A chord is two or more notes played together. Learning your first chords opens up hundreds of songs. This lesson teaches the C chord and G7 chord — two of the most important chords in music.
A chord is made when two or more notes are played together at the same time. Chords are named after notes of the musical scale — the C Chord, D Chord, G Chord, and so on. Open chords use open strings alongside fretted notes, giving a full, resonant sound that is perfect for accompanying songs.
The C chord uses three fingers on three different strings. Place them like this:
| Finger 1 | String 2, Fret 1 |
| Finger 2 | String 4, Fret 2 |
| Finger 3 | String 5, Fret 3 |
| × String 6 | Do NOT play this string |
| ○ Strings 1, 3 | Play these open (no finger) |
Strum downward from string 5. Check each string rings clearly by plucking one at a time.
After forming the chord, pluck each string individually from string 5 to string 1. Every note should ring clearly. If any string buzzes or thuds, adjust the finger closest to that string — press more firmly, or move the fingertip closer to the fret.
G7 is similar in shape to C — two of the three fingers move to neighbouring strings. Make the G7 chord like this:
| Finger 1 | String 1, Fret 1 |
| Finger 2 | String 5, Fret 2 |
| Finger 3 | String 6, Fret 3 |
| ○ Strings 2, 3, 4 | Play these open |
G7 has a tense, unresolved sound that naturally wants to return to C — which is why they always appear together.
Notice what happens when you move between C and G7. This side-by-side comparison shows which fingers move and which stay in a similar position:
Move one string each toward the thicker strings. The shape stays the same — just slides over.
Jumps from string 2 to string 1. This is the only finger that changes position significantly.
Count slowly and tap your foot. Play C for four beats, then change to G7 for four beats. Do not pause — count through the change without breaking the rhythm. When you can do this smoothly without hesitating, gradually speed up.
| C | / | / | / | | | G7 | / | / | / | | | C | … |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 … | |||
/ = one strum. Change chord on beat 1. Never stop the count.
The key to smooth chord changes is moving all fingers simultaneously in one motion — not one finger at a time. Practise the change slowly without strumming first, until the movement is automatic. Speed follows accuracy — never rush it.
Everything guitarists ask about this topic
The easiest chords to learn first are C, G7, and G major — they use only two or three fingers and appear in hundreds of songs. Once you can change smoothly between C and G7, you will be able to play the chord backing for many popular tunes.
Buzzing chords usually mean one of these problems: a finger is not close enough to the fret it is pressing behind, a finger is accidentally touching an adjacent string, not enough pressure is being applied, or fingernails are too long. Press each string firmly with the fingertip and check each note rings clearly.
With daily practice, most beginners can form clean C and G7 chords within a week or two, and begin changing between them within a month. The change between chords is the real challenge — it requires muscle memory that only comes with repetition. Short daily sessions produce faster results than occasional long ones.
A chord diagram shows the guitar fingerboard from the front. Vertical lines are the strings (thickest on the left), horizontal lines are frets, and dots show where to place each finger. A number inside a dot tells you which finger to use. An X above a string means do not play that string. A circle means play that string open.
The C chord is one of the foundational chords of Western music. It appears in hundreds of songs across pop, folk, rock, and classical styles. It is also the starting point for understanding keys, scales, and music theory on the guitar. Mastering C and its related chords (F, G, Am) unlocks a huge repertoire of music.