Beginner lessons
Two more chords, Cadd9 and G. Starting from the D chord you already know, each one is a short move away, and the third finger and pinky stay put the whole time.
This is lesson 8 in my beginner series. In lesson 7, you learned the D chord and a system for learning new chords. Here you’ll use that same system for Cadd9 and G.
Why Learn Cadd9 Before C?
Like many teachers, I used to teach the C chord first and leave chords with fancy names like Cadd9 for later. Over the years I changed my mind:
- C and Cadd9 are about the same difficulty.
- Cadd9 uses the pinky, but when it’s taught in this order, most students manage it without much trouble.
- It’s much easier to move from D to Cadd9. The C chord means changing every finger.
- From Cadd9 to G is a short move, so you get the G chord early on.
- And it’s a beautiful-sounding chord.
For this beginner series, I’ll often just call it C.
From D to Cadd9
Start by practicing the new chord the same way you practiced the D chord in the last lesson: finger it, adjust, take your hand off and repeat, then do the same while picking the strings.
Make your D chord. Then:
- Put your pinky on the first string at the third fret, right next to your third finger. The pinky is usually weak, but next to the third finger it has some support.
- Move your second finger to the fifth string at the third fret.
- Move your first finger to the fourth string at the second fret.
- Your third finger and pinky stay where they are.
Try to keep your hand hanging straight down from the neck, with the back of your hand facing the floor, and stay relaxed. You only need enough pressure to hold the chord. Most people use more tension than they need at first, and learn to lighten up with practice.
Take your fingers off, shake out your hand and go back to D. Repeat the move three or four times. Don’t worry about the sound yet. When you do strum it and it doesn’t sound right, that’s normal; hardly anybody gets it the first time.
From Cadd9 to G
Many students find the G chord a challenge on its own, but coming from Cadd9 it’s a small move:
- Move your second finger to the sixth string at the third fret.
- Move your first finger to the fifth string at the second fret.
- Your third finger and pinky stay put.
You can move one finger at a time to start, but in my experience it’s easier to move both together. If I had to pick the open chord I use most, it would very likely be this G.
The Whole Move
Here’s the complete progression: D, add the pinky, move two fingers to make Cadd9, move the same two fingers again to make G, then back to D with the pinky off.
Practice it again and again, and work toward moving both fingers at the same time. Then strum each chord as you make it. It may not sound great at first. Take a few seconds to adjust your fingers, keeping in mind what you learned in lesson 7, then move on to the next chord.
In lesson 9, you’ll add strumming and learn some tips for changing chords more smoothly.
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I’ve been playing the guitar off and on few a few years started taking lessons once and didn’t learn anything so just give up on finding someone I could trust to learn something from asked once someone that runs the ohio valley opry here in are home town if I could sit on there practice sessions to maybe pick up on some things and learn play with other people there answer was flat out no we only take seasoned players and that really left me with a very bad taste in my mouth with ever asking any body for help again so I just learned what could on my own but the desire to lean is what keeps me driven on I live in a very small town forty miles from any bigger cities to actually consider a teacher but I discovered Thomas Michaud while surfing the internet boy was I surprised at what you offered for lessons blew me away this is what I needed you offer up what I need to really help me along the path of my guitar playing future. My wife and I spent a week in Nashville and was I ever so happy when I got to walk up on the stage at the Ryman Auditorium stage it was a dream come true for me that day. That experience made my desire even stronger to want to play music no matter where it may take me in the future. The lessons are what I need to help me with some frustrations I’ve been encountering Thanks Thomas your gonna be a great big help.
Thanks for the comment, Jeff. I’m glad I could help. -Tomas
You are quite diferent from others! You go isto the details and i am quite entusiastic. Thank you! What means “Cadd9”? Are there any good explanation?!
1- why that chord name Cadd9 or Dsus9
2- what the difference between major chord and minor chord w, why in some major chords we put a # sign before note
I’ve only been playing a couple of months, but have learned so much from these lessons. Thank you, Thomas! Was having a lot of trouble going from C to a full G chord, but this lesson helped with that a LOT, because of the position of the fingers in the Cadd9 position. Will be working on this!
I still use these forms of G and C all the time. You may want to try using them with simple songs like happy birthday. It’s good practice. -Tomas
HI Wayne here to say you sound like you mean teaching!Most people say you can learn in few week.bull,I’am 70 year and slow I need to learn chords first and you are the first person to explain thing in realty and understand beginners Thank You I am on D.Cadd9 and G
I've been enjoying the lessons for grown ups up to now. Seriously thinking of continuing, but want to finish this series first. Where is link to lesson #10?
Hi Paula. Here’s lesson #10 https://tomasmichaud.com/fingerstyle-guitar-easy
– Tomas
Hi Thomas I’m 85 been learning for a couple of years. One of the most annoying things for me is being taught to play a cord or a sequence and the being told :-OR YOU COULD DO IT THIS WAY OR THIS WAY This adds to frustration and I find it best to learn one basic way -with one basic teacher and stick to it at least until I have a sound grasp of the basics
I congratulate you on your approach your teaching method and the simplicity of your teaching method
Thank you. Jim. Devon EnglandJim
Hi Tomas:
Are the first and second fingers on the Dsus4 chord in the D-Dsus4-Cadd9-G chord progression figure correct? I thought you add the pinky to D and leave first and second fingers as in D. Figure shows them switched from D.
V/R
BG
Wow… you’re right BG. I don’t know how I did that. I just fixed it. Thanks!
Brilliant !!! So enjoyable trying to play along with Tomas on the very basic stuff
The G – Cadd9 chord progression is a beautiful chord progression, with the gorgeous drone of the “top” three strings (which, from your point of view, are under the lower strings, but they’re called the top strings), while the other three change (generally trying to mute the sixth on the Cadd9). Used in songs such as Every Rose Has its Thorn (which also includes a beautiful-sounding 12-string acoustic guitar).