Open chords

After learning tabs and riffs, it's time to get to the more serious work, learning chords. There are two main types of chords: open chords and barre chords. Open chords are pretty easier, because when playing barre, you need to press one entire fret with your index finger. But it all takes practice, and isn't very hard.

Open chords are very good and logical choice for the guitar beginner. Most of these are pretty easy. First chords you should learn are E, Em, A, Am, C and G. With these chords learned, you will be able to play many songs you know. You first need to learn to switch fast between the chords, until you are comfortable with that. Then, when you practiced enough, you can learn some simple songs, like Knocking on the Heavens doors. After that, learn barre chords, and the rest depends on practice, practice, and more practice.
Teaching your fingers to remember chords position is the hardest part of guitar learning. When you teach that, you can start more interesting part of guitar playing - learning songs. On this site, you will later find plenty of material. Especially if you like rock and metal...
Now, here are the tabs for open chords:

- E chord

e|-------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|---------1---------------------|
D|---------2--------------------|
A|---------2--------------------|
E|------------------------------|

So, you fret second frets of 5th and 6th strings, and first fret of 4th string. For this, use first 3 fingers, no matter in what order, because many players use different positions. Use the way you feel most comfortable.


- Em chord
e|-------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|------------------------------|
D|---------2---------------------|
A|---------2--------------------|
E|------------------------------|

The Em chord is almost the same like E chord, but here you fret only 5th and 6th strings. Same rules for fingers like in E chord.


-A chord
e|------------------------------|
B|----------2-------------------|
G|----------2-------------------|
D|----------2-------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|

Here, fret 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings like in the tab above. Use finger 1 for 4th string, finger 2 for 3rd, and finger 3 for 2nd string.

-Am chord
e|-------------------------------|
B|---------1--------------------|
G|---------2--------------------|
D|---------2--------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|

Use finger 1 for 2nd string, finger 3 for 3rd string and finger 2 for 4th string.


-C chord
e|-------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|-------1-----------------------|
D|-------0-----------------------|
A|-------2-----------------------|
E|-------3-----------------------|

Use 3rd finger for 6th string, 2nd finger for 5th string and 1st finger for 4th string.


-G chord
e|----------3-------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|---------2-------------------|
E|---------3-------------------|

Use finger 2 for 6th string, finger 1 for 5th string, and finger 3 or 4 for 1st string.


Now when you know how to play these chords, practice them! Practice fast-switching between them, and try to play them with as less mistakes as possible.