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Chords 101
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Everything you wanted to know about chords and strums (but were afraid to ask)
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To make an A chord, you can use either your index, middle, and ring fingers or your middle, ring, and pinky fingers. All those fingers will be crammed in at the second fret on the fourth, third, and second strings respectively. You can also use your index, middle, and ring fingers in another configuration. Try swapping your index and middle fingers, so your index finger is on the third string and your middle is on the fourth string (this may seem awkward, but it will actually make changing to the D and E chords easier). Strum every string except the sixth string.
  A Chord
Now try Example 9, which is similar to the Romantics’ huge ’80s hit “That’s What I Like About You.”
Example 9
Example 9, Played Slowly
In the same way that G, C, and D chords work well together, the E, A, and D chords also work well together. For example, you can use them to play that same “La Bamba”–style progression at a different pitch. (Try playing A, D, E, D instead of G, C, D, C and you’ll see what I mean.) I won’t go into great detail here about why certain chords work well together, but the upshot is that if you’re ready to sing along with your guitar, you may find one set of chords better suited to your vocal range than the other.
Minor Chords
Example 10 uses two minor chords; luckily, these are easy transitions from the major chords you already know. To make an E-minor chord (Em), start by playing an E chord. Then remove your ring finger from the third string. Voilŕ—Em!
E-minor Chord
To play A minor (Am), start by making the A-major chord with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers (remember the fingering options for A?). To go from A to Am, simply remove your pinky from the second string and place your index finger on the second string at the first fret.
A-minor Chord
Try these new chords out in Example 10, which is a chord progression from the Yardbirds’ song “For Your Love.” Play just one strum per measure.
Example 10
Example 10, Played Slowly
Example 11 is a cool progression that involves just two new chords. To make a D-minor chord, place your index finger on the high E at the first fret, your middle finger on the G string at the second fret, and your ring finger on the B string at the third fret. Now strum all the strings except the two lowest.
D-minor Chord
The transition from an A chord to an A7 is pretty simple. If you are using your index, middle, and ring fingers to make an A, simply remove your middle finger, leaving the G string open, and strum all the strings except the low E string.
A7 Chord
The next chord pattern is similar to the song “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
Example 11
Example 11, Played Slowly
Now that you have nine chords under your belt, you have the tools to play thousands of songs. Try using the chords in different combinations. See which chords work well together and which don’t. Try figuring out songs on your own—using your new chords, your ear, and a CD player, you can probably guess what some of the chords are in many popular songs. You might also try picking the notes of the chords one at a time instead of strumming. Finally, try making something up; you are only limited by your imagination.
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