Guitar/Chord Types

A chord is three or more different notes played simultaneously. Chords derive their name from the root note. The interval relationship between the root note and the other notes determine whether it is a major, minor, augmented or diminished


chord. Chords may be strummed in entirety or the notes picked individually. Beginners find strumming much easier. The more advanced technique of picking is examined in the Picking and Plucking chapter. Power chords are intervals

because they consist of only two notes but they are usually treated as chords when described.


While chords are primarily used for rhythm guitar, basic chord knowledge is important for lead playing as well. The lead parts of many songs often require the use of chords, and in certain styles of playing, chords can make up the lead part


entirely. Additionally, many lead patterns revolve around arpeggios, which are chords with their notes played in sequence, rather than together. For more information on arpeggios, see the Arpeggio and Sweep Picking.


Chords are easy to play, but to understand why they sound how they do and why certain chords work better together than others, it is important to understand scales. While it is not necessary to have prior knowledge of scales to find this section useful, prior understanding of scales will definitely improve one's understanding of chords. It is recommended that before reading this section, one should familiarise themselves with general music theory first.


There are two main ways of playing chords, using open chords, which are the fundamental and often easiest chords for the guitar. Learning these chords is important, because it sets the stage for learning all other chords. Barre Chords are chords you make while pressing all (or most) of the strings down with your first finger. Barre chords are special, because they can be moved up and down the neck of the guitar, and the shape of the chord remains the same, although all the notes change. Barring is an important technique and greatly opens up the depth of the instrument.