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How To Read Guitar Chord Diagrams

Chords diagrams (also known as chord grids) are an easy and effective way of learning how to play new and exciting chords. A blank chord diagram is essentially just a grid, but viewing the grid in comparison to the guitar neck is what makes it useful.

The diagram below to the right is an example of a blank chord diagram. As already discussed, a blank chord diagram is just like a grid. The vertical lines represent the 6 guitar strings, while the horizontal lines represent the guitar frets with the top most horizontal line being the guitar nut. This is a graphical representation of the guitar neck. Picture your guitar pointed to the sky with the strings facing you. Get used to seeing these types of diagrams because every guitar player, and I mean EVERY guitar player uses these diagrams at some point or another. They are crucial for the development of beginner guitarists.


By adding circles to the diagram we now have information on which strings need to be played and which frets need to be fretted. Also, fingering numbers can be added to assist the guitarist with the fingering of the chord.

The below chord diagram to the left is a C major chord, one of the first chords guitarists learn. As shown, the 3rd fret on the 5th string, the 2nd fret on the 4th string and the 1st fret on the 2nd string are all fretted. The 3rd and 1st strings both have empty circles above them, this indicates the strings are to be played 'open', meaning without fretting them. The 6th string on the other hand has no circles whatsoever, meaning the string should not be played at all, it should remaining silent. The numbers on the bottom of the diagram indicate to the guitarist which finger should be used to fret which note.

basic chords c major

Two of the dots have red outlines around them, which indicate that those notes are the root of the chord. In this case we are playing a C major chord, so the notes which feature the red outlines are the note C. This is not generally done for chord diagrams but its important for guitarists to learn where the root notes are in chords, so they will be used here.

Here is a step by step guide to playing the above C Major chord. Continue further for a video explanation of chord diagrams.

- Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
- Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
- Place your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
- The 3rd string and the 1st string should be played 'open', without fretting anything
- The 6th string should be avoided, do not play
- Strum... Remember to avoid the 6th string

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