How to Read a Guitar Chord Chart

Desire to know how to read guitar chords? You lot're in the right place. We're going to testify you EVERY possible way to read guitar chords.

In this gratis lesson y'all will learn:

• 3 must-know lessons on how to read guitar chords.
• 2 quick and easy tips which will help you read chord boxes.
• The cloak-and-dagger to boosting your chord knowledge.

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Before we explain how to read guitar chords, you lot must know that guitar chords tin can exist presented in a variety of different ways.

In this lesson we're going to show you iii of the most popular ways to read guitar chords. These are:

• Chord boxes.
• Guitar Tabs.
• Music annotation.

Let'south take a wait at the different ways you can learn how to read guitar chords.

How Practice I Read Chord Boxes?

This is THE about mutual fashion to read guitar chords. If you want to learn to play guitar, y'all must learn how to read chord boxes.

What's a chord box?

A chord box is a visual representation of the fret board. A chord box tells you where to place your fingers on the fret lath.

For this instance, nosotros're going to use an Em chord.

To learn an Em chord, get hither: How To Play An Em Chord

Chord Box Example

This box is a visual representation of what an Em chord looks like on the fret board.

The black circles represent where you lot place your fingers.

Here's what it would look similar on an bodily guitar:

Can you lot come across how the Em chord aligns with the frets and strings on the fret board? That'south all a chord box is!

If this takes a while to understand don't worry. Anybody learns at a different speeds. Accept your time 🙂

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What does an Em chord look like in real life?

Here'due south what an Em chord looks like on a real guitar:

To play this chord:

• Detect the 2nd fret of the A string. Put your 1st finger hither.
• Find the 2nd fret of the D cord. Put your 2nd finger here.
• Strum all the strings.

The following strings in this chord are left 'open'.

• Low E cord. (sixth string.)
• 1000 string. (tertiary string.)
• B string. (2nd string.)
• High Eastward string. (1st cord.)

Equally these strings are open up, they should not be fretted. Make sure they ring out nice and clearly.

That's all there is to information technology!

Spend some time comparing a real Em chord to the chord box version, this will help you understand how chord boxes piece of work.

Information technology's important that yous understand how to read guitar chord boxes.

Here are a couple of frequently asked questions which crop up ALL the time.

Sometimes I see numbers within the circles instead of black dots. What does this mean?

The numbers relate to your fingers, like this:

Y'all may have seen an Em chord written similar this:

The 1 and the 2 refer to what fingers you use.

Sometimes information technology's FAR ameliorate to use specific fingers, this makes playing chords easier.

Here's what an Em chord looks like:

Detect how the 1st and 2nd finger are beingness used.

What nigh string numbers?

Oftentimes on chord boxes you volition meet numbers on the bottom of the chord box. This refers to the numbers of the strings.

Like this:

• The numbers of your fingers volition Always be in the chord box.
• The numbers of the strings will ALWAYS exist on the outside of the chord box.

What does the 'X' and 'O' mean on a chord box?

The 'X' refers to the strings that you don't play. The 'O' refers to the strings that you do play.

Let's take a expect at this D chord:

For this instance:

• Don't play the low E string. (6th string.)
• Don't play the A cord. (5th cord.)
• Play the D cord (quaternary string) and the rest of the chord!

What about numbers on the side of a chord box?

This refers to the frets on a guitar.

Chord boxes aren't always used specifically on the starting time 3 frets of a guitar. Ofttimes, you volition encounter numbers on the side of a chord box.

Here's a archetype example:

In this example, kickoff the chord on the 7th fret.

I've seen chords written as numbers, what does this mean?

Often many guitarists get lazy and don't use chord boxes to write out chords.

Sometimes guitarists write out chords numerically. Y'all may see this written on website such as Ultimate Guitar or Facebook.

If an Em chord is written out numerically, here'south what information technology would await like: 022000

Hither, each number refers to the fret that you play. The format of this means you can't specify what fingers to use.

The lodge of each numbers corresponds to each guitar cord. It is laid out like this: EADGBE

Hither's an example:

For this example, permit's break down how a Em chord would be written out.

sixth string (E) = 0 (No fingers here, this cord is left open.)

5th cord (A) = 2 (You must fret the 2nd fret of the A string here.)

4th string (D) = 2(You must fret the 2nd fret of the D string hither.)

third string (Thou) = 0(No fingers here, this string is left open.)

2nd string (B) = 0(No fingers here, this string is left open up.)

1st string (E) = 0 (No fingers here, this string is left open.)

What if the numbers are in a line?

Often, you lot volition the same chord written vertically. Here'due south what an Em chord would wait like:

0

2

2

0

0

0

This is even so an Em chord, still information technology is written vertically.

This can exist confusing as people oftentimes get the strings mixed upwardly. (This example starts from the 1st string, the strings are in opposite. Sometimes the internet tin make it difficult to understand chords)

It'southward important that you can see how '022000' matches your Em chord.

Hopefully this chord box volition help you sympathise. Tin can y'all see how each shape links upward?

What if I see an 'X' in this format?

Yous tin apply the verbal same rule for X'south in the written format.

Whenever you see an 'X', don't play that cord.

