Guitar Chords for Beginners: 5 Basic Chords, Easy Songs & Tips

Basic chord set size: 5 (C, A, G, E, D) · Essential chord set (Justin Guitar): 8 (C, A, G, E, D, Am, Em, Dm) · Recognized ‘forbidden chord’: The tritone interval (diminished fifth)

Here are the key statistics for beginner guitar chords:

What are the 5 basic guitar chords?

The most durable starting set among teachers is the C‑A‑G‑E‑D group – often called the CAGED system. Guitar Tricks (online lesson platform) notes that these five open chords are the most common starting point because they use only first‑position frets and open strings.

The G chord

• Fingering: 320003 (standard). Place middle finger on fret 3 of low E, index on fret 2 of A, ring on fret 3 of high E.
• Guitar Tricks shows this as the full barre‑free version.

The C chord

• Fingering: 032010. Index on fret 1 of B, middle on fret 2 of D, ring on fret 3 of A.
• School of Rock groups it as part of the CAGED set.

The D chord

• Fingering: XX0232. Index on fret 2 of G, ring on fret 3 of B, middle on fret 2 of high E.
• Often taught right after A and E.

The A chord

• Fingering: X02220. Index, middle, ring bar the second fret of D, G, B.
• One of the easiest for a clean sound.

The E chord

• Fingering: 022100. Index on fret 1 of G, middle on fret 2 of A, ring on fret 2 of D.
• Often the first chord many teachers start with.

The pattern is clear: start with these five shapes and you already have the core vocabulary for countless songs.

What is the easiest song to play on guitar chords?

Three chords – G, C, D – are behind dozens of easy songs. Applied Guitar Theory (guitar education site) compiled 52 easy songs that use only open‑position chords.

Songs using only 3 chords

• “Horse with No Name” (America) – Em, D6, Em, A (two chords in practice).
• “Bad Moon Rising” (Creedence Clearwater Revival) – D, A, G.
• Source: Sound Guitar Lessons (free lesson site) includes these in its beginner songlist.

Songs using 4 chords

• “Let It Be” (The Beatles) – C, G, Am, F.
• “With or Without You” (U2) – D, A, Bm, G.
• Modern Guitar Tuition lists C, G, D, Em, Am as its basic set for four‑chord tunes.

Songs using the 5 basic chords

• “Wonderwall” (Oasis) – Em, G, D, A, C (all five plus a minor).
• Lauren Bateman (online guitar instructor) recommends her beginner song pack that uses only A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, F#m, G.

What this means: even a minimal chord vocabulary unlocks a huge repertoire.

What is the forbidden chord on a guitar?

Music history has a dark legend: the tritone interval – a diminished fifth – was supposedly banned in medieval church music because of its dissonant sound. This interval, spanning three whole tones (hence the name), appears in devil‑may‑care rock riffs and jazz lines today.

• Historical context: The Catholic Church reportedly prohibited the tritone in Gregorian chant because it was considered “the devil’s interval.”
• Modern usage: It’s now a staple in heavy metal and jazz, used freely by artists from Black Sabbath to The Simpsons theme.

The implication: historical taboos don’t limit modern playing.

What are Ed Sheeran 4 chords?

Ed Sheeran famously builds songs around the I‑V‑vi‑IV progression – in the key of G that’s G‑D‑Em‑C. School of Rock (music education franchise) notes that this exact sequence appears in hundreds of pop songs across decades.

The I‑V‑vi‑IV progression

• Roman numerals: I (tonic), V (dominant), vi (relative minor), IV (subdominant).
• Open chord shapes: G (320003), D (XX0232), Em (022000), C (032010).

Songs that use it

• “Perfect” (Ed Sheeran) – G, D, Em, C.
• “Let It Be” (The Beatles) – C, G, Am, F (vi‑IV‑I‑V variant).
• ChordGenome (online chord encyclopedia) says this progression accounts for the majority of radio hits.

How to transpose for different keys

• If the song is in C major: I=C, V=G, vi=Am, IV=F.
• In D major: I=D, V=A, vi=Bm, IV=G.
• Learn the shapes, then move them up or down the fretboard using a capo.

The pattern holds: one progression, countless songs.

What are the 4 chords in every pop song?

The I‑V‑vi‑IV progression is the most common chord sequence in Western pop music. StringKick (online guitar school) lists it as the foundation of beginner songwriting. But it’s not the only pattern – variations like I‑V‑ii‑IV and vi‑IV‑I‑V are also extremely frequent.

• Examples: “No Woman No Cry” (Bob Marley) – C, G, Am, F; “Someone Like You” (Adele) – A, E, F#m, D.
• Modern Guitar Tuition (UK based lesson site) provides chord charts that rely almost exclusively on these four chords.

Other common progressions

• I‑V‑ii‑IV (e.g. “Sweet Home Alabama” in D: D‑C‑G‑D).
• vi‑IV‑I‑V (e.g. “Africa” by Toto: Am‑F‑C‑G).
• I‑V‑vi‑IV (the pop‑punk staple).

