10 Best Guitar Chords for Beginners
Learn these first and you’ll be able to play a huge number of beginner songs.
The core chord set
G
A staple for thousands of songs.
C
Pairs perfectly with G and Am.
D
Common in pop/rock progressions.
Em
Easiest minor chord to start with.
Am
Unlocks tons of beginner songs.
E
Great for rhythm + rock basics.
A
Foundation for strumming songs.
Dm
Harder, but worth learning early.
F (easy version)
Start small—barre later.
E7 / A7
Simple chords that sound “musical”.
Chord-change drill (5 minutes)
- Pick 2 chords (example: G → C).
- Switch slowly for 60 seconds.
- Speed up only if every note rings clean.