How to Read Chord Diagrams:
Chord Diagrams are relatively easy to read once you understand what all of the lines and dots stand for.
Chord Diagrams Represent the Fingerboard:
Basically a Chord Diagram is a graphic image of a portion of the guitar fingerboard that shows the 6 strings of the guitar and a varying number of frets – usually from 3 to 5 frets.
There are quite a few graphic symbols used in Chord Diagrams and it will be very usefull for you to know what each of these means. Shown below is are standard chord diagrams, which shows the three chords that are in the Key of C Major. They are C, F and G7.
Note The Following In These Diagrams:
The lines going from the top to the bottom are the strings (one line for each of 6 strings).
The Dark Line at the top of each diagram is the Guitar Nut.
The Small Circles above the Guitar Nut stand for Open Strings – do not finger these.
The lines going from left to right are the frets. There are 5 frets shown in these diagrams.
The Roman Numerals to the right of each diagram stand for the fret number (III = 3rd Fret)(V = 5th Fret).
The solid circles with the numbers are your Left Hand fingers, used to play each note.
The letters beneath each string at the bottom of the diagram are the actual notes you are playing.
The Arced Line at the top of the F chord stands for a bar chord. You place your first finger across all six strings and press them down.
Let’s Explore the C Chord – The First One In The List:
Play the 1st String Open -to play an E note – no fingers touch the Strings.
Place your 1st Finger on the 2nd String, 1st Fret – to play a C note.
Play the 3rd String Open – to play a G note – no finger touch the Strings.
Place your 2nd Finger on the 4th String, 2nd Fret – to play an E note.
Place your 3rd Finger on the 5th String, 3rd Fret – to play a C note.
Play the 6th String Open – to play an E note- no fingers touch the Strings.
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Tags: chord diagrams, Guitar Chords, how to play chords, how to read chord diagrams
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