The Standard Fifteen

Most beginner guitarists start by learning these fifteen chords, often called the "open chords" because they make use of open strings and are thus easy to play.

A

A7

Am

B7

C

D

D7

Dm

E

E7

Em

F

G

G7

For fingerings, have a look at this site or this site. You can also consult pretty much any book on beginner guitar. For instance, the chord charts on pages of 74-75 of Ralph Denyer's ubiquitous Guitar Handbook are really nice (though I don't recommend this book otherwise.)

Here are the most common keys played by beginner guitarists, with the open chords you can use in them. Pick a key and try the chords within it. 'Diatonic' chords sound nice together in any order and in any combination. The other chords are more dissonant, but they've become familiar through years of common usage. Trust your ears!

	diatonic chords
	I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi
C major	C	Dm	Em	F	G7	Am
G major	G	Am	--	C	D7	Em
D major	D	Em	--	G	A7	--
A major	A	--	--	D	E7	--
E major	E	--	--	A	B7	--

	secondary dominants				blues-related chords
	V of V	V of ii	V of vi		blues I	blues IV	bVII
C major	D7	A7	E7		C7	--	--
G major	A7	E7	B7		G7	C7	F
D major	E7	B7	--		D7	G7	C
A major	B7	--	--		A7	D7	G
E major	--	--	--		E7	A7	D

	various minor chords
	I	bIII	iv	IV	v	V	bVI	bVII		V of V	bVI7
D minor	Dm	F	--	G7	Am	A7	--	C		E7	--
A minor	Am	C	Dm	D7	Em	E7	F	G		B7	--
E minor	Em	G	Am	A7	--	B7	C	D		--	C7

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