How to read a chord chart
The vertical lines are the six strings, running left to right from the 6th (thickest) to the 1st (thinnest). The horizontal lines are frets, and the thick line at the top is the nut.
A dot shows where a finger goes, and the number inside is the suggested finger: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little. A dot above the nut means an open string; an x means do not play that string.
Getting fluent at changing between a few chords is worth more than memorising many.
Tune before you play
Perfect fingering will not help if the instrument is out of tune. Get all six strings in tune first. Guitar →
Easy songs to start with
These songs use very few chords — good first targets once you are in tune.
Two or three chords
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door — G · D · Am
- Horse With No Name — Em · D6add9
- Achy Breaky Heart — A · E
- Love Me Do — G · C · D
Four or more
- Let It Be — C · G · Am · F
- Country Roads — G · Em · D · C
- Wonderwall — Em · G · D · A · C
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door — G · D · Am · C
