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In the present article we are going to talk about how to construct basic minor and major chords on the guitar. Before starting we must learn some basic music theory, since this will lay the foundations of learning how to build chords anywhere about the fretboard.

Every basic major or minor chord includes 3 notes – root, third and fifth. The chord carries the naming of its root note, nevertheless the root is not always the best note, because each chord has chord inversions. Considering that the guitar chords we’re discussing consist of only 3 notes, we have 2 chord inversions altogether or 3 other ways to play each chord. Now, why is the major and minor chords essentially different will be the third. You have probably heard the terms “minor third” and “major third”. Basically said a third (used for building minor chords) is an interval between the root as well as the third that equals to 3 semitones (or 3 frets about the guitar), while the major third (useful for building minor chords) equals to 4 semitones (or 4 frets). The 5th is the same for both types also it equals to an interval of seven semitones from the root.

So, in order to build a chord, first determine which note you want take as root and where are you currently want to position it related to the other two notes. Let’s illustrate this with several examples which will hopefully help you understand the music theory discussed above.

We’ll take the note A being a root, build a minor chord after which all of its inversions. First of all let’s determine which notes we want in order to build the chord. Since we’re going to build a minor chord, we are going to need the minor third as well as the fifth. The minor third from the is C (the distance between A and C is 3 frets) as well as the fifth is E (the distance between A and E is 7 frets). Great, since we know the notes, we are able to build the actual chords.

Example 1 – A Chord & Inversions

A in root First Inversion Second Inversion A in root, octave up
E||————–|————–|————–|–0———||
B||————–|————–|–1———–|–1———||
G||————–|–2———–|–2———–|–2———||
D||–2———–|–2———–|–2———–|————||
A||–3———–|–3———–|————–|————||
E||–5———–|————–|————–|————||

A-C-E C-E-A E-A-C A-C-E

Let’s say we want to build the major ones? Just use an important third – that’s C sharp (C#)

Example 2 – A Major Chord & Inversions

A in root First Inversion Second Inversion A in root, octave up
E||————–|————–|————–|–0———||
B||————–|————–|–2———–|–2———||
G||————–|–2———–|–2———–|–2———||
D||–2———–|–2———–|–2———–|————||
A||–4———–|–4———–|————–|————||
E||–5———–|————–|————–|————||

A-C#-E C#-E-A E-A-C# A-C#-E

Pretty clear, isn’t it? Using this principle, you are able to build basic guitar chords literally anywhere about the fretboard. Just remember to practice these examples changing the main note and the inversion randomly, so that you learn them well. For example, instead of saying “I wish to play all B Minor Chords” and playing all the inversions one after another, tell yourself: “I want to play the second inversion of B Minor, after that I want to play D# Minor in root position” etc. and you’ll see that you will quickly learn all guitar chords.

Just thought you may well be interested in reading this guide: all guitar chords and acoustic guitar chords.