Guitar — open chords

These eight shapes cover a lot of songs. Strings left to right: low E, A, D, G, B, high e. At the nut: ○ = open, × = muted.

Numbers under the diagram = fret from bass E to treble e (x = muted).

Barre chords (e.g. F) can wait. First get these clean and switching.

Piano / keys — triads

Each chord: root, third, fifth. Right hand: three notes together; left hand can play the root alone.

Harmony table (major)

In a major key these degrees fit together. Uppercase = major, lowercase = minor. Pick one row and read the chords in song order.

vii° is left out on purpose — I through vi is enough to start.

Common progressions

Roman numerals are the degrees. Below: the same moves in concrete keys.

• I–V–vi–IV
  • C C–G–Am–F
  • G G–D–Em–C
  • D D–A–Bm–G
• I–IV–V
  • C C–F–G
  • G G–C–D
  • A A–D–E
• vi–IV–I–V
  • C Am–F–C–G
  • G Em–C–G–D
  • D Bm–G–D–A
• I–vi–IV–V
  • C C–Am–F–G
  • G G–Em–C–D
  • A A–F♯m–D–E