Major chords on guitar

Major chords in all 12 keys.

Major chords that occur together in major keys

Each pair uses the chord shapes or piano inversions with the most fingers or notes kept in place.

C major

C · F · G

C → Fx32010 → 1332112 fingers stay in place: index finger on the B string at fret 1; ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
C → Gx32010 → 320003No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
F → G133211 → 320003No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.

D major

D · G · A

D → Gxx0232 → 320003No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
D → Axx0232 → x02220No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
G → A320003 → x02220No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.

Eb major

Eb · Ab · Bb

Eb → Abx68886 → 466544No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 3 frets down.
Eb → Bbx68886 → x13331No finger stays in place; slide the whole shape 5 frets down.
Ab → Bb466544 → x13331No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 3 frets down.

E major

E · A · B

E → A022100 → x02220No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
E → B022100 → x24442No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 2 frets up.
A → Bx02220 → x24442No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 2 frets.

F major

F · Bb · C

F → Bb133211 → x133311 finger stays in place: index finger on the E string at fret 1.
F → C133211 → x320102 fingers stay in place: index finger on the B string at fret 1; ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
Bb → Cx13331 → x32010No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.

F# major

F# · B · C#

F# → B244322 → x244421 finger stays in place: index finger on the E string at fret 2.
F# → C#244322 → x46664No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 3 frets up.
B → C#x24442 → x46664No finger stays in place; slide the whole shape 2 frets up.

G major

G · C · D

G → C320003 → x32010No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
G → D320003 → xx0232No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
C → Dx32010 → xx0232No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.

Ab major

Ab · Eb

Ab → Eb466544 → x68886No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 3 frets up.

A major

A · D · E

A → Dx02220 → xx0232No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
A → Ex02220 → 022100No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.
D → Exx0232 → 022100No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret.

Bb major

Bb · Eb · F

Bb → Ebx13331 → x68886No finger stays in place; slide the whole shape 5 frets up.
Bb → Fx13331 → 1332111 finger stays in place: index finger on the E string at fret 1.
Eb → Fx68886 → 133211No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 6 frets down.

B major

B · E · F#

B → Ex24442 → 022100No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 2 frets down.
B → F#x24442 → 2443221 finger stays in place: index finger on the E string at fret 2.
E → F#022100 → 244322No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 2 frets up.

Major formula compared with nearby chord types

These A-rooted chords share their listed notes; each button plays the two chords in order.

A and Am

A: A · C# · E · formula 1 · 3 · 5

Am: A · C · E · formula 1 · b3 · 5

Shared notes: A, E; C# changes to C.

A and A7

A: A · C# · E · formula 1 · 3 · 5

A7: A · C# · E · G · formula 1 · 3 · 5 · b7

Shared notes: A, C#, E; Adds G.

The intervals 1, 3, and 5 give it a bright, settled sound.

5 of the 12 major chords on guitar have an easy shape (no barre, three fingers or fewer, first four frets): A, E, G, D, C.

Easiest to hardest

A
E
G
D
C
F (higher up the neck)
Bb (higher up the neck)
B (higher up the neck)
Eb (higher up the neck)
F# (higher up the neck)
Ab (higher up the neck)
C# (higher up the neck)

Other chord types: Minor · 7th · Major 7th · Minor 7th · Sus2 · Sus4 · Add9 · Diminished · Augmented