Your First Guitar Chords
E minor & A minor chords
In this path you'll learn which strings to push down with your fretting hand to create E minor and A minor chords on the guitar. Then we'll go over how to strum these chords and switch between them in time.
- 7 Video Lessons
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1
The E Minor Chord
Only Two Fingers Required!
For this chord, you're only going to push down two strings with your fretting hand. First, take your middle finger and place it behind the 2nd fret, 5th string. Make sure your finger is directly be...
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2
Adding a Bass Note to Em
How to Build A Strumming Pattern
Now that you have the fingering for your first chord, let's start building the strum pattern with a bass note. The bass note you're going to use for the Em chord is the 6th string open. Alternate b...
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3
The E Minor Bum-Ditty
Playing the Full Strum Pattern
In this lesson you are going to apply the Bum-Ditty strumming pattern to your Em chord.
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4
Alternating Bass Strumming
With the E Minor Chord
Each chord has two primary bass notes you can play while strumming. For the Em chord, these notes are the E and B notes. You are already familiar with the E note (6th string open) but for this less...
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5
The A Minor Chord
What Strings and Frets to Push Down
The A minor (Am) chord is a similar shape to the Em chord. Lets take a look at how to construct this chord.
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6
Switching Chords
How to Move Fluidly Between Em and Am Chords
Switching chords is the number one frustration among new guitar students. With patience and at least 10 minutes of practice every day, you'll make huge progress in a short amount of time.
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7
Advanced Switching
How to Switch Between Am and Em using the Bum-Ditty Pattern
There are three elements to this lesson: Switching chords, playing the bum-ditty pattern, and alternating bass. First, review your chord changes. You're moving from Am to Em and back to Am. Now add...