First Open Chords: Learn Em, E, A and D Step by Step
Once your fretting hand can move through chromatic exercises, it's time to learn chords — pressing several strings at once to ring out a full harmony. Open chords are the classic first stop for beginners. An open chord rings out some strings you never press at all (open strings), so a couple of fretted fingers plus those ringing open strings adds up to a genuinely full-sounding chord — real chord tone for very little effort.
This lesson works through the easiest shape first: Em → E → A → D. For each one, you'll get the exact string, fret and finger to use, plus exactly which strings to strum (O) and which to skip (X).
🔍 A note on ordering: Which chord to learn first varies by teacher and method book — some start with E or A, others with G, C or D. The Em → E → A → D order here isn't the one "correct" sequence from a single source; it's a common, widely-taught progression, chosen because it adds fingers gradually so beginners aren't overwhelmed early on.
🎯 Bottom line: An open chord rings some open strings along with the fretted notes (unfretted strings should still sound clearly).
Em (022000) — fret 2 on strings 5 and 4 only, strum all 6 strings
E (022100) — Em plus your index finger on string 3, fret 1 (strum all 6 strings)
A (X02220) — fret 2 on strings 4, 3 and 2, and skip string 6 (X)
D (XX0232) — string 3 fret 2, string 2 fret 3, string 1 fret 2, and skip strings 6 and 5 (X)
Press with the very tip of your finger, standing up rather than lying flat, so you don't choke a neighboring open string.
How to Read a Chord Diagram (Check This First)
This guide numbers strings the way a player counts them, holding the guitar in playing position.
String 6 = the thickest string (low E)
String 1 = the thinnest string (high E)
Fret = the space between two metal bars on the neck. "Fret 2" is the second space down from the headstock.
O (open) = an open string. Play it without pressing any finger on it.
🔢 Reading the shorthand: A 6-digit code like Em (022000) reads left to right, string 6 → string 1, and each digit is the fret you press. 0 = open string (just play it), X = don't play that string. Example: A (X02220) → skip string 6, string 5 open, strings 4-3-2 at fret 2, string 1 open.
General posture: keep your fingers standing up on their tips rather than lying flat, and press close to the fret (on the headstock side of it) for a clean sound. That keeps the open strings right next to your fretted finger ringing clearly instead of being choked.
Em, E, A and D chord diagrams — vertical lines are strings (left = thick 6th string → right = 1st string), the number in each pink dot is the finger (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring), ○ = open string, ✕ = don’t play. Check the sound in the chord dictionary below.
Em Chord (E Minor) — the Easiest Two-Finger Chord
Em chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring). ○ = open, ✕ = don’t play
String 6: open ・ String 5: fret 2 (middle) ・ String 4: fret 2 (ring) ・ String 3: open ・ String 2: open ・ String 1: open → 022000 · Strings strummed: all 6
1
Place your middle finger (finger 2) on string 5, fret 2.
2
Place your ring finger (finger 3) right next to it, on string 4, fret 2. (Both fingers sit side by side on the same fret.)
3
Leave strings 6, 3, 2 and 1 open — don't press them at all.
4
Standing your fingers up on their tips, strum slowly from string 6 down to string 1.
5
Check your sound: all 6 strings should ring clearly. If it sounds choked, check whether a finger is lying flat instead of standing on its tip.
💡 Em is the most commonly recommended first chord because it only takes two fingers, they sit side by side, and you can strum all 6 strings without muting anything. (A note on variation: this is the most widely taught fingering — some players use index/middle or ring/pinky instead.)
E Chord (E Major) — Just Add One Finger to Em
E chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring). ○ = open, ✕ = don’t play
String 6: open ・ String 5: fret 2 (middle) ・ String 4: fret 2 (ring) ・ String 3: fret 1 (index) ・ String 2: open ・ String 1: open → 022100 · Strings strummed: all 6
1
First, form the Em shape you just learned. (Middle finger = string 5 fret 2, ring finger = string 4 fret 2.)
2
Add your index finger (finger 1) on string 3, fret 1.
3
Now you have three fingers down: index (string 3, fret 1), middle (string 5, fret 2), ring (string 4, fret 2).
4
Strings 6, 2 and 1 stay open. Strum all 6 strings.
