Tips & Tutorials | September 4, 2024

How to Expand Your Guitar Chord Repertoire

Exploring minor, barre, and 7th chords

Person playing a chord on a guitar

Learning to play the guitar can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience when you're first starting out. There’s just so much to learn. But as iconic country music songwriter Harlan Howard famously said, “All you need is three chords and the truth.” 

A few blog posts back, we covered the basic chords, also known as “cowboy chords,” and how they can open a world of songs for you. Now, let's take things up a notch and explore a few more chords that can go beyond the first or open position. 

Don't forget, The Martin Lesson Room, powered by the innovative learning tools of TrueFire, is also a great way to help learn and unleash your musical potential. 

Person playing up the neck on a guitar

Expanding Your Chord Repertoire 

Now that you've mastered the “basic” chords – G major, C major, D major, A major, and E major – it's time to experiment with some new finger placements and start moving around the neck. This part of your playing journey will introduce you to new sounds and more complex songs, keeping things fresh and exciting. Let's dive into some essential next steps. 

Exploring the CAGED System 

The CAGED system is a method that helps you navigate the fretboard by understanding how the five basic chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D) can be moved up and down the neck. This system is incredibly useful for visualizing chord shapes and playing in different keys. 

For example, if you know the C major shape in the first or open position, you can move this shape up the neck to play other major chords. The same goes for the other chords in the CAGED system. Take some time to experiment for yourself and see what catches your ear.  

By mastering these shapes and understanding their relationships, you can play chords and scales in any key, improve your improvisation skills, and become a more versatile and confident guitarist. 

Barre Chords: Unlocking the Fretboard 

Barre chords are a real game-changer. They involve using one finger to press down multiple strings across a single fret, essentially creating a moveable nut. This technique allows you to play chords in a lot of different positions on the fretboard. We’ll stay in the first position for now to keep things simple. Here are a few examples to add to your arsenal: 

Note: When reading a chord diagram, vertical lines represent the guitar strings, with the thickest (low E) string on the left and the thinnest (high E) on the right. Horizontal lines represent the frets, with the top line being the nut. Dots or numbers on these lines show where to place your fingers, with numbers indicating which finger to use (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky). An "X" means you don't play that string, while an "O" means you play the string open. The chord name is also written at the top of the diagram. 

F Major chord diagram

To play an F major chord, place your index finger across all six strings at the first fret. Your ring and pinky fingers should press down on the third fret of the A and D strings, while your middle finger presses the second fret of the G string. Strum all the strings from the low E string to the high E string.

B Minor chord diagram

For a B minor chord, place your index finger across all six strings at the second fret. Your ring and pinky fingers should press down on the fourth fret of the D and G strings, while your middle finger presses the third fret of the B string. Strum from the A string down to the high E string. 

B Major chord diagram

The B major chord is another essential major chord that can be played as a barre chord. This chord often comes up in many popular songs and can be a bit challenging for beginners, but with practice, you'll get it down in no time. 

To play a B major chord, place your index finger across all six strings at the second fret. Your ring finger should press down on the fourth fret of the D, G, and B strings. Strum from the A string down to the high E string. 


Minor Chords: Adding Emotional Depth to Your Playing 

Now that you’ve pretty much mastered the major chords and barre chords, minor chords can help bring a different, often more emotive quality to your music. Staying in first position, here are some essential minor chords to learn: 

A Minor chord diagram
E Minor chord diagram
D MInor chord diagram

Incorporating 7th Chords 

Adding what’s known as 7th chords to your playing can also add richness and complexity to your sound. Here are a few to get you started: 

A7 Chord Diagram
E7 Chord Diagram
G7 Chord Diagram

Practice and Resources 

As you continue to expand your chord knowledge, it's essential to practice regularly. Playing along with songs and backing tracks can also be incredibly helpful. 

Here are some classic songs that incorporate a mix of major, minor, and 7th chords: 

  • “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King (A, F#m, D, E) 
  • “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan (G, D, Am, C) 
  • “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton (G, D, C, Em) 
  • “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals (Am, C, D, F, E, E7, F7, Dm) 
  • “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers (Am, Em, G, Dm) 

For a structured learning path, consider using resources like The Martin Lesson Room powered by TrueFire. This platform offers a wealth of lessons from professional guitarists to help you advance your skills. 

Remember, the journey of learning guitar is filled with milestones and challenges. You’ll have plenty of frustrations, fears, and desires along the way. But don’t be discouraged by the difficulties of leaning new chords, scales, and songs. With practice and persistence, anything is possible. 

Keep Harlan Howard’s words in mind – sometimes, all you need are “three chords and the truth.” 

Stay tuned for more tips and tales from the Martin blog. And as always, keep playing!