Open chords
Open chords use one or more strings played without fretting, which makes them the easiest chords on guitar and the best place to start. Here are all 32 common open shapes.
Major and minor
7th chords
Sus, add9 and power chords
Why learn open chords first
Open strings ring for free, so each shape needs fewer fingers and less pressure than a barre chord. Most beginner songs use only a handful of them, usually G, C, D, Em and Am.
Making them ring clearly
Press just behind the fret with your fingertips, keep your fingers arched so they don't touch neighboring strings, and pick each string one at a time to find any that buzz or are muted.
Questions
How many open chords are there?
This page lists 32 standard open shapes. The core set most players learn first is C, G, D, A, E, Am, Em and Dm.
Is F an open chord?
Not quite. The small F shape (xx3211) uses a mini-barre across two strings, so it is usually taught after the open chords.