5
Check your sound: make sure string 2 (open) isn't being choked by your index finger. Standing your index finger up straighter frees up the neighboring string.
💡 Once you know Em, E is just one more finger away. Switching back and forth between Em and E is great practice for building finger independence.
A Chord (A Major) — Three Fingers, One Fret
A chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring). ○ = open, ✕ = don’t play
Place your ring finger on string 2, fret 2. (All three fingers sit side by side in the same fret.)
4
Don't play string 6 at all (X). Strum the 5 strings from string 5 (open) to string 1 (open).
5
Check your sound: three fingers crammed into one fret can feel cramped. Curl your fingers in tight and press with your tips, so string 1 (open) can still ring clearly.
Fingering ② — a partial barre with just your index finger
1
Lay your index finger flat to press strings 4, 3 and 2 at fret 2 all at once.
2
Lift the very tip of your index finger slightly so it doesn't choke string 1 (open).
3
This is easier for larger fingers that struggle to fit three into one fret, and it also switches chords faster.
🔍 A note on variation: the A chord is fingered differently depending on the source. ① (index/middle/ring, three separate fingers) and ② (a single flattened index finger) are the two most common. There's also a "2-3-4" (middle/ring/pinky) variant for players with bigger hands — pick whichever fits your hand. Whichever method you use, the resulting notes (X02220) are identical.
D Chord (D Major) — The Triangle Shape
D chord — the thick line on the left is the nut (fret 0), numbers are fingers (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring). ○ = open, ✕ = don’t play
String 6: X ・ String 5: X ・ String 4: open ・ String 3: fret 2 (index) ・ String 2: fret 3 (ring) ・ String 1: fret 2 (middle) → XX0232 · Strings strummed: 4 through 1 (4 strings only)
1
Place your index finger on string 3, fret 2.
2
Place your ring finger on string 2, fret 3. (This is the finger that reaches down the farthest.)
3
Place your middle finger on string 1, fret 2.
4
Your three fingers now form a small triangle. Don't play strings 6 and 5 (X). Strum only the 4 strings from string 4 (open) to string 1.
5
Check your sound: make sure string 4 (open) rings out and string 1 isn't choked by your middle finger. Accidentally strumming strings 6 or 5 muddies the sound, so practice aiming your strum to start right at string 4.
💡 D takes some getting used to because you have to leave out strings 6 and 5 — "aiming" your strum is the hard part at first. Get in the habit of resting your pick right against string 4 before you strum.
Practice: Check Yourself With the Chord Dictionary
Once you've memorized the shapes, the most important step is confirming them by ear. Play Em, E, A and D in MuseDrill's chord dictionary and compare your sound to the reference tone.
See each chord's diagram on screen (which string/fret/finger, plus O/X markers)
Listen to the reference sound and compare it against your own playing
A practice routine to try: form the chord → pluck one string at a time to check the sound → fix whichever string is choked → strum the full chord in one motion. Just 5 minutes a day and your hand shapes start to feel automatic.
FAQ
What is an open chord, and why is it called "open"?
An open chord includes open strings (strings you strum without pressing any fret) as part of its sound — hence "open" chord. A few fretted fingers plus those ringing open strings adds up to a full, rich harmony.
Why learn Em (E minor) first?
It only takes two fingers, they sit side by side on the same fret, and you can strum all 6 strings. That makes it the lowest-effort chord to start with, though the exact first-chord order varies by source, so Em isn't the only correct answer.
How do I fit three fingers into one fret for the A chord?
Curl your fingers in tight and press with your tips. If that's still hard, lay your index finger flat across strings 4, 3 and 2 instead (a partial barre) — the resulting sound is the same either way.
Why shouldn't I strum strings 6 and 5 on a D chord?
D's chord tones only live on strings 4 through 1 (XX0232). Strumming string 6 or 5 adds notes outside the chord, making it sound muddy. Practice aiming your strum to start from string 4.
My chord sounds muted or muffled — what's wrong?
Usually a finger is lying flat, sitting too far from the fret, or brushing a neighboring string. ① Stand your fingertips up ② press close to the fret (toward the headstock) ③ pluck one string at a time to find and fix whichever one is choked.