When you first pick up the electric guitar and are unsure exactly what to do with it, one of the first things you will generally learn are some simple chords.

So, just what is a chord, anyway?

Technically, a chord is a set of harmonically related notes, played simultaneously.  To be less academic about it, a chord is what happens when you strum several strings together to create a pleasing sound.

The first chords you will learn here are known as Open Chords.  These chords take advantage of the open strings.

There is another type of chord known as a Barre Chord.  These chords involve pressing one or more fingers down across several strings.  Because barre chords involve no open strings, the same shapes can be moved up and down the neck to create a chord in any key.  In theory they are not any more complex to play than an open chord.  However, they do require more strength in the fingering hand, which can make them frustrating for very new guitarists.  This is only a problem for beginner guitarists, after a brief time learning electric guitar you will quickly have enough strength not to be bothered by having to barre a chord.

Chords are named after their root note.  The root note is just what musicians the note around which the chord is built.  They come in two basic varieties, major and minor.  A major chord can be said to have a “strong”, “bright” and “happy” sound, while a minor chord has a comparitively “darker” or more “melancholy” sound.

To start with here, for your first chords, we will play 3 different major open chords.  For help reading the chord charts, see my post on how to read chord charts.  And now, without any further ado, here are the chords:

To play an Open E, place your index finger on the G string at the first fret, place your middle finger on the A string at the second fret, and place your ring finger on the D string at the second fret.  Then play every string and let the chord ring out.  You’ve just played an open E!

To play an Open A, place your middle finger on the D string at the second fret, place your ring finger on the G string at the second fret, and place your pinky on B string at the second fret.  Then play every string except for the low E.

To play an Open D, place your index finger on the G string at the second fret, place your middle finger on the high E string at the second fret, and place your ring finger on the B string at the third fret.  Then sound the 4 high strings, leaving the low E and the A strings unplayed.

That’s it, you now know three chords on the electric guitar! If they feel a bit awkward at first, that’s okay.  Keep playing through them so that they feel a bit more natural, and stay tuned for more posts on how to use these three chords to play a song.

Gibson’s Top 50 guitarists of all time – 50 to 41

The Gibson guitar company is compiling a list of the top 50 guitarists of all time.  They’ve got their list from some fairly inscrutable process involving votes from their website’s readers, and from their own team of judges.  They are releasing their results ten at a time, so here are guitarists #50 to #41- I’ve included a little bit of information about each guitarist.

49. (tie) Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore’s night)

One of the most influential guitarists of all time, who managed to combine raucous blues-rock riffing with european classical inspired phrases in a way that nobody had attempted before.  His raw panache, affinity for the harmonic minor scale and love for the Fender Stratocaster inspired many guitarists throughout the years, including a young Yngwie Malmsteen.  A truly prolific and prodigious performer, he is probably most widely known for writing the instantly recognisable riff to Smoke on the Water, as well as for his much-publicised disputes with his bandmates.

49. (tie) Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

Though not a master technician by any stretch, and an extremely unlikely guitar hero, for a brief time in the early 1990s this guy probably did more to prompt young kids to learn guitar than anybody else on the planet.  His band Nirvana was the flagship band of the grunge movement, which combined punk and alternative attitude with much of the riffmanship of hard rock and early heavy metal.  He was known for playing heavily modified, discontinued Fender guitars, and an ever changing variety of amps and effects.

47. (tie) Robert Fripp (King Crimson, solo)

Robert Fripp is not the pioneer of progressive rock guitar, but over the years he has probably become it’s principal exponent.  A left-hander who plays right-handed guitars, he is notable for being one of the few famous guitarists to emerge from the late 60s and early 70s without a significant blues influence in his playing.  His crossing of avant-garde jazz and european classical ideas with rock instrumentation became a key part of progressive rock and jazz fusion.

47. (tie) Andrés Segovia

A spanish classical guitarist born in the nineteenth century, he influenced classical guitar both as a performer and as a transcriptionist, teacher and arranger.  The video recording of him playing live at the Alhambra are an excellent introduction to his work.

42. (tie) Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters)

A blues guitarist and singer from Arkansas, whose work with Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters managed to influence Jimmy Page, Robbie Robertson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and Joe Perry.  At 78 years old, and despite health complications, he is still touring.

42. (tie) Clarence White (Nashville West, Muleskinner, The Kentucky Colonels, The Byrds)

Clarence White was a bluegrass guitarist who moved to Los Angeles to find work as a session player.  By joining The Byrds he became one of the key influences in marrying country music to rock.

42. (tie) Rory Gallagher (Taste, solo)

An Irish blues-rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, who formed the band Taste in the 1960s and performed solo for decades after.  Along with Van Morrison and Phil Lynott, he was among the first Irish musicians to become famous by performing blues-based rock.  Such was his influence on the genre that David Coverdale invited him to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple, although he chose instead to pursue his solo career.

42. (tie) John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

After replacing Hilel Slovak as the guitarist for funk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, he found himself launched into mainstream celebrity after their breakthrough album Blood Sugar Sex Magic.  Drug problems saw him replaced for some years by Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, though he has since returned to the band.

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42. (tie) Richard Thompson

An electric folk player from the 60s who still performs today.  A performer in his own right, he has also written songs for artists as diverse as Dave Gilmour, Bonnie Raitt and The Corrs.

41. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd, solo)

A progressive rock guitarist who has influenced players for decades ever since joining Pink Floyd in the early days of the band when led by fellow guitarist Syd Barrett.  While he is often cited for his innovative use of effects and adventurous song ideas, the lead guitar playing which he is most noted for is deeply rooted in the blues.

So why learn to play guitar?

For many of us, our decision to learn guitar is not something we ever thought about too hard.  It was almost as though it was made for us.. we just knew that it was something we had to do.  For other people though, it’s something they will need to find some logical reasons to do it.  Here are some of the best reasons why you would want to learn to play electric guitar.

It will make you smarter

Studies have shown that kids who learn musical instruments do better in school.  An interview with over 1000 CEOs and congressmen found that over 90% said that playing a musical instrument helped them “develop character and leadership skills”.  It’s not to see why.. learning a musical instrument will improve your concentration, your hand eye coordination, and makes you think for yourself.

It’s a good way to connect with other people

Playing guitar can seem like it might be a solitary activity.. and when you just feel like chilling out on your own, it can be.  But it also provides so many chances to meet new people, and make friends that last a lifetime!  Playing in a band,

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