Acoustic Guitar lessons chords Part 3

Acoustic Guitar lessons chords Part 3 – Am & E chords

In this third part of my acoustic guitar lessons chords you are going to learn the Am chord and the E chord. Last time we learn the two basic easy chords which is the G minor and the D chord. These chords are the easiest chords to play. Not only that, it is also one of the most used guitar chord in any song. These chords are the most basic open position guitar chords. An open position chord is one that contains at least one open string. And if you’re a beginner, these are the first chords that you should learn.

Let’s start with the Am (A minor) chord. The Am chord pattern is shown below in figure 1. To play this put your finger 2 on the 2^nd fret of D string, finger 3 is in 2^nd fret G string and finger 1 on 1st fret of B string. The 0 means you play the open string and an open string is where you don't touch the string with your left hand finger. Then strum down all the 5 strings starting from A string. Make sure that all the notes of the chords sounded. How to check this? Simple, pick each string individually from the 6th string to the 1st string. This will help you make sure that all of the notes of the chord are sounding.

e-------0------------------------------------------------ High e (smallest string)

B-------1-----------------------------------------------

G-------2-----------------------------------------------

D-------2-----------------------------------------------

A-------0-----------------------------------------------

E-------------------------------------------------------- Low E (biggest string)

Figure 1

And once again, all the notes on 5 strings should be sounding perfectly. Strum all the 5 strings down and up strokes. Then count each time you strum. Count 1, 2, 3, 4 and also 1 & 2 & 3 & 4.

Try to play a basic 2 chord progression with the Am and the C chord that we learn in the previous acoustic guitar lessons. You’ll find it easier to shift from Am to C chord because you’ll shift only one finger which is the 3^rd finger. You have to practice switching between these 2 chords. Keeping a steady beat and counting. Strum the Am chord 4 times at the count of 1, 2, 3, 4 and then shift to C chord. Again play the C chord 4 times at the count of 1, 2, 3, 4. Try not to stop because your goal here is to switch between chords with perfect timing and it sounds the best as possible.

The Next acoustic guitar lessons chords is the E chord. E chord has the same pattern with Am chord. To play this, put your finger 2 on the 2^nd fret of A string, finger 3 is on 2^nd fret of D string and finger 1 on 1^st fret of G string. The 0 means you play the open string and an open string is where you don't touch the string with your left hand finger. Then strum down all the 6 strings. Make sure that all the notes of the chords sounded.

e-------0------------------------------------------------ High e (smallest string)

B-------0-----------------------------------------------

G-------1-----------------------------------------------

D-------2-----------------------------------------------

A-------2-----------------------------------------------

E-------0------------------------------------------------- Low E (biggest string)

Figure 2

And once again, all the notes on all string should be sounding perfectly; strum all the strings down and up strokes. Then count each time you strum. Count 1, 2, 3, 4 and also 1 & 2 & 3 & 4.

Now its time play a basic chord progression with all the acoustic guitar lessons chords that we have learned. You have to practice switching between chords effectively. Keeping a steady beat and counting.

Try to play the following Chord progression shown below

1. Em – Am – C – G

2. G – Em – D – G

3. E – Am – D – G

4. G – Em – Am – D

Strum the first chord 4 times at the count of 1, 2, 3, 4 and then shift to the next chord. Do the same thing again to the remaining chords.