guitar lessons for beginners Article

Learn To Play Guitar Cords Your Foundation Of Playing Guitar

If you're learning to play you must learn to play cords. Why, because the cords are the foundation of playing guitar. You can begin to play simple songs using just three cords. It's also important that you understand cord relationships. The tonic, dominant and sub-dominant cords (one, five and four cords.)

A few basic facts about cord relationships as you learn to play cords. There is the concept of playing in key. Tunes are played in given keys. A tune will usually begin and end on the cord of it's key.

For instance, a song in the key of C will begin and end on a C cord. In the key of C, the C cord is called the tonic. Once you know the key of

a tune you can count up to find which other cords to use. The circle of fifths will help you do this. When moving clockwise one step, you're going from a tonic to a dominant cord (moving up a fifth) from C to G. Moving counter clockwise you're going from a tonic to a sub- dominant (moving up a fourth) from C to F. When you learn to play cords, keep this in mind.

Cords C, G and F will be the three basis cords in a tune played in the key of C. As you learn to play cords C, G and F you'll be able to play many songs that are in the key of C. Once you learn these three cords you can go to their relative minors. Cords Am, Em and Dm. This will broaden your scope.