In the last lesson, we have discussed 5 open dominant 7th chords that a guitarist should know. Due to the good response, we have decided to list out 24 open position guitar chords that you must know as a guitarist. This list of chords include open major, minor , dominant 7th, major 7th and minor 7th chords.
In the starting phase, learning chords and applying them in playing songs is fun and motivating. Unlike barre and other exotic chords, the open position chords are best to start with as a beginner.
Open guitar chords are easy to learn because they have the simplest finger position, unlike barre chords where you have to fret all the 6 strings.
Note: Open chords involve some strings that are left to ring open along with the fretted notes. That is the reason they are named open chords.
1. A Major Open
To hold the A major open chord, place your second finger on the second fret of D string, third finger on the second fret of G string and fourth finger on second fret of B string.
2. A Minor Open
Place your first finger on first fret of B string, second finger on second fret of D string and third finger on second fret of G string to form A minor chord.
3. A7 Open
Place your first finger on second fret of D string and second finger on second fret of B string to form open A7 chord. A7 is also called A dominant 7.
4. Am7 Open
Place your first finger on first fret of B string and second finger on second fret to form open Am7 chord.
5. Amaj7 Open
Place your first finger on first fret of G string, second finger on second fret of D string and third finger on second fret of B string to form open Amaj7 chord.
6. B Flat Open
Place your first finger on first fret of A string, second finger on third fret of D string, third finger on third fret of G string and fourth finger on third fret of B string to form open B♭ chord.
7. B7 Open
Place your first finger first fret of D string, second finger on second fret of A string, third finger on second fret of G string and fourth finger on second fret of high E string to form open B7 chord. B7 is also called B dominant 7.
8. B Minor Open
Place your first finger on second fret of A string, second finger on fourth fret of D string, third finger on fourth fret of G string and fourth finger on third fret of B string to form open B minor chord.
9. C Major Open
Place your first finger on first fret of B string, second finger on second fret of D string and third finger on third fret of A string to form open C major chord. This is one of the most common open chords used by guitarists.
10. C Dominant 7 Open
Place your first finger on first fret of B string, second finger on second fret of D string, third finger on third fret of A string and fourth finger on third fret of G string to form open C7 chord.
11. Cmaj7 Open
Place your second finger on the second fret of D string and third finger on the third fret of A string to form Cmaj7 chord.
12. D Major Open
Place your first finger on second fret of G string, second finger on second fret of high E string and third finger on third fret of B string to form open D major chord.
13. D dominant 7 Open
Place you first finger on the first fret of B string, second finger on the second fret of G string and third finger on the second fret of high E string to form open D7 chord.
14. D Minor Open
Place your first finger on first fret of high E string, second finger on second fret of G string and third finger on third fret of B string to form open D minor chord.
15. Dm7 Open
Place your first finger and bar the first fret of high E and B string and place your second finger on second fret of G string to form open Dm7 chord.
16. Dmaj7 Open
Place your second finger on second fret of G string, third finger on second fret of B string and fourth finger on second fret of high E string to form open Dmaj7 chord.
17. E Major Open
Place your first finger on first fret of G string, second finger on second fret of A string and third finger second fret of D string to form open E chord.
18. E Dominant 7 Open
Place your first finger on first fret of G string and second finger on second fret of A string to form open E7 chord.
19. E Minor Open
Place your second finger on second fret of A string and third finger second fret of D string to form open E minor chord.
20. E Minor 7 Open
Place your second finger second fret of A string to form open E minor 7 chord.
21. F Major Open
Bar the first fret of high E and B string with your first finger. Next, place your second finger on the second fret of G string and third finger on the third fret of D string to form open F major chord.
22. Fmaj7 Open
Place your first finger on the first fret of B string, second finger on the second fret of G string and third finger on the third fret of D string to form open Fmaj7 chord.
23. G Major Open
Place your first finger on the second fret of A string, second finger on the third fret of low E string and third finger on the third fret of high E string to form open G chord.
24. G Dominant 7 Open
Place your first finger on the first fret of high E string, second finger on the second fret of A string and third finger on the third fret of low E string to form open G7 chord.
