the g and d chords

90% of a musician's guitar-related existence is spent playing chords. In this lesson I will introduce you to a couple of chords that you should be able to play easily within a few weeks of practice. However, I would like for you to keep in mind the fact that chords are generally the most frustrating part of a beginnner's career. Smile when you practice these, ok?

What is a chord? I'll get more in depth on this in a later lesson, but essentially a chord is what results from three or more notes being played at once. Yes, that's correct. Any three notes played at the same time constitute a chord. If your dog was to bark while the doorbell and phone rang at the same time, the result would be a chord. Not very pleasant sounding, but a chord nonetheless. Not all chords are so dissonant, however. Which brings me to Lesson Two.....

What you are looking at here are two FINGERBOARD DIAGRAMS. These are the most common method used to display chords and their fingerings. The six vertical lines represent the strings, from left to right 6-5-4-3-2-1. The horizontal lines represent the frets, the first fret being the one closest to the top of the page. I've indicated the nut with a double horizontal line. THE NUT IS NOT A FRET. The nut is a little piece of bone, plastic, or graphite intended to keep the strings separated on the way to their respective tuning pegs. The placement of your fingers is determined by the placement of the big dots. The numbers above the diagrams are telling you which finger is which dot. An O tells you that that string is to be played OPEN, without any finger on the string whatsoever. An X tells you that the string is not to be picked at all. Let's try the G chord....

Begin by placing the fourth finger of your fretting hand on the 3rd fret of the 1st string, remembering to place your finger DIRECTLY BEHIND THE FRET. Make sure the note is fretted correctly by picking it a few times. Now place your third finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string, and check for clarity. Clarity is not something you want to sacrifice. The 0's on the 3rd and 4th strings indicate that you play those strings open, without fretting anything. Finish by placing your first finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string, and your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string.

Are you there yet? If so, while holding your fingers in that position, pick each string one at a time from 6 to 1. If you are like the vast majority of beginners out there, you heard a series of sounds that could best be described as a mess! That's ok. Remember that chords are usually the most difficult thing to get the hang of when you start learning to play. Just stare at your hand, make sure everything is against the fret, and try again. Very often the biggest problem is that fingers are touching strings that they shouldn't be. STAY ON YOUR FINGERTIPS!! Try again. Keep trying until every one of those notes is clear and beautiful. Then remove your hand from the guitar and do it all over again...

If you haven't lost your mind yet, you may try the D chord. Follow the same instructions as for the G. Remember, the X's indicate strings that are not to be picked at all. Most people have an easier time with this one, but I have met those who have an easier time with the G.
 

"you have to be able to learn everything, then forget everything"-john frusciante