3 Common Chords

3 Common Chords

Chords are the “language of guitar”. Every style of guitar uses them, including classical guitar.  Below are three of the most common.

Some people think chords are just for folk music.  But in fact, these three chords are as common in Bach and Beethoven as they are in any other style.  Chords are part of guitar, and one of your highest-leverage practice areas.

In fact, about 80% of classical guitar music uses chords in the left hand.  The remaining 20% is mostly scales and single-note lines.

So any work you do on chords is time well-spent.

Practice switching these back and forth.

Click here to print a cheat-sheet of these chords.

Practice Tips:

• Keep your thumb behind your fingers.
• Practice placing each finger down first, in turn.
• Practice in short bursts – sprints not marathons.
• Ignore the right hand.
• Don’t nitpick – keep switching between them.
• Practice from memory. Don’t look until you’ve tried to remember.
• Only move on to new chords once you feel totally comfortable with these.