NEW !! : Learning chords - Part 1 - Beginner level Learning chords - Part 2 - Intermediate level - CAGED It is a must that you know and understand the CAGED system before learning this. These chord shapes are commonly used by every advanced player. I always advise my students to learn them so they can be played instantly. I have indicated each time from which shape (CAGED) the chord is derived. Of course there are more chord shapes, but these are really fundamentals to learn. Printable version in the bottom of this document Created by Peter Bos The above image in PDF format for download or to print. NEW !! : Learning chords - Part 1 - Beginner level Learning chords - Part 2 - Intermediate level - CAGED

See also my chapters on : • diatonic triads • diatonic arpeggios. NEW !! : Learning chords - Part 1 - Beginner level Learning chords - Part 2 - Intermediate level Make sure you study also the CAGED system There are 4 main types of arpeggios people should know. All other arpeggios can be easily derived from that. • dominant 7th (7) • minor 7th (m7, -7) • major 7th (maj7, Δ7) • Half Dim or m7b5 Important is to know exactly where the root note is located, based on that one can easily build the arpeggios. In addition if you understand the CAGED system you will know that the same shapes apply for any chord. I used always A in the images below but as I said it is similar for all chords. Look also at the shapes that repeatedly come back. Dominant 7th arpeggios Minor 7th arpeggios Major 7th arpeggios Minor 7th/b5 arpeggios See also my chapters on : • diatonic triads • diatonic arpeggios. NEW !! : Learning chords - Part 1 - Beginner level Learning chords - Part 2 - Intermediate level Make sure you study also the CAGED system

G and F are 2 shapes some novice players sometimes have difficulties with. I teach my students to use the C shape as a reference to move to the G and F chord. Once you can play the C chord very well (see also : Less struggle to learn the C chord.) it is relative easy to move to G or F as your fingers are almost not moving. G - chord • step 1 : play C and leave your fingers as they are • step 2 : move your middle and ring finger 1 string up • step 3 : move your wrist a little down so your pinky comes above the E string on fret 3 • step 4 : place your pinky • step 5 : lift your indexfinger • step 6 : Exercise this by repeating, | C | G | C | G |.... F - chord • step 1 : play C and leave your fingers as they are • step 2 : move your middle and ring finger 1 string down • step 3 : move your wrist a little up • step 4 : flatten your index finger (which is still on string 2 in fret 1) so the high string gets covered also. • step 5 : Exercise this by repeating, | C | F | C | F |.... I know many youtube tutorials say that the G chord needs to be played with other fingers but I teach it this way because this shape is more usefull once you start playing chords like G7 or other variations of the G chord. NEW !! : Learning chords - Part 1 - Beginner level Learning chords - Part 2 - Intermediate level See also: • Basic minor chords • Basic major chords • F & B chord • Barre chords • My opinion on the sequence on how to learn guitar. • Less struggle to learn the C chord. written by Peter Bos