Beginner Guitar Chord Progressions to Practise
Use these five short progressions to practise open chords, steady timing and the first changes into F.
A chord progression is a sequence of chords. Start with one slow strum per chord, learn each transition, then repeat the pattern without pausing. The examples link to a player that lets you hear the chords and loop them.
1. G–C–D–G: a three-chord starting point
G, C and D are the I, IV and V chords in G major. The final G returns you to the home chord. These three major chords let you practise different bass-string starting points without a barre chord.
Use 320003 or 320033 for G, x32010 for C and xx0232 for D. Strum all six strings for G, five from A for C, and four from D for D. Begin with four beats on each chord.
Work on C to D separately if it interrupts the loop. Place the fingers slowly, then bring the pair back into the whole progression.
G G G G C C C C D D D D G G G G
Hear and loop this example →2. D–G–A–D: practise a new key
This is another I–IV–V pattern, now in D major. The chord relationships match the first example even though the names are different.
Use D at xx0232, G at 320033 and A at x02220. On G to D, the ring finger can remain on B fret 3. A uses fret 2 on D, G and B; choose a fingering that leaves high E open.
Listen to how A leads back to D. Once the loop is comfortable, try starting on G and returning to D to hear how the starting point changes the phrase.
D D D D G G G G A A A A D D D D
Hear and loop this example →3. Am–Dm–E7–Am: a minor-key progression
Am and Dm give this progression its minor sound. E7 contains G#, which creates a stronger pull back to Am than an Em chord would. That G# is common in A minor harmony even though it is outside the A natural minor scale.
Play Am as x02210, Dm as xx0231 and E7 as 020100. For E7 to Am, move your index from G fret 1 to B fret 1 while placing the other fingers of Am. Change the starting string from low E to A.
Do not substitute Emaj7 for E7: Emaj7 has D# while this dominant-seventh chord needs D.
Am Am Am Am Dm Dm Dm Dm E7 E7 E7 E7 Am Am Am Am
Hear and loop this example →4. C–G–Am–F: add a smaller F chord
This I–V–vi–IV pattern is a useful four-chord exercise in C major. The lower-case vi indicates the minor chord Am. Use the four-string F shape xx3211 if a six-string barre is not clear yet.
For Am to F, keep B at fret 1 while the remaining fingers move. In F, the index also holds high E at fret 1. Start your F strum at D to avoid the unused lower strings.
The open Fmaj7 shape xx3210 is another musical colour, but it adds E. It is not exactly the same harmony as F major, so keep the distinction clear when practising this progression.
C C C C G G G G Am Am Am Am F F F F
Hear and loop this example →5. Em7–A7–Dmaj7–Dmaj7: hear seventh chords
In D major, Em7–A7–Dmaj7 is a ii–V–I movement. The seventh notes give the chords a different colour from plain minor and major triads. Repeat Dmaj7 to give the ending more time to settle.
Use Em7 at 020000, A7 at x02020 and Dmaj7 at xx0222. Em7 needs just one fretting finger in this voicing. Dmaj7 can use a three-string mini barre across G, B and high E at fret 2.
Check the difference between Dmaj7 and Dm7. Dmaj7 uses F# and C#, while Dm7 uses F and C. They will not create the same sound in this progression.
Em7 Em7 Em7 Em7 A7 A7 A7 A7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7 Dmaj7
Hear and loop this example →How to practise each progression
Choose one pattern per session instead of rushing through all five. Find the hardest transition, spend a few minutes on that pair, then return to the complete loop.
- Tune the guitar and check each chord separately.
- Count four beats per chord and strum only on beat 1.
- Set the metronome to a comfortable tempo and keep counting through changes.
- Add one strum per beat after the transitions are consistent.
- Use the transposer when you want to hear the same pattern in another key.
Beginner progression questions
Roman numerals describe chord relationships; chord symbols tell you what to play in a particular key.
How many beats should each chord last?
Use four beats per chord to start. Other harmonic rhythms are possible. The linked player examples repeat each chord four times because the player advances one symbol per beat.
Do I need a capo for these progressions?
No. These examples use standard tuning without a capo. A capo can raise the pitch while retaining familiar shapes, but is optional.
Can I write a song using these patterns?
You can use common harmonic patterns as a starting point and create your own melody, rhythm and arrangement. These examples are practice sequences rather than transcriptions of particular songs.