How to learn your first guitar chords

Your fingers ache, the strings buzz, and the chord in the video sounds nothing like yours. Everyone who plays went through that first week. Learn a handful of open chords, get the switch between them smooth, and a whole songbook opens up.

A practice plan, then guitar chords apps. Short daily practice beats a long weekly session. Sore fingertips are normal at the start; if your hand or wrist hurts in a sharp or lasting way, stop and check your posture or ask a teacher.

Guitar chords apps rising by visits and sponsorship on Censuus

A younger app from an independent developer:

Ranked by visit traffic and sponsorship on Censuus, not editorial opinion. The list changes as new apps appear and gain traffic.

Start in tune

An out-of-tune guitar makes every chord sound wrong. Tune before each session; see how to tune a guitar.

Learn a few chords properly

Pick a few open chords that appear in songs you like. Press with your fingertips just behind the fret, keep your thumb behind the neck and play each string one by one to find the buzz. Compare apps in guitar chords apps.

Practise the change, not the shape

Switching between chords is what makes a song. Pick two chords and move between them slowly, then add a steady beat; see how to practise with a metronome.

Play songs early

As soon as you have two or three chords, find a song that uses them and play along. Keep a songbook of what you can play. For another instrument, see how to learn piano as an adult.

Compared from each developer’s own store description.
Step	What you do	Why
1. Tune first	every time	chords sound right
2. A few open chords	common in songs	play real music fast
3. Clean fretting	just behind the fret	no buzz
4. Two-chord switches	slow, then faster	the real skill
5. A simple song	with a metronome	keeps you going

Frequently asked questions

Which guitar chords should I learn first?

Start with a few open chords that appear in songs you like, then practise switching between them.

Why do my guitar chords buzz?

Usually your finger is too far from the fret or another finger touches a string. Press just behind the fret with your fingertip.

Is it normal for fingertips to hurt?

Some soreness is normal at the start. Sharp or lasting pain in the hand or wrist is a reason to stop and check your technique.