Chord Charts How To Read A Chord Chart

Lets take a look at a Chord Charts to see what Chords we will be playing.

Learn chords

You will find these chord charts in Music books. They are in songs to show what chord you are going to play. The chord chart is sometimes listed at the Header of the songs page. The charts are sometimes listed above the words in the song at the point where the song changes chords. The song may just have the letter of the chord above the word signifying the chord change.

What are all those lines?

The Chord charts shown on page 14 shows an A chord, D chord, Am  (A minor), G and F chord. When looking at the chord chart it is read from left to right. The thick dark line is the nut of the guitar, at the very top of the guitar neck. There are six lines coming down from the nut. These represent the six strings on your guitar.

Starting at the far left is the sixth string and moving to the right is the fifth, fourth third, second and first strings. In this order the strings are E, G and F chord.

There are numbers going down the left side of the chart. The numbers are there to represent what fret you are at.

As in the example of the “A” chord chart, there are frets one, two, three and four listed on the chart. The black dots or circles represent where you put your fingers. Some chord charts number the dots.

For Example the “A” chord chart would have the three dots with the numbers 1, 2, and 3 inside the circle.

Identifying your first finger would be on the fourth string and your 2nd finger on the 3rd string. Your third finger would be on the second string.

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Lets Look AT The D Chord Chart

On the “D” chord Chart your fingers are on the third, second and first strings.

Fingers 1, 3, 2 respectfully. At the top of the chord charts above the nut is an x and dots. The X symbolizes not to  play that string. The DOT symbol indicates you will play the string.

Example “A” chord chart shows an X over the nut at the sixth string, a dot over the nut at the fifth string.

Three dots at the second fret on strings four, string three, and string two, where you would place your fingers on the guitar and a dot over the nut at the first string.

So in this example you would pick or pluck the fifth string. Even though it is an open string, it is the ‘A’ string and part of the chord.

Continuing down the strings to the first string, you would pick the fourth string, the third string, the second string and the first string.

Another Example Of The D Chord Chart

Let’s look at the “D” chord chart, in this example there is an x over the nut at the sixth and fifth strings.

A dot above the nut on the fourth string, and there are dots at the second fret on the third string; and at the first string.

There is also a dot at the third fret second string, where you would place your fingers. This mean “do not” pick the sixth or fifth string.

You start at the fourth string and pick downward. The Fourth string is open but it is a “D” string or note. It too is part of the chord.

The Third string the second and the first G and F chord.

On the “C” chord chart it shows the x on the sixth string above the nut. This denotes “do not” pick this string.

There is a dot at the third fret fifth string and at the second fret fourth string, where you would put your fingers.

Above the nut is a dot on the third string. Which indicates you will pick this string. The second string has a dot on the first fret second string where you put your finger.

The G and F chord has a dot above the nut, indicating you will pick this string.

Now you give it a try with the G and F chord. charts. Grab your guitar and give it a go.

Take a Look At The F Chord Chart it is Different

On the “F” chord chart it is a little different because it is showing a bar chord.

The thick line at the first fret (bar), indicates you will put your finger across all the strings at the first fret and a finger on the second fret third string and two fingers at the third fret.

You put a finger on the fifth string and another on the fourth string. This is called a G and F chord..

In conclusion

  • The chord charts are a great tool to use when learning new chords.
  • The chord charts let the musician know what chords to play, and when to change chords within the song.
  • You can practice with the chord charts to learn basic chord progressions.
  • You can find How to play basic chords on my G and F chord.

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