A guitar chord diagram is a picture of the neck of the guitar, seen from the front. The vertical lines are the strings, the horizontal lines are the frets, and the dots show where to put your fingers. Once you can read one, you can learn any chord from a chart.
The parts of a chord diagram
- Vertical lines = strings. The thickest string, low E, is on the left. The thinnest, high E, is on the right. From left to right: E, A, D, G, B, E.
- Horizontal lines = frets. A thick line at the top is the nut, which means the diagram starts at the first fret.
- Dots = where to press. Press the string just behind the fret wire in that space.
- O above a string = play it open. Strum that string without pressing it.
- X above a string = do not play it. Skip it or mute it lightly with a finger.
The diagrams in our chord library follow exactly this layout, with the string names printed under each diagram.
Example: C major
The open C major chord looks like this on a diagram:
- Low E string: X (do not play)
- A string: 3rd fret
- D string: 2nd fret
- G string: open
- B string: 1st fret
- High E string: open
Strum from the A string down, and you are playing C, E, G, C and E: the notes of a C major chord.
Barre chords
A barre means one finger presses several strings at the same fret. Diagrams show it as a curved line or a long bar across those strings. For example, F major is usually played with your first finger barring all six strings at the 1st fret.
Barre chords are movable. Slide the same shape up the neck and it becomes a different chord. Every chord page in our library shows two movable shapes, one with the root on the 6th string and one with the root on the 5th string.
Chords higher up the neck
When a chord sits higher up the neck, the diagram has no thick nut line at the top. Instead, a number such as 5fr or 7fr next to the top fret tells you which fret the diagram starts on. For example, the second B minor shape on our chord page starts at the 7th fret.
Finger numbers
Some diagrams put a number inside each dot to suggest which finger to use:
- 1 = index finger
- 2 = middle finger
- 3 = ring finger
- 4 = little finger
- T = thumb (sometimes used to fret the low E string)
These are suggestions. Use the fingering that lets the chord ring clearly and lets you change to the next chord quickly.
Reading chord tabs: x32010
You will often see a chord written as six characters, such as x32010. This is the same information as a diagram, written as text, from the low E string to the high E string:
| String | E | A | D | G | B | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
x32010 (C major) |
x | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
320003 (G major) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
xx0232 (D major) |
x | x | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
x means do not play, 0 means play open, and any other number is the fret to press. When a chord goes above fret 9, the frets are sometimes separated with dashes, such as 8-10-10-9-8-8, so that two-digit numbers are not confused. Every chord in our library shows its tab under the diagram.
Left-handed players
Standard diagrams are drawn for right-handed guitars. If you play left-handed, mirror the diagram: the low E string is on the right.
Tips for learning new chords
- Place one finger at a time, then strum each string slowly to check every note rings.
- Press close to the fret wire, not in the middle of the space. You need less pressure there.
- Practise changing between two chords, not just holding one. A metronome helps: change on every fourth click, then every second. Try our online metronome.
- Learn chords in the order songs use them. G, C and D cover a lot of songs, as our guide to common chord progressions shows.
Frequently asked questions
What does X mean on a guitar chord chart?
Do not play that string. Either avoid strumming it or rest a finger lightly on it so it stays silent.
What does O mean on a chord diagram?
Play that string open, without pressing any fret.
Which side is the low E string on a chord diagram?
The left side. Diagrams show the neck as if the guitar is standing upright facing you, so strings go from low E on the left to high E on the right.
What does 5fr mean on a chord chart?
The diagram starts at the 5th fret instead of the first. Count frets from there.
Ready to practise? Browse all 72 chords in the chord library, or move a song to an easier key with the Chord Transposer. Thinking about a teacher? See how much guitar lessons cost.
