Chords included

Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B - Minor: Am, Bm, Dm, Em, Fm - 7th: A7, C7, D7, E7, G7. More chords will be added over time.

How to read a chord diagram

Vertical lines represent the six guitar strings. From left to right: low E (thickest), A, D, G, B, and high e (thinnest). Horizontal lines are frets. An X above a string means it is muted (do not play). An O means it is played open (no finger). Filled dots show finger placement; numbers inside indicate which finger (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky). A curved bar spanning multiple strings means a barre chord-one finger holds down all those strings at that fret.

Chord families

Major: bright, happy, resolved sound. The foundation of most pop and folk music.
Minor: darker, more emotional or melancholic character than major chords.
Dominant 7th (e.g., G7): adds tension that wants to resolve; central to blues and jazz.
Major 7th (e.g., Cmaj7): dreamy, sophisticated sound common in jazz and bossa nova.
sus2 / sus4: suspended chords omit the third; neither major nor minor - open, ambiguous sound.

First chords for beginners

Chord	Type	Why start here
Em	Minor	Only 2 fingers; easiest chord on guitar
Am	Minor	3 fingers in a line; easy transition to E
C	Major	Very common; good finger stretch practice
G	Major	Appears in hundreds of songs
D	Major	Triangular shape; pairs with G and A
E	Major	Open chord; rich sound

Mastering these six "cowboy chords" unlocks hundreds of popular songs in open position.