Core 8 Chords: Adding G, C, Am, Dm + the One Minute Change Drill
If the previous lesson gave you your first open chords — Em, E, A and D — this lesson adds four more: G, C, Am and Dm. Put all eight together and you have what's often called the core 8 chords: enough vocabulary to play the chord progressions behind a huge share of popular songs.
But knowing a chord shape and switching to it instantly are two very different skills. So in the second half of this lesson, you'll learn the one minute change drill — the standard way to turn your chord-switching speed into an actual number, then improve that number.
🎯 Bottom line: Add these four chords to the Em, E, A, D you already know to complete the core 8.
G (320003) — index=5th string 2nd fret, middle=6th string 3rd fret, ring=1st string 3rd fret (4-finger variant 320033: add pinky on the 2nd string, 3rd fret too)
C (x32010) — ring=5th string 3rd fret, middle=4th string 2nd fret, index=2nd string 1st fret, don't play the 6th string (X)
Am (x02210) — middle=4th string 2nd fret, ring=3rd string 2nd fret, index=2nd string 1st fret, don't play the 6th string (X)
Dm (xx0231) — index=1st string 1st fret, middle=3rd string 2nd fret, ring=2nd string 3rd fret, don't play the 6th or 5th strings (X)
Build switching speed with the one minute change drill (switch between two chords for one minute, counting how many times you manage it) — once you hit 60 changes per minute (one per second), that pair is "graduated."
How to Read These Chord Diagrams (Recap)
These use the same notation as the previous lesson. The 6th string is the thickest string (low E), the 1st string is the thinnest (high E). O = open string (played with no finger down), X = don't play this string (mute it). Finger numbers are 1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinky. Keep your fingertips arched rather than flat, pressing just behind the fret (toward the headstock), so neighboring strings don't get muted.
🔢 Reading the number shorthand: In a name like G (320003), the six digits go left to right, 6th string → 1st string, and each digit is the fret you press. 0 = open string, X = don't play. Example: C (x32010) → 6th string not played · 5th string 3rd fret · 4th string 2nd fret · 3rd string open · 2nd string 1st fret · 1st string open.
G, C, Am, Dm chord diagrams — vertical lines are strings (thick 6th string on the left → 1st string on the right), the number in each pink dot is the finger (1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinky), ○=open string, ✕=don’t play this string. Check the sound in the chord dictionary below.
G Chord (G Major) — 3-Finger Shape and 4-Finger Variant
G chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinky). ○=open · ✕=don’t play
6th string 3rd fret (middle) ・ 5th string 2nd fret (index) ・ 4th string open ・ 3rd string open ・ 2nd string open ・ 1st string 3rd fret (ring) → 320003 · Strings played: all 6
Basic shape — 3 fingers (320003)
1
Place your index finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret.
2
Place your middle finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret.
3
Place your ring finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret.
4
Leave the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings open, and strum all 6 strings.
5
Sound check: all six strings should ring evenly. Make sure the open 2nd string isn't muted by your ring finger.
Add your pinky on the 2nd string, 3rd fret as well.
3
Now the 2nd string is fretted at the 3rd fret instead of played open (320033). The 1st and 2nd strings ring together at the same fret.
🔍 Don't mix these up: the basic shape (320003) and the 4-finger variant (320033) are different fingerings. They sound similar but are separate shapes — pick one and stick with it rather than switching between them.
C Chord (C Major)
C chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinky). ○=open · ✕=don’t play
Place your index finger on the 1st string, 1st fret.
2
Place your middle finger on the 3rd string, 2nd fret.
3
Place your ring finger on the 2nd string, 3rd fret.
4
Don't play the 6th or 5th strings (X). Strum only the 4th string (open) through the 1st string.
5
Sound check: make sure the open 4th string rings out, and the fretted 1st string (index) sounds clean.
The C ↔ Am Shared Index-Finger Anchor — the Key to Fast Changes
Line up C (x32010) and Am (x02210) side by side and you'll notice they share one thing in common: both use the index finger to fret the 2nd string, 1st fret.
When switching between C and Am, keep your index finger planted on the 2nd string, 1st fret the whole time.
The only fingers that actually need to move are your middle and ring (shifting between the 4th and 5th strings).
Treating the index finger as a fixed pivot point makes the switch far faster and steadier than re-forming the whole hand shape each time.
💡 Slow chord changes are usually caused by re-gripping the entire hand shape from scratch every time. Get in the habit of finding the finger two chords share and using it as a pivot, and your switching speed improves noticeably.
One Minute Change — Turning Switching Speed Into a Number
The one minute change is the go-to drill for chord-switching speed: you switch back and forth between two chords for exactly one minute and count how many times you manage it.
1
Pick two chords to practice. G–C is a good pair to start with.
2
Set a timer for 1 minute.
3
Start the timer and switch back and forth between the two chords as many times as you can.
4
Count every change as it happens (keep the same counting rule from start to finish).
5
When the minute's up, write down your total change count.
6
The next day, expand to a new pair: work through G–C → C–Am → Am–Dm → G–Em → G–D → C–D.
7
Once you hit 60 changes per minute (one per second), consider that pair "graduated" and move to the next one.
💡 Focus on how many times you can switch, not on getting a perfect sound. Just one minute a day at the same time is enough to watch your switching speed improve, measurably, over time.
Practice With the Tools Right Now
Once you've memorized the fingerings, check them by ear, then time your one minute change with the metronome.
Check the G, C, Am, Dm diagrams and reference sound in the chord dictionary
Time a 1-minute countdown with the metronome and log your one minute change count
Expand your pairs in order: G–C → C–Am → Am–Dm → G–Em → G–D → C–D
What are the "core 8" guitar chords, and why these eight?
The Em, E, A and D you learn in the previous lesson, plus the G, C, Am and Dm from this one, make up what's commonly called the "core 8" open chords. Being able to move freely between just these eight lets you play the chord progressions behind a huge share of popular songs, which is why they're a widely recommended goal right after the beginner stage. That said, "core 8" isn't an official term — it's just a convenient label for learning, so different guides may group the chords slightly differently.
What's the difference between the 3-finger and 4-finger G chord?
The basic shape (320003) uses your index, middle and ring fingers to fret the 6th, 5th and 1st strings, leaving the 2nd string open. The 4-finger variation (320033) adds the pinky to also fret the 2nd string at the 3rd fret. They sound similar but are genuinely different fingerings — don't mix the two mid-song. Pick whichever feels more comfortable and stick with it.
Do I need to keep practicing even if my chord changes sound messy?
Yes — a brief buzz or mute during the switch is completely normal at first. It takes repetition for your fingers to memorize each shape and for your hand muscles to get used to the motion. Instead of chasing a perfect sound right away, focus on how many times you can switch back and forth, and log your one minute change count — the sound cleans up naturally as that number goes up.
How should I count chord changes?
The simplest method is to count every single switch as one change (A to B is one, then B back to A is another). Some players instead count a full round trip (A to B to A) as one. Either method works, but stick with the same rule the whole time so you can fairly compare your numbers from day to day.
Why do the Am and C shapes feel so similar?
C (x32010) and Am (x02210) share one thing in common: the index finger frets the 2nd string, 1st fret, in both. If you keep that index finger planted like a pivot and only move your middle and ring fingers, you can switch between the two chords much faster — which is exactly why the shapes feel so closely related.