Sure it’s easier to write it than to do it when you’re just starting out, but here are the basic chords on a guitar. You’ll tend to notice that some of them are only played with others, so you have two options: Start with the chords that are easier for you, then find songs you can play; or find the songs you want to play and learn the chords that are in them first.

Eventually, you’ll know them all inside and out, but if you’re just starting, concentrate on one or two chords and practice going back and forth between them. When you are ready for a new chord, practice it, then practice going between the three that are now in your arsenal. Once you have that down, just keep adding them one at a time — each time going back and practicing transitions between them all.

Believe it or not, this will get you to learn the chords in a short time, and more importantly, get you to be able to go from one chord to the next, a crucial ingredient in making a song sound like it should.

Practice these (major chords, at least) until you are sick of them. The minors that seem easier than the others are not coincidentally used far more often, so practice what your fingers can handle.

Once you learn all of these and have a few songs that sound OK to you, step on up to barre chords and watch your song selection shoot through the roof.

No strings played = 000000
Basic tuning = EADGBe
x = Don’t play that string

Major Chords

A - x02220
B - x24442
C - x32010
D - xx0232
E - 022100
F - 133211 or xx3211
G - 320003 or 320033

Minor Chords

Am - x02210
Bm - x24432
Cm - x35543
Dm - xx0231
Em - 022000
Fm - 133111
Gm - 355333

Photo Credit: evilmutent