Guitar Chords for Beginners – 3 String D, C and D7

Today’s beginner lesson is going to teach you three different chords. These chords are going to be played on the bottom three strings of your guitar, the G, B and high E strings, and two of them will only require you to use one finger on one fret.

These chords are the perfect beginner primer to full six string chords and will give you something to practice with besides single notes on a particular string. A note about the guitar TAB I’ve used below to explain the chords. The 0’s represent strings that are played open, numbers represent the fret number you play on that string and an X means you don’t play that string at all.

C Chord

E — 0 —
B — 1 —
G — 0 —
D — X —
A — X —
E — X —

To play the beginner three string C chord you use your first finger on the 1st fret of the B string and strum the bottom three strings, G, B & E.

G Chord

E — 3 —
B — 0 —
G — 0 —
D — X —
A — X —
E — X —

To play the G chord, like the C chord, you only require one finger. Use your third finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string and strum the bottom three strings.

D7 Chord

E — 1 —
B — 2 —
G — 1 —
D — X —
A — X —
E — X —

To play the D7 chord place your second finger on the 1st fret of the E string, your third finger on the 2nd fret of the B string and your first finger on the 1st fret of the G string.

So that’s it, your first three string chords. Try practicing these each day you pick up your gutiar and also try integrating switching between them while strumming. They sound nice together in any order and will help you get ready for more difficult chord switches and strumming patterns.

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