The next chord that we are going to learn today is the guitar A chord. In the previous lesson, we went over the G chord. I believe that the G chord is one of the most important guitar chords to learn. I began this series with that chord specifically because it is a moderately difficult chord for beginners to play, and it is also one of the most used chords in country music. Almost every single song uses the G chord. Be sure to check out that lesson before moving on to this one. However, you do not have to master the G chord before going over this lesson.
The A chord is much easier to play than the G chord. As you can see in the image, your fingers are very close together on the same 2nd fret. This is a chord that is used very often just like the G chord. If you haven’t yet read my article on correct guitar practice, I recommend that you do so now. It is very important that when you are learning these guitar chords that you are practicing correctly as well. Failure to do so can result in bad habits and a longer time learning how to play them correctly.
Your first step is to place your index finger on the D string on the 2nd fret. With your first finger firmly holding down the string, place your middle finger on the G string on the 2nd fret as well. Play the two strings that you are holding down to make sure that notes ring out cleanly. Once this is done, place your ring finger on the B string on the 2nd fret.
There is also an alternate way of playing the chord. You switch the 1 and 2 fingers. So, your index finger and the middle finger swap places. Some find this the easier way to play. Try out both and do what works best for you!
Practice strumming all 3 strings while your fingers are holding them down firmly. As a beginner, your fingers may feel uncomfortable pretty quickly. This is normal. Just practice pressing down the strings and playing the notes. You want the notes to be as clean as possible. Press down as hard as you need to in order to get the note to be clear. Take breaks when your fingers start to hurt. Also, practice keeping your other fingers near the strings as well. This is very important as noted in the correct practice article.
Practice these methods with the G chord and now the A chord. For a more advanced lesson, practice transitioning between the two chords as quickly as possible. See how fast you can transition between the two. The more you practice this, the faster you will get and the better you will be at playing chords.
Stay tuned for our next lesson, the C chord!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a bunch for this article about the A chord. I’ve been looking for some good information on it and you definitely delivered! Keep up the great work.
Using E string second fret and G sting second fret gives you an F6 ? Instead of using D6..Gives the tune a softer, very pleasant sound..On Horse with No Name. Cheers
You can take the A chord and count up to the 4th and 5th note to get the other chords played in that key. So for A the other two chords are D and E.
Indeed, It is one of the the major chord being used mostly in popular songs and also plays as a major chord in the circle of fifths or the chord progression that shows the relationships among the twelve tones of the chromatic scale.