The E and A chords

E and A are good first chords. Both use three fingers close together, and both sound full and bright. Between them, they already make the start of a thousand songs.

• Finger 1 on the G string, first fret.
• Finger 2 on the A string, second fret.
• Finger 3 on the D string, second fret.
• Strum all six strings.

Arch your fingers so each one touches only its own string. The open B and high E strings, on the right, must ring freely under your hand.

• Fingers 1, 2 and 3 all on the second fret: 1 on the D string, 2 on the G string, 3 on the B string.
• Don't play the low E string. Start your strum from the A string.

The three fingers are squeezed into a small space, so they sit at a slight diagonal, each one just behind the fret. If they will not all fit, some players use fingers 2, 3 and 4 instead, or lay one finger flat across all three. Use whichever lets the high E ring.

Hold E and strum down four times, slowly and evenly: one, two, three, four. Then change to A and strum it four times. Then back to E.

It will not be smooth yet, and there will be a gap while your fingers move. That is normal. The next lessons, and a little practice every day, will close the gap.

Before you move on, hold each chord and pick each string one at a time. For A, skip the low E. Every note should ring. A dull note means a finger is leaning on the wrong string, so curve it more and press with the tip.