Home > Chords > Open Chord Variation

Open Chord Variations

In the basic guitar chords series, we were introduced to some essential open guitar chords and their most common variations.

This lesson is all about discovering more interesting, uncommon open chord variations, built around those same positions - E A D C and G.

You'll be surprised at the vast library of chords you'll have under your fingers just from playing around with these positions.

The beauty of open chords is, because they use open strings, they sound especially vibrant - great for those big strumming songs.

The idea is that you build up your chord voicing options and experiment with each in your songwriting. Open chords shouldn't replace other chord forms you learn, but just having the option gives you that creative freedom.

---

Open E chord variations

Major open E chords

Notice how the key elements of the basic major chord (the root E string, the 3rd on 1st fret G string and 5th on A string 2nd fret) are kept intact. All we're doing is adding tones to these basic chords to give them more color and depth.

Eadd6/9	E13
Emaj13	Eaug
Eaug7

Minor open E chords

Again, key elements of the basic minor triad are still there (root E string, open G string minor 3rd and 5th on A string 2nd fret). We're just adding tones around it to spice things up. They won't sound right in every context, but they're there when you need them!

Emadd6/9	Em9
Em9 alt	Em13

---

Open A chord variations

Major open A chords

A13	Amaj13
Amaj7sus2	Aaug
Aaug7

Minor open A chords

Am13	Amadd6
AmMaj7

Suspended open A chords

 Asus13
 

---

Open D chord variations

Major open D chords

Daug	Daug7
D7add6

Minor open D chords

Dmadd6

DmMaj7

Suspended open D chords

Dmaj7sus2	Dsus2b5
Dsus4add6

---

Open C chord variations

Major open C chords

Cadd9b5	Cadd9/6
C9

---

Open G chord variations

Major open G chords

Gmaj9

G13

Minor open G chords

Gm11

Gmadd6

Suspended open G chords

Gsus9

Gsus13

Use the open chord variations you've learned in this lesson as inspiration for trying your own ideas. Add/remove fingers/notes to the chord forms you know and hear how it changes their sound.

Tweet

Like This? Subscribe & Learn More... Subscribe to the fretjam newsletter below for updates and extras, plus grab your free copy of Uncommon Chords: 101 Vibrant Voicings You Won't Find on a Typical Chord Chart. Enter Your Email To Get Your Free Copy Don't worry -- your email address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you the fretjam newsletter.

Back to Main Guitar Chords Section

         
                                Subscribe  -  Donate  -  About  -  Contact  -  Site Policies