The catch: you only need to learn a few patterns to cover decades of hits.

Can I teach myself to play guitar?

Yes – with discipline and the right resources. Justin Guitar (renowned online teacher) built a whole curriculum around self‑learning. Lauren Bateman (professional instructor) says that consistent 15‑minute daily practice is more effective than long weekly sessions.

Self‑learning resources

• YouTube channels: Justin Guitar, Marty Music, Lauren Bateman.
• Apps: Yousician, Fender Play, Ultimate Guitar Tabs.
• Structured courses: School of Rock online, Berklee Online.

Pros and cons

Recommended practice routine

1. Step 1: Learn E, A, D

   • Spend 3‑5 days on each. Press down firmly just behind the fret.
   • Strum each string individually to check for buzzing.
   • ChordGenome also recommends this order for fastest pickup.

2. Step 2: Add minor chords Em, Am, Dm

   • Em is the easiest barre‑free minor (022000). Am is X02210.
   • Practice switching from Am to Em – they share the same ring‑finger position.
   • Guitar Tricks fingerings: Am=X02210, Dm=XX0231.

3. Step 3: Tackle G and C

   • G requires wider finger stretch – keep thumb relaxed on the back of the neck.
   • C is tricky for the wrist – drop the guitar neck higher into your palm.
   • Modern Guitar Tuition includes both in its basic open‑position set.

4. Step 4: Practice common progressions

   • G‑D‑Em‑C (Ed Sheeran loop): strum up to four beats per chord.
   • Use a metronome app. Start at 60 BPM.

5. Step 5: Play songs

   • “Horse with No Name” (Em‑D6).
   • “Bad Moon Rising” (D‑A‑G).
   • “Wonderwall” (Em‑G‑D‑A‑C).
   • Sound Guitar Lessons provides 10 easy songs with chord diagrams.

The takeaway: consistency beats intensity for building muscle memory.

Step by step: Learn your first guitar chords

Based on StringKick’s recommended order – E, A, D first – and the experience of dozens of teachers, here is a five‑step plan to go from zero to playing songs.

1. Step 1: Learn E, A, D

   • Spend 3‑5 days on each. Press down firmly just behind the fret.
   • Strum each string individually to check for buzzing.
   • ChordGenome also recommends this order for fastest pickup.

2. Step 2: Add minor chords Em, Am, Dm

   • Em is the easiest barre‑free minor (022000). Am is X02210.
   • Practice switching from Am to Em – they share the same ring‑finger position.
   • Guitar Tricks fingerings: Am=X02210, Dm=XX0231.

3. Step 3: Tackle G and C

   • G requires wider finger stretch – keep thumb relaxed on the back of the neck.
   • C is tricky for the wrist – drop the guitar neck higher into your palm.
   • Modern Guitar Tuition includes both in its basic open‑position set.

4. Step 4: Practice common progressions

   • G‑D‑Em‑C (Ed Sheeran loop): strum up to four beats per chord.
   • Use a metronome app. Start at 60 BPM.

5. Step 5: Play songs

   • “Horse with No Name” (Em‑D6).
   • “Bad Moon Rising” (D‑A‑G).
   • “Wonderwall” (Em‑G‑D‑A‑C).
   • Sound Guitar Lessons provides 10 easy songs with chord diagrams.

Clarity check: what’s confirmed and what’s not

From the certainty‑uncertainty plan, two clusters stand out:

Confirmed facts

• G, C, D, A, E are standard open chords (Guitar Tricks)
• I‑V‑vi‑IV appears in hundreds of pop songs (School of Rock)
• The tritone was historically avoided in medieval sacred music (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Which exact five chords are called “basic” differs between teachers – some include Am, others don’t.
• Whether the forbidden chord myth is historically accurate is debated; the ban may have been largely informal.

Perspectives from teachers

“Learn essential beginner guitar chords like the G chord & other easy guitar music chords to start playing popular songs.”

— School of Rock (schoolofrock.com)

“The 8 Essential Beginner Chord Grips”

— Justin Guitar (justinguitar.com)

“Start with E, A, D – then add Em, Am, Dm – finally G and C.”

— StringKick (stringkick.com)

“52 easy songs that can be played largely with basic open chords.”

— Applied Guitar Theory (appliedguitartheory.com)

Final takeaway

Five open chords – C, A, G, E, D – are the skeleton key to guitar. They unlock thousands of songs, from folk to pop to rock. The forbidden chord myth is a fascinating piece of music lore, but it has no bearing on how you learn. For the self‑taught player, the clear choice is to start with those five, add the minor shapes, then spend 10 minutes a day switching between them. Two months from now you’ll be playing full songs, and the barrier that once seemed high will feel like a step stool.

For a more detailed reference, check out this complete beginners chord guide which includes a free PDF chart.

Frequently asked questions