10 Beginner Guitar Chords You MUST Know [FREE]

In the vast landscape of music, there's a common misconception that you need to master an exhaustive number of chords to play a wide range of songs. However, you can play thousands of popular songs across all genres using just ten foundational guitar chords: E, A, D, G, C, Em (E minor), Am (A minor), D7, A7, and F.

Let's explore some of the most popular chord progressions using these chords and highlight a few classic songs that are built on these combinations.

I-IV-V (E-A-B)
The I-IV-V chord progression is one of the most common in popular music, used extensively in blues and rock'n'roll. Unfortunately, our chord list doesn't include B or B7. However, many rock and blues songs transpose this progression to other keys, and one of them is A-D-E, which is just as common and easy to play.

I-V-vi-IV (G-D-Em-C)
This progression became very popular in pop music of the 21st century, and it's noted for its recurring presence in many hit songs.

This is a staple in jazz music, but it also found its place in many pop, rock, and folk tunes.

I-VI-IV-V (C-Am-F-G)
This progression is also known as the '50s progression due to its prevalence in the pop music of that era.

I-IV-vii (D-G-C)
This progression, while not as common as the others, can still be found in a variety of songs in genres from folk to pop and rock.

Blues Progression (A-D7-A-E7-A7)
The 12-bar blues progression is a key feature in blues music, which has deeply influenced rock and pop. It's usually played with dominant 7th chords, but using major and minor chords instead can give it a more rock or folk flavor.

Mastering these chords and progressions can truly unlock a vast repertoire of songs. Of course, there's so much more to guitar playing than just strumming chords - rhythm, dynamics, tone, and many other aspects come into play. But understanding and practicing these ten chords will give you a solid foundation to explore the universe of music.

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You can loop, slow down, or speed up any section of a lesson. Plus, all of the tab and notation is synced to the videos for the optimal learning experience. You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and all of the backing tracks to practice with.

Grab your guitar and lets play songs!