Free Guitar Chord Chart
The open chords every guitarist learns, the open seventh chords that come next, and how to read a chord box, all checked note by note. Free in eight sizes, in US or UK music terms.
Make it yours: see it in another style
Any US home printer (8.5 × 11 in). A binder, desk or music stand.
Download the PDFLetter, US · 53 KB
Customize this posterChange the sections, style and colors, and add your own title, in the Music Theory Poster Maker. $9 PDF.
✓ Your PDF is downloading
Make this poster yours
- Your own title, like “Mrs. Green’s Music Room”
- Only the sections you teach, or add more
- A different style: Dark, Modern or Minimal
Customize this poster →$9 PDF · try it free first
On the Letter poster (3 sections)
- Open Chords
- How to Read a Chord Box
- Open Seventh Chords
Plus a practice tip in the space left over.
The bigger the poster, the more fits: A2 and larger have all 5 sections.
All sizes and files
| Size | Dimensions | Sections | US terms | UK terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 216 × 279 mm · 8.5 × 11 in | 3 | PDF, 53 KB | PDF, 53 KB |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm · 8.3 × 11.7 in | 3 | PDF, 53 KB | PDF, 53 KB |
| 11 × 17 in | 279 × 432 mm · 11 × 17 in | 4 | PDF, 69 KB | PDF, 69 KB |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm · 11.7 × 16.5 in | 5 | PDF, 86 KB | PDF, 86 KB |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm · 16.5 × 23.4 in | 5 | PDF, 102 KB | PDF, 102 KB |
| 18 × 24 in | 18 × 24 in · 457 × 610 mm | 5 | PDF, 101 KB | PDF, 101 KB |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm · 23.4 × 33.1 in | 5 | PDF, 105 KB | PDF, 105 KB |
| 24 × 36 in | 24 × 36 in · 610 × 914 mm | 5 | PDF, 105 KB | PDF, 105 KB |
What’s on the guitar chord chart
- Open chords: C, A, G, E, D, Am, Em and Dm, with finger numbers, which strings to play or mute, and the root marked.
- How to read a chord box: what the lines, the thick top line, “3fr”, the numbers, ○ and ✕ mean.
- Open seventh chords: A7, B7, C7, D7, E7 and G7, the chords behind blues and folk.
- Power chords (11 × 17 in and larger): the two-note shape on the low E and A strings.
- Common progressions (A3 and larger): the chord patterns behind most songs.
Every chord box is worked out from standard tuning and checked: each sounds only the notes of its chord, with the root as the lowest note.
How to use it
- Two chords at a time: pick two shapes (Em and G, or A and D) and switch between them slowly until the change is smooth, then add a third.
- Sevenths after the basics: each seventh chord is close to an open chord you know: E7 is E with one finger lifted, and A7 is A with one finger lifted.
- Twelve bars of blues: play E7, A7 and B7 from the chart in the 12-bar pattern. It’s the classic first blues.
- A chord that isn’t on the chart? Look it up in the chord finder, which shows the chart’s shape first where there is one, then more shapes up the neck.
Learn it step by step
The poster is a reminder; these free lessons and guides teach each part, with notes you can play and hear.
- Open Seventh Chords
- Chord Formulas · Lesson 31: Major and Minor Chords
- Common Progressions
- Lesson 32: Chords in a Key · Chords in a Key
Questions
Is it really free? Yes. Download it, print as many copies as you like, and share the link. No email or account.
How is it different from the beginner guitar poster? The beginner guitar poster covers a bit of everything: chords, the fretboard, tab and a scale shape. This chart is all chords, including the seventh chords.
Is it for left-handed players? The boxes are drawn for right-handed guitar, as most charts are. A left-handed version is planned.
Can I play these chords with a capo? Yes: the open shapes stay the same and the chords move up a half step per fret. The capo chart shows what each shape becomes on frets 1 to 7.
Is there a ukulele version? Yes: the free ukulele chord chart has all 12 major, minor and 7th chords for ukulele in G C E A tuning.