To read a guitar chord diagram, look at the vertical lines, which are the strings, from low E on the left to high E on the right, and the horizontal lines, which are the frets, with the top line as the nut. The dots show where to put your fingers, an O means play the string open, and an X means do not play the string.
How do you read guitar chord diagrams?
To read a guitar chord diagram, look at the vertical lines, which are the strings, from low E on the left to high E on the right, and the horizontal lines, which are the frets, with the top line as the nut, and the frets below it, in order. The dots show where to put your fingers, with the number in the dot, or next to it, telling you which finger to use, 1 for index, 2 for middle, 3 for ring, and 4 for pinky. An O above a string means play the string open, and an X above a string means do not play the string, because it is not part of the chord, and the diagram is the map of the chord, on the fretboard. The chord diagram is read from the top, with the nut at the top, and the frets going down, and the strings going across, and the diagram shows the chord as it looks on the fretboard, from the player's point of view, with the low E string on the left, and the high E string on the right. The diagram is the standard way to show a chord, and it is used in books, on websites, and in apps, because it is clear, and it shows the fingers, the frets, and the strings, all at once. The C major guitar chord and the G major guitar chord are the chords most players first read in diagrams, and the chord finder shows the diagram for any chord.
How guitar chord diagrams work
A guitar chord diagram works by showing the fretboard, with six vertical lines for the strings, and horizontal lines for the frets, and dots for the fingers, so the player can see where to put each finger, and which strings to play, and which to mute. The top horizontal line is the nut, and the frets below it are numbered, 1, 2, 3, and so on, and the diagram shows the frets the chord uses, usually the first three or four, and the dots are on the frets, on the strings, showing the finger placement. The number in the dot tells the player which finger to use, and the O and X above the strings tell the player which strings to play open, and which to mute. The diagram is read left to right, low E to high E, and top to bottom, nut to frets, and the player puts their fingers where the dots are, and strums the strings that are not marked with an X, and the chord rings, because the fingers are in the right place, and the strings are the notes of the chord. The diagram can also show a barre, with a curved line across the strings, showing that the index finger bars them, and the barre is the index finger, pressing all the strings at one fret. The D major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the diagrams are built on.
Worked example — reading a C major chord diagram. Look at the C major diagram: the vertical lines are the strings, low E on the left, high E on the right, and the horizontal lines are the frets, with the top line as the nut. The dots are on the 5th string at the 3rd fret, with the number 3, the ring finger, on the 4th string at the 2nd fret, with the number 2, the middle finger, and on the 2nd string at the 1st fret, with the number 1, the index finger. The O above the 3rd string and the 1st string means play them open, and the X above the 6th string means do not play it, because it is not part of the chord. Put your fingers where the dots are, strum the 5th to 1st strings, and the chord is C major, with the notes C, E, G, C, E, which are the root, the major 3rd, the 5th, the root, and the major 3rd. The key of C major lists the chords the diagram is built for.
How to practise reading chord diagrams
Practise reading chord diagrams by looking at a diagram, and then playing the chord, without looking at your fingers, so the diagram becomes a habit, and the chord is played from the diagram, not from memory.
- Look at the C major diagram, and play the chord, putting your fingers where the dots are, and strumming the strings that are not marked with an X.
- Look at the G major diagram, and play the chord, and compare the finger placement with C major, noting which fingers move, and which stay.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major by reading the diagrams, one chord at a time, without looking at your fingers.
- Use the chord finder to see the diagram for any chord, and practise reading it, and playing it, until the diagram is clear.
- Practise reading a barre chord diagram, with the curved line for the bar, and play the F major barre, at the 1st fret, following the diagram.
Common mistakes
- Reading the diagram upside down — The diagram has the nut at the top, and the low E string on the left, and reading it upside down will put the fingers in the wrong place, and the chord will be wrong. Check the nut, and the low E string, before you play, and the diagram will be right.
- Ignoring the O and X — The O means play the string open, and the X means do not play the string, and ignoring them will make the chord wrong, because a string that should be open will be muted, or a string that should be muted will be played. Check the O and X, above each string, before you strum.
- Using the wrong finger — The number in the dot tells you which finger to use, and using the wrong finger will make the chord hard to play, and the change to the next chord will be slow. Use the finger the diagram shows, 1 for index, 2 for middle, 3 for ring, and 4 for pinky.
Quick reference
This table shows the symbols in a guitar chord diagram, with the meaning for each one, so you can read any diagram, without guessing. The vertical lines are the strings, the horizontal lines are the frets, the dots are the fingers, and the O and X are the open and muted strings.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vertical lines | Strings, low E on the left, high E on the right |
| Horizontal lines | Frets, top line is the nut |
| Dot | Put a finger here, number = which finger |
| O above a string | Play the string open |
| X above a string | Do not play the string |
| Curved line | Barre, index finger bars the strings |
Use the table to read any chord diagram: find the strings, find the frets, find the dots, check the O and X, and look for the curved line, and the diagram will tell you the chord. When you can read a diagram in seconds, you can play any chord, from any book, website, or app, without guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read guitar chord diagrams?
Look at the vertical lines, which are the strings, from low E on the left to high E on the right, and the horizontal lines, which are the frets, with the top line as the nut. The dots show where to put your fingers, an O means play the string open, and an X means do not play the string.
What do the numbers in the dots mean?
The numbers tell you which finger to use: 1 is the index finger, 2 is the middle finger, 3 is the ring finger, and 4 is the pinky, and the number is in the dot, or next to it, so the player knows which finger goes where.
What does an O above a string mean?
An O means play the string open, without fretting it, because the open string is part of the chord, and it should ring, and the O is above the string, at the top of the diagram.
What does an X above a string mean?
An X means do not play the string, because it is not part of the chord, and playing it will make the chord wrong, so the player should avoid strumming it, or mute it with a finger.
What does a curved line across the diagram mean?
A curved line means a barre, where the index finger bars the strings at one fret, pressing them all down, and the barre is the index finger, and the other fingers form the shape behind it.