Beginner+ · Lesson 2 of 6 · 15 min
Lesson 2: The pop trio: G, C and D
With G, C and D you can play thousands of songs. Really.
The three most important chords
There's a reason G, C and D show up in so many songs: together they sound like a complete, cheerful piece of music. Songwriters call them the pop trio. With just these three chords, thousands of songs become playable.
Place them one at a time, check each string separately, and only strum them together once they're clean.
Loading…
See also
Lesson 1: Major and minor, side by side
E and Em, A and Am — one finger's difference, a world of sound.
Lesson 3: Even more colour: seventh chords
A7, D7 and E7 give your playing tension — the blues recipe.
Lesson 4: Power chords: your first rock chord
Two fingers, the same shape anywhere on the neck — rock guaranteed.