Standard tuning · 12 keys · 16 chord types
Guitar Chord Chart
A free guitar chord chart for standard tuning: 12 roots × 16 chord types, 501 shapes, every one checked note by note. Pick a root for the full set — open chords, barre chords and the shapes in between — and hear each one before you play it.
Your first 8 chords
Learn these open chords first: together they let you play thousands of songs in G, C, D and A minor.
Major, minor and 7th chords in every key
Chord types explained (using C)
| Chord | Type | Formula | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | major | 1 – 3 – 5 | Bright and stable — the most common chord there is. |
| Cm | minor | 1 – ♭3 – 5 | Darker and sadder than major. |
| C7 | dominant 7th | 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 | Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below. |
| Cmaj7 | major 7th | 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 | Soft, dreamy and jazzy. |
| Cm7 | minor 7th | 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 | Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz. |
| Csus2 | suspended 2nd | 1 – 2 – 5 | Open and airy: neither major nor minor. |
| Csus4 | suspended 4th | 1 – 4 – 5 | Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major. |
| Cadd9 | add 9 | 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 | A major chord with sparkle on top. |
| C6 | major 6th | 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 | Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country. |
| Cm6 | minor 6th | 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 | Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist. |
| C9 | dominant 9th | 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 | Funky and soulful. |
| Cdim | diminished | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 | Tense and unstable — a passing chord. |
| Cdim7 | diminished 7th | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 | Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets. |
| Cm7b5 | half-diminished (m7♭5) | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 | The ii chord of minor keys. |
| Caug | augmented | 1 – 3 – ♯5 | Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets. |
| C5 | power chord (5) | 1 – 5 | No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal. |
Tips for learning chords
- Press just behind the fret, on your fingertips, with your thumb behind the neck — that is what stops buzzing.
- Practise changes, not chords: pick two chords and switch between them for one minute. The metronome helps you keep it steady.
- Barre chords are movable: the "root on string 6" and "root on string 5" shapes work for every root — slide them up the neck to change the chord.
- Once a few chords feel comfortable, add a strumming pattern and play a real progression.
Questions
What guitar chords should beginners learn first?
C, G, D, Em, Am, E, A and Dm. They are all open chords (no barre) and cover the most common keys for songs.
How many guitar chords are there?
Thousands, if you count every type and voicing — but most songs use a handful of major, minor and seventh chords. This chart covers 16 types in all 12 keys.
What is the difference between open and barre chords?
Open chords use unfretted strings and sit near the nut. Barre chords use one finger across several strings, so the same shape can move anywhere on the neck.