Here's an case:

A D chord could be written like this:

XX0232

Or like this:

X

X

0

2

three

2

Regardless of what direction this written chord box is in, the goal here is to be able to play the chord.

Notice how 'XX0232' matches the chord.

Chord Boxes Can Exist Presented In A Variety Of Different Means

Watch out for rogue chord boxes, ofttimes it can be disruptive when yous see a dissimilar image of a chord box. Use your initiative when differentiating between dissimilar chord box layouts.

Here are some archetype examples of how to read guitar chords:

How To Read Guitar Chords On Tab

Firstly, let's have a look at an Em chord in tab form.

Unlike chord boxes, the numbers in a tab refer to the frets that you play.

On most amateur guitar tabs, at that place will be NO indication of what fingers you should use. However, if you lot source a tab from a professional tab book, it will tell you what fingers to use.

This is usually found at the lesser of the tab like this:

For this example:

• Apply your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the A cord.
• Employ your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.

If y'all have a class volume or a formal music tuition book, the tab volition show you what fingers to use. On sites such as Ultimate Guitar this is less common.

How Do I Read Guitar Tab?

Tab is presented like this:

• The vertical lines represent each string.

The vertical lines are a visual representation of each guitar string.

From the lesser line to the height line, the strings go like this:

• East
• A
• D
• G
• B
• E

Like this:

When you wait at a guitar tab, information technology is an identical representation of where your guitar strings are.

The numbers refer to what frets you play

Any time you see a number on a tab play the appropriate fret on the correct string.

For example, here's a C chord written out on a chord box:

Here's what information technology would look similar in tab grade:

Can you lot see how the tab numbers chronicle to the frets?

What's the difference betwixt unmarried notes and chords on tabs?

When you play single notes on a tab, each note comes one later the other.

Like this:

To learn some epic beginner guitar tabs, go here: Guitar Tabs For Beginners: 20 Easy Songs That Audio Great

When you play a chord, the notes are stacked on one another. Like this:

What strings should I play?

Unlike chord boxes, 'Ten' and 'O' don't exist in tab.

On a tab, if the note isn't in that location. Don't play it.

The tab will simply ever tell you what you lot should play, non what yous shouldn't play.

To learn more than about how to read guitar tabs, go hither: How To Read Guitar Tabs

Why do I need to learn how to read guitar chords?

It's essential that you learn how to read guitar chords. Here are 3 reasons why you should acquire how to read guitar chords.

one) Learning chords enhances your musicality

99% of everything you lot ever do on the guitar involves chords. Without chords, y'all won't be able to learn songs, write music, be creative or enhance your musicality.

Everything on the guitar is based around chords. If you don't know how to read guitar chords you won't become the guitarist y'all want to exist.

2) Chord Boxes Are Often Featured In Songs

On sites such as Ultimate Guitar, chord boxes and tabs are ofttimes used equally a reference to help you learn how to play songs.

If you don't understand how to read guitar chords, yous'll never be able to play any songs!

To learn how to play like shooting fish in a barrel songs, go hither: 10 Easy Songs On Guitar

Want free guitar tips and video lessons delivered to your inbox?

Join over 100,000 other guitar learners and subscribe to our guitar-tips-by-electronic mail service. (It'due south free.)

We'll send you a series of lessons that will motion you to the adjacent level of your guitar journeying.

Larn how everything fits together quickly, easily and effectively. We share ninja tips (for instant fun!) merely also timeless fundamentals that will deepen your understanding.

3) Helps You Understand Theory

Learning how to read guitar chords can help you understand theory. One of the quickest and fastest ways to understand music theory is to use your guitar as reference.

When you learn how to read guitar chords, this helps you lot play chords.

Chords grade A LOT of music theory, so if you know how to read guitar chords this can help you understand guitar theory.

How To Read Guitar Chords Using Music Notation

ninety% of beginner guitarists do not need to know how to read musical notation. However this skill can testify useful when yous become an intermediate/avant-garde guitarist.

Hither'southward what an Em chord looks similar on a stave: (This does wait a footling scary, but don't worry nigh learning this right at present!)

This format is known as:

• A Stave.
• Sheet Music.
• Music Score.

Each line on the stave represents a musical annotation.

Chords are created by using groups of notes. So when you see an Em chord on a score, each note of the chord is stacked on meridian of 1 another.

If you're a beginner guitarist you lot DON'T need to learn how to read music. It's non essential to learn guitar chords.

However, it can be incredibly useful to learn music score as it allows you to communicate with musicians who play other instruments.

 A trumpet histrion doesn't know how to read guitar tab or chord boxes. Still they understand music notation.

If you ever played with another musician, yous could communicate with them via music score.

Only learn how to read guitar chords on a musical score if yous're interested in learning nearly annotation or if yous need to for a specific gig.

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Join over 100,000 other guitar learners and subscribe to our guitar-tips-by-email service. (Information technology's complimentary.)

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Learn how everything fits together quickly, easily and finer. Nosotros share ninja tips (for instant fun!) only besides timeless fundamentals that will deepen your understanding.

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Source: https://nationalguitaracademy.com/how-to-read-guitar-chords/

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