Your first 4 chords

The 4 chords

The number in each dot tells you which finger to use: 1 for your index, 2 for your middle, 3 for your ring finger. An × means “don’t play this string,” and an ○ means “play it open.” Click a chord to hear it.

Each chord has its own detailed page: E minor, C, G, D.

How to go about it

1. Start with E minor. Just two fingers, and you play every string. Strum once and listen: every string should ring.
2. A string sounds muted? Curve your fingers and press with the tips, right behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret.
3. Add G, then C, then D. For C and D, don’t strum the strings marked with an ×.
4. Put them together with the exercise below. Keep the beat going even if the chord sounds bad: steady comes before clean.

Guided exercise

Strum once per beat. Change chords when the orange dot comes back around.

Practice with real songs

Zombie by the Cranberries uses exactly Em, C, G and D, in that order. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door uses G, D and C, plus A minor, which you’ll learn a little later in this step, in the lesson Three new chords: A minor, E major, A major.

You’ve got it when…

• All 4 chords ring out with no muted strings
• You can play Em, C, G, D at 60 bpm without stopping
• You can do it at 80 without looking at your fretting hand