Guitar chord chart
Pick a root and chord type to see the easiest shape plus alternatives up the neck. Tap Play to hear it.
Printable chart of basic guitar chords
Major, minor and dominant 7th chords for the natural keys. Click any chord to see alternatives, or print this page for your practice folder.
Chord types explained
| Symbol | Name | Formula | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Major | 1 3 5 | Bright, stable |
| Cm | Minor | 1 â™3 5 | Sad, dark |
| C7 | Dominant 7th | 1 3 5 â™7 | Bluesy, wants to resolve |
| Cmaj7 | Major 7th | 1 3 5 7 | Dreamy, jazzy |
| Cm7 | Minor 7th | 1 â™3 5 â™7 | Mellow, soulful |
| Csus2 / Csus4 | Suspended | 1 2 5 / 1 4 5 | Open, unresolved |
| Cdim | Diminished | 1 â™3 â™5 | Tense |
| Caug | Augmented | 1 3 ♯5 | Unsettled, rising |
| C5 | Power chord | 1 5 | Neutral, rock |
Questions
How do you read a guitar chord chart?
The vertical lines are the strings, with the low E string on the left. Horizontal lines are frets. Dots show where to press, numbers show which finger, an × means don't play that string, and an open circle means play it open.
What are the first guitar chords to learn?
Start with G, C, D, Em and Am. Those five open chords cover thousands of songs. Add E, A, Dm and then the F barre chord.
What does 'fr' mean on a chord diagram?
It shows the fret the diagram starts at. '5fr' means the top row of the diagram is the 5th fret.
Why are there several shapes for one chord?
The same chord can be played in different places on the neck. Open shapes ring out more; barre shapes higher up are easier to move between keys.