The first five chords every beginner should learn

There are hundreds of chords, but you only need a handful to start playing songs. We teach these five first because each one reuses shapes from the one before, and together they cover a surprising number of songs.

Why this order

• Em uses two fingers and all six strings. It’s the easiest full chord on the guitar.
• Am is the same two-finger shape moved down one string, plus your first finger.
• E is Am moved up one string. Same fingers, same shape.
• A puts three fingers side by side on the 2nd fret.
• D is the first chord that uses only four strings, and teaches you to aim your strum.

Make every string ring

Do the ring test: make the chord, then pick each string slowly, one at a time. If a string is dead, one of your fingers is touching it. Arch that finger more, or move it closer to the fret. This takes two minutes and fixes more problems than an hour of strumming.

Common mistakes

• Thumb wrapped over the top of the neck, flattening your fingers.
• Pressing in the middle of the fret space instead of just behind the fret.
• Strumming the low E string on D and A. Aim for the strings shown.

Once all five ring, start the one-minute changes drill: switch between two chords for 60 seconds and count. Thirty changes a minute and you’re ready for your first song.

Each chord has its own page in our chord library, with finger-by-finger steps: Em, Am, E, A and D.