No Finger E minor

Your first chord! Remember chords are more than one note being played at the same time. Strum all three strings at the same time nice and quickly.

One Finger G

Here's your second chord. Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string.

Switching between easy Em and G

Now take some time to practise switching between your first two chords!

Adding another String to Em

To make the Em sound more full and deep we're adding the second fret of the D string. Use your ring finger to apply pressure and the strum all four strings.

Adding another String to G

Like we just did with the Em, we'll add another string to the G to thicken it up. Your ring finger will stay on the high E string, but now you'll include the open D string in your strum.

Switching between 4-string Em and G

Practice alternating between both of these new 4-string chords!

Spider Legs Exercise

This fantastic exercise helps build dexterity and accuracy in your fingers. Practice it as often as you can. Use a metronome to slow it down or speed it up!

Full Em Chord

Here it is! Your first full guitar chord. 6 strings of power! Use your 'Spiderman Fingers' to quickly find this chord.

Make sure each string can be heard clearly and adjust your fingers if needed.

Am Chord

'Kangaroo jump' your two fingers from the Em up to the D and G strings and then plant your pointer finger on the first fret of the B string. You've got an Am chord.

Again, make sure each string can be heard clearly and adjust your fingers if needed. It helps to push your wrist forward so your fingers can wrap around more.

C Chord

From the Am chord, simply stretch your ring finger up to the 3rd fret of the A string. You might need to adjust your grip on the neck to make the stretch. Be patient with this chord and practice it often. You will get it, in time!

Playing with Em, Am and C

Here's a little exercise to get you playing in time with these three chords. You'll have one beat to make the transition to the next chord.

Full G chord

Your fourth chord, G! This is a great 6-string chord that sounds warm and powerful. Once you master it and the other three chords, you'll be able to play heaps of simple rock and pop songs.

Jam #1 - Rainy Day - Pat Preston

Here's a little track to get you changing through each chord. Notice that you'll play the lowest note of each chord on its own before strumming the whole chord. Start slow in your own time and when you're ready, play along with the video.

Jam #2 - Firework - Katy Perry

Here's a simplified version of the famous song. You only need to strum the chords once at the beginning of each bar.

Jam #3 - T.N.T. - AC/DC

Let's take a break from chords and work on a riff. This famous riff by AC/DC uses only the low E string. You'll use your pointer and ring fingers to get the sounds and timing right.