120 Essential Guitar Chords Every Guitarist Should KnowGuitar playing can be a deeply rewarding journey, but mastering the instrument requires a solid understanding of its foundational elements. One of these key components is chords. Whether you’re a beginner just starting or a seasoned player looking to expand your repertoire, knowing a wide variety of chords is crucial. This article will explore 120 essential guitar chords that every guitarist should know, helping you enhance your playing skills and musical creativity.
Understanding Guitar Chords
Before diving into the chords themselves, it’s important to grasp what a chord is. A chord is a combination of three or more notes played together. The most common chords fall into a few categories:
- Major Chords: Bright and happy-sounding, these chords are often used in upbeat songs.
- Minor Chords: These have a more somber tone and are frequently found in ballads and reflective pieces.
- Diminished Chords: These chords create tension and dissonance, often used in transitional sections.
- Augmented Chords: Similar to diminished chords, these have a unique sound that can add interest to your music.
The Importance of Knowing Many Chords
Having a diverse chord vocabulary enables you to:
- Enhance Creativity: Different chords can inspire new melodies and song ideas.
- Improve Playing Skills: Familiarity with various chords can increase your dexterity and comfort on the guitar.
- Play Various Genres: Different musical styles often rely on different chords, so broadening your chord knowledge lets you tackle a range of genres.
The 120 Essential Guitar Chords
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of 120 essential guitar chords, categorized for easier memorization.
A Major Family
- A
- A7
- Amaj7
- A6
- A minor (Am)
- A minor 7 (Am7)
- A major 9 (AM9)
- A suspended 2 (Asus2)
- A suspended 4 (Asus4)
B Major Family
- B
- B7
- Bmaj7
- B6
- B minor (Bm)
- B minor 7 (Bm7)
- B major 9 (BM9)
- B suspended 2 (Bsus2)
- B suspended 4 (Bsus4)
C Major Family
- C
- C7
- Cmaj7
- C6
- C minor (Cm)
- C minor 7 (Cm7)
- C major 9 (CM9)
- C suspended 2 (Csus2)
- C suspended 4 (Csus4)
D Major Family
- D
- D7
- Dmaj7
- D6
- D minor (Dm)
- D minor 7 (Dm7)
- D major 9 (DM9)
- D suspended 2 (Dsus2)
- D suspended 4 (Dsus4)
E Major Family
- E
- E7
- Emaj7
- E6
- E minor (Em)
- E minor 7 (Em7)
- E major 9 (EM9)
- E suspended 2 (Esus2)
- E suspended 4 (Esus4)
F Major Family
- F
- F7
- Fmaj7
- F6
- F minor (Fm)
- F minor 7 (Fm7)
- F major 9 (FM9)
- F suspended 2 (Fsus2)
- F suspended 4 (Fsus4)
G Major Family
- G
- G7
- Gmaj7
- G6
- G minor (Gm)
- G minor 7 (Gm7)
- G major 9 (GM9)
- G suspended 2 (Gsus2)
- G suspended 4 (Gsus4)
Power Chords
- E5
- A5
- B5
- C5
- D5
- F5
- G5
Extended Chords
- Cmaj9
- Dmaj9
- Emaj9
- Fmaj9
- Gmaj9
- Amaj9
- Bmaj9
Altered Chords
- A7b9
- A7#9
- B7b9
- C7b9
- D7b9
- E7b9
7th Chords
- A