3 Beginner Guitar Chords

Understanding beginner guitar chords is a big step forward for any guitarist. Once you get this under your fingers, you’ll start seeing the fretboard differently — and your playing will reflect that.

The three chords every beginner should learn first are G, C, and D. They’re in the same key, they sound great together, and countless hit songs have been written with just these three chords.

The 3 Beginner Chords

G Major

Place your 1st finger on the 5th string (2nd fret), 2nd finger on the 6th string (3rd fret), and 3rd finger on the 1st string (3rd fret). Strum all six strings.

If you want extra fullness, you can add your pinky to the 2nd string (3rd fret) and move your 3rd finger to the 1st string. Both voicings are correct G major chords.

C Major

Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string (1st fret), 2nd finger on the 4th string (2nd fret), and 3rd finger on the 5th string (3rd fret). Strum only the top five strings — hitting the low E washes out the chord.

D Major

This one’s often the easiest for beginners since you’re only using the top four strings. Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string (2nd fret), 2nd finger on the 1st string (2nd fret), and 3rd finger on the 2nd string (3rd fret). Strum only the top four strings.

Getting Clean Chords

If your chords sound buzzy or muted, try these fixes:

• Move your thumb back — Position it behind the neck rather than wrapped around. This gives your fingers more reach and leverage.
• Check your fingernails — If they’re too long, you won’t be able to press the strings down properly.
• Create an even arc — Curve your fingers so you’re pressing with the fingertips, not the pads.
• Be patient — Shift your hand around until each string rings clearly. This takes time.

Practice Your Changes

Once you can play each chord cleanly, practice switching between them:

G → C → D → G

Start slow. The goal is smooth transitions, not speed. If it doesn’t sound good, check your tuning and your finger positions — these chords sound great when played correctly.

Keep Learning

Once you’ve got G, C, and D down solid, you’re ready to expand. Check out the 6 basic guitar chords which adds Em, Am, and Bm to your vocabulary. Or if you’re struggling with these, try our simple guitar chords lesson with easier one-finger versions.

For help with transitions, see our lesson on changing chord shapes. And visit the Beginner Guitar Chords guide for more lessons at your level.