Essential guitar chord diagrams for beginners and pros. Search by name or browse by category.
A chord is multiple notes played simultaneously. On guitar, chords are formed by pressing down specific frets on specific strings and strumming. Most chords are built from 3 notes (triads), though many add extra notes for color.
The foundation—bright, happy sounds
C, G, D, E, A
Sad, melancholic, emotional
Am, Em, Dm
Moveable shapes for any key
F, Bm, B
Bluesy, jazzy tension
G7, C7, D7, A7, E7
Guitar chord diagrams (or chord boxes) are visual representations of the fretboard:
Learn these 4 chords to play hundreds of songs:
Browse our full library of guitar chord diagrams. Each page includes finger positions, note details, and variations.
Vertical lines represent strings (thickest on left). Horizontal lines are frets. Dots show where to place fingers. 'X' means don't play that string, 'O' means play it open.
Start with open chords: C, G, D, E, Em, Am, and A. These appear in thousands of songs and don't require difficult finger stretches.
'Sus' stands for suspended. The 3rd of the chord is replaced by a 2nd (Sus2) or 4th (Sus4), creating a more open, unresolved sound.
A barre chord uses one finger (usually the index) to press down multiple strings at once, acting like a moveable 'nut'. This lets you play any chord anywhere on the neck.
This is called 'enharmonic equivalence'. For example, F#m and Gbm are the same chord—the naming depends on the musical context (key signature).