Chord Diagrams

Reading chord diagrams
(This is a right hand player diagram)

View the diagram as if your fret board is pointing upwards with the fretboard facing you.

Lets use the C chord diagram as our example

Each horizontal line is a fret on your fret board

Each vertical line is a string

The strings are from left to right (thick to thin)
6 5 4 3 2 1
E A D G B e

The numbers are the fingers on your left hand
1 = index finger
2 = middle finger
3 = ring finger

X means that the string is not played
O means that the string is played open (no finger in a fret position)

The finger position is just behind the relevant fret where possible

The C chord therefore is played
Ring     finger on 5th string between 2rd and 3rd fret (3rd fret position)
Middle finger on 4th string between 1st and 2nd fret (2nd fret position)
Index   finger on 2nd string between nut and first fret (1st fret position)

Note: These are suggested "usual" finger positions, however players have personal preferences. Also, different fingers are used dependent on which chords are being used in individuaL songs.

Example A chord    finger positions 123 is often played 213
               Em chord finger positions 12   is often played 32 (E chord without index finger)

Use the following chart as a guide to "usual" finger positions

Example songs which use only these chords
Wild Thing (Troggs, Jimi Hendrix)                A D E
Knockin on Heavens door (Bob Dylan)      G D Am C
All I Want Is You (U2)                                         G C Em
Time in Hand                                                       G D C

Video lessons for all of these songs are now available at KickStartGuitar