Beginner Guitar: 7 Chords You Can Learn This Week

If you’re new to guitar, learning a small set of high-utility chords will let you play real songs fast. Here are 7 beginner-friendly chords to learn this week, plus a simple practice plan.

The 7 chords

• Em

• G

• C

• D

• Am

• E

• A

A 15-minute daily practice plan

• 2 minutes: finger placement check (slow)

• 5 minutes: chord changes (Em↔G, C↔D, Am↔E)

• 5 minutes: strumming on one chord (steady downstrokes)

• 3 minutes: play a 2-chord loop and keep time

Common mistakes to avoid

• Pressing too hard (use just enough pressure)

• Thumb creeping over the top (keep it behind the neck)

• Changing chords without a steady rhythm (use a metronome)

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