Beginner Guitar Lesson #4 - Chord G and C

Ok, you've reached to the fourth lesson. In this lesson we're gonna add two more chords to your memory store.

I will now give you tab for the G Major chord.

E||------3-------|
B||------0-------|
G||------0-------|
D||------0-------|
A||------2-------|
E||------3-------|

The G Major chord contains the notes G, B and D. It is played using fingers 1, 2, and 3. Finger 1 plays a B note, finger 2 plays a G note, and finger 3 also plays G note. According to the music theory G Major chord must contain the notes B, G and D. On the G major chord tab above, the D note is sounded by the open D string (4th string). It is important to know that the open string notes are included when playing chords, and not just the notes played by your fingers.

Exercise for the G Major chord.

E||--3---3---3---3--|--3---3---3---3--|
B||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
A||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
E||--3---3---3---3--|--3---3---3---3--|

I will now give you tab for the C Major chord.

E||------0-------|
B||------1-------|
G||------0-------|
D||------2-------|
A||------3-------|
E||------x-------|

The C Major chord is constructed of the notes C, E and G. It is played using fingers 1, 2 and 3.

Exercise for the C Major chord.

E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--1---1---1---1--|--1---1---1---1--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--3---3---3---3--|--3---3---3---3--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

Guess what? It is time for another exercise. :)

Strum ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
Count 1 2 3 4

     D                 A     
E||--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--3---3---3---3--|--2---2---2---2--|
G||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--x---x---x---x--|--0---0---0---0--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

     C                 G
  |--0---0---0---0--|--3---3---3---3--|
  |--1---1---1---1--|--0---0---0---0--|
  |--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
  |--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
  |--3---3---3---3--|--2---2---2---2--|
  |--x---x---x---x--|--3---3---3---3--|

D string is also known as the fourth string. The notes in the first position that are on the fourth string are D (open), E (2nd fret) and F (3rd fret). It is played using fingers 2 and 3.

Now, pluck the fourth string notes with a downward picking motion.

E||--------------|--------------|
B||--------------|--------------|
G||--------------|--------------|
D||--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|
A||--------------|--------------|
E||--------------|--------------|
Count 1  2  3  4    1  2  3  4
Fingering none           2

  |--------------|--------------|
  |--------------|--------------|
  |--------------|--------------|
  |--3--3--3--3--|--2--2--2--2--|
  |--------------|--------------|
  |--------------|--------------|
     1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4
         2              3

I recommend you to get jam tracks for all these exercises on Jamorama. It will definitely improve your skill.

Keep rockin',
Mike