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.

1

FreeThe 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...
2

FreeAdding 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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...

FreeThe E Minor Chord

FreeAdding a Bass Note to Em