Note: This is page 2 of our Beginner Guitar Cords article. For page one go to: Beginner Guitar Chords

So now you know how to play power cords, lets have a look at the other type of cord that is great for a learner guitarist.

Beginner Guitar Cords: The Open Cord

As mentioned earlier, open cords are the fuller sounding cords that sound great on an acoustic or classical guitar. You can play them on an electric guitar also, a clean amp setting would sound best.

You fret notes down the end of the fretboard nearest the headstock and generally don’t fret past the third or fourth fret. You’ll also be strumming more than just two strings unlike the power cords described earlier.

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I suggest you start out learning the following beginner guitar cords: A, D and E.

X = Do not play string
O = Play open

Beginner Guitar Cords: The A Cord

I suggested these 3 cords to learn initially as they only require three fingers to play them, there aren’t any stretches between notes unlike a C or G open cord. You can also transition easily between these cords once you know how which I will now explain.

Play the A cord to start with, placing your index finger on the second fret on G string. Next place your second finger on the second fret on D string and finally place your third finger on the second fret on B string.

Strum all the strings.

Beginner Guitar Cords: The D Cord

Next you want to transition into a D cord so lift up your second and third finger while keeping the first finger still fretted. Place your second finger on the second fret on high E string and your third finger on third fret on B string, notice you first finger still stays put. This is what I call the anchor finger because it’s anchored in place while you shift your other fingers.

Strum all the strings except for the low, fat E string. Congratulations, you’re almost done.

Beginner Guitar Cords: The E Cord

Finally you will transition in an E cord. Lift up your second and third fingers while keeping your anchor finger, the index finger fretted.  Next slide your index finger from the second fret to the first fret on the G string. Place your second finger onto the second fret on the A string and your third finger onto the second fret on the D string.

Strum all strings.

Congratulations, you have now just learnt the easiest three open beginner guitar cords. With lots of practice, you’ll be able to get the cord changes more fluent with no pauses in between and if you play with the order of the cords a little more, you’ll find that you might just be playing your very first song too called ‘Wild Thing’, it’s an old classic rock n roll tune.

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