A major X02220 and E Major 022100, these will allow you to play other super popular chord progressions like A-D-E and E-A-D-A.
Minor Open Chords
A minor chord has the scale degree formula of 1-b3-5 where the 3rd scale degree is flattened.
This gives the sound a sad or melancholic impression, unlike the major chords with their natural 3rd scale degree.
First let's learn E minor which is 022000.
Compare that with the E major above by alternating your finger on and off 1st fret on the G string.
This is the 3rd scale dregree!
When that 1st fret is pressed, it's natural, and when it's played open, it's a b3 (flat 3rd scale degree).
That b3 will take the song from uplifting to brooding.
Next try an A minor which is X02210.
With the A major shape being X02220, lowering the B string by one fret (X02210) will "flatten the third" and turn it into an A minor chord.
Another common open minor chord is D minor which is XX0231.
Make sure your muted strings are silent and your open strings all ring out as you play.
Now with these open minor guitar chords you have some more common chord progressions available like Dm-G-C, Am-Dm-Em, or even the doo wop style G-Em-C-D.
With these simple open chords you can now play a ton of popular music!
Major 7 Open Chords / Open Dominant Chords
Let's continue to build our open chord knowledge!
The next open chord types you should know are the dominant 7th (1-3-5-b7) and the minor 7th (1-b3-5-b7).
This starts to get tricky because some 7th chords aren't technically open - they don't have any open strings ringing out.
You'll probably spot right away that the B7 and F7 chords don't have open strings.
However, the rest of the chords in this chord type are open chords, so we'll include them all here.
Dominant chords or 7 chords will give us a rocking blues sound with chords like G7 - 320001, D7 - XX0212, C7 - X32310, and the difficult B7 with X24242.
Again, the key here is to move slowly through these fingerings.
It's all about accuracy and building good habits.
Plant your fingers on the right frets, double check with the diagrams, then strum.
With dominant chords, try these chord progressions:
E-A-B7
G-C-D7
G-G7-C-C7-D-D7-G
Anytime you hear a chord in a song that isn't a simple major chord, but you can't exactly tell what it is, try a 7 chord!
All major classic rock groups from the 50's through the 70's frequently used dominant chords.
Minor 7 Open Chords
Adding a flat 7th scale degree to a standard minor chord creates a minor7 chord.
The m7 chord is one of the most fun chords to learn as a beginner guitar player.
It's full of emotion and feeling.
The minor 7 like Em7 022030, Am7 X02010, Bm7 X20202, and Dm7 with XX0211 can also be used in rock, but has a jazzier feel to it.
Try playing an Em-Em7 back and forth to get an idea on how it sounds.
This is a great exercise to really hear what that 7th scale degree does to a chord.
It's usually pretty handy to use a guitar chord chart when learning new chords.
But for now focus on getting clean sounds out of these open patterns.
It will take a few weeks to comfortably play a few progressions so focus on simple ones like G-C-D, E-D-A, and Am-Dm-Em before moving into the 7ths.
Our friends over at American Songwriter have more ways in which you can improve your guitar playing.
Keep practicing daily and soon these open chords will be easy!
FAQ
What makes an open chord?
Open chords are played using a combination of strumming open strings (those not fretted or pressed down) and strings where the fingers press down on specific frets.
They're usually played near the top of the fretboard.
What are the 5 open chords?
The five open chords typically refer to A, D, E, G, and C.
These are foundational chords many guitarists learn first because they're used in a ton of songs.
What is an open D chord?
An open D chord is played by pressing down on the second frets of the third and first strings, and the third fret of the second string, while leaving the fourth string open.
It's one of the essential open chords and has a bright, ringing sound.
What is the difference between open and closed chords?
Open chords involve at least one string played open, without fretting.
Closed chords, or barre chords, involve pressing down multiple strings across the same fret, with no open strings, making them movable up and down the neck.
Why are open chords called cowboy chords?
They're called cowboy chords because they're simple to play and were often used in old cowboy and country music.
They're great for beginners and allow for easy strumming and singing along.
Why do open chords sound better?
Open chords often sound more resonant and harmonious because they utilize the guitar's open strings, which vibrate more freely compared to fretted notes, producing a fuller sound.
What are the most used open chords?
The most used open chords are A, C, D, E, and G.
These chords are the backbone of many songs across various genres, making them super useful for beginners to learn.
Are barre chords harder than open chords?
Yes, barre chords are generally harder than open chords because they require more finger strength and dexterity.
You have to press down several strings across one fret, which can be challenging for beginners.
Should I learn open chords first?
Absolutely, you should learn open chords first.
They are fundamental to playing the guitar and provide a solid foundation before moving on to more complex chords like barre chords.
What is the hardest chord for a beginner?
The F chord is often considered the hardest for beginners because it's a barre chord that requires pressing down two strings with one finger while managing other strings with the rest of your fingers.
What is the easiest guitar chord to play?
The easiest guitar chord to play is probably the E minor chord.
You only need to use two fingers, and it doesn't require stretching or awkward finger positioning.
What is the easiest guitar to learn to play?
The easiest guitar to learn to play is typically a classical guitar with nylon strings because they are softer on the fingers compared to steel-string acoustic or electric guitars.
Plus, classical guitars have a wider neck, which can be easier for learning finger placement.
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