27.2 · Guitar Chords
The open shapes
Five major chords live in the first three frets, helped by open strings: E, A, D, G, C. Each is a triad you already know how to build. The guitar just doubles its three notes across as many strings as it can reach.
The five open shapes
Tap a diagram to strum it. The ring marks the root, the letters show what each string plays, an × means the string stays silent. Fingers are numbered under each column.
Six strings, three notes
Strum E major and read the strings, low to high: E B E G♯ B E. Six strings, but only the three notes of the E triad. The doubling is what makes a strummed chord sound big.
E B E G♯ B E
Quiz
1 / 3A strummed E major uses six strings. How many different notes ring?