Guitar Chord Progressions for Beginners

Use Beginner Guitar Chords in Chord Progressions

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In the Guitar Chords for Beginners page, all of the chords belong in the Key of G Major. A chord key is a musical term for a group of chords based on their position in a major scale.

You can use these beginner chords together to play chord progressions that are used in many songs in all styles of music.

The I Chord: G Major

The Key of G Major begins with the G Major chord as the I chord. This is the chord where the chord progression will typically begin or end on, making it a chord of rest.

The IV Chord: C Major

The C Major chord is the 4th chord in the key of G Major. The IV chord of a chord progression can build slight tension betweem it and the I chord.

The V Chord: D Major

The D Major chord is the 5th chord in the key of G Major and is used to build more tension than the IV chord of the progression and can lead back to the I chord, a chord of rest.

Playing the G Major, C Major and D Major chords together in a chord progression:

The I - IV - V Chord Progression:

    G              C              D                           
e|--3--3--3--3--|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|--2--2--2--2--|
B|--0--0--0--0--|--1--1--1--1--|--3--3--3--3--|--3--3--3--3--|
G|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|--2--2--2--2--|
D|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|
A|--2--2--2--2--|--3--3--3--3--|--------------|--------------|
E|--3--3--3--3--|--------------|--------------|--------------|

The vi Chord: E minor

The 6th chord in the key of G Major is the E minor chord. Adding this chord to the chord I - IV - V progression creates a very popular chord progression in music.

The I - vi - IV - V Chord Progression:

    G              E              C              D            
e|--3--3--3--3--|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|
B|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|--1--1--1--1--|--3--3--3--3--|
G|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|
D|--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--|--2--2--2--2--|--0--0--0--0--|
A|--2--2--2--2--|--2--2--2--2--|--3--3--3--3--|--------------|
E|--3--3--3--3--|--0--0--0--0--|--------------|--------------|

Learn More Guitar Chord Progressions

e|--0--|
B|--2--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|-----|