Guitar A Chord Chart

Below is an interactive chart that allows you to play back and visually see all variations of an A chord on guitar. To use it simply click on the shapes with your mouse and explore various options. Alternatively, there’s also a key function on your computer keyboard which lets you move more easilly from one shape to another. It’s a neat combination of visual diagram plus realistic audio playback.

It helps close gap between learning about chords in theory and applying that knowledge in practice. To step from one chord voicing to another, just use the arrow keys on your keyboard. The left/right arrows will cycle forward/backward to previous/next chord in the set. To play a strummed version of current chord and listen to its sound, hit either space bar or enter key. You can quickly compare finger positions without removing your hands from the keyboard with this mapping.

How to Use the Guitar Chord Tool

To choose a specific chord quickly, just tap its name in grid to the left. Immediately big diagram on the right will update, showing how to position your fingers. The blue dots represent notes you should press, and there’s a number inside each one to tell you what finger to use. Circles with an X through them is muted notes; don’t play these. Finally, open circles represents strings you’ll need to strum without pressing down on.

At anytime you want to strum that currently selected chord just click the Strum button and it will be played back for you. Likewise if you click straight onto the fretboard diagram it will make sound too. It is handy when practicing a particular voicing and you do not wish to take your eyes off keyboard or stretch out to other control buttons. There is no delay when playing sounds back because it happens in real-time.

To set a playback level that works best for your listening conditions, use the volume slider in the control bar. Pull it toward the left if you want to practice late at night or drag it to the right for maximum sound. This will apply to every chord you play via the widget, no need to change it when you move from minor to major or seventh variation.

Underneath, there’s a how to play button which opens a quick help panel (above) with tips on fingering the most popular A chord shapes as well as an explanation of the notation on the diagram. Turn it off when you’re familiar with interface to leave more space for chart. The Fullscreen button lets you eliminate all other browser clutter and concentrate on just playing the guitar neck. You can expand widget so it fills up your computer screen by clicking the Fullscreen button. If you’re demonstrating or teaching a group class with a projector, this can be particulary useful.

The first chord is a simple, normal A major and then you can compare it to A minor or A7 (depending which you want to try). Notice how small shifts in one finger change the harmony. Strum them all at slow pace. Allow yourself to develop an ear for the difference between a major sound and a minor sound. Playing other variations on this such as extended chords like Amaj7 will bring some colour to your playing too.

As an exercise try to move from one chord to another with similar fingerings like this example of A, Am and A7 which all use same three fingers on the middle strings in each shape with minor adjustment to move from one to another. To speed up the process, you can practice on keyboard arrows to cycle around the shapes to develop your muscle memory for efficient transitions when playing songs.

Don’t feel pressured to race through the list; take as long as you need to explore each voicing. There’s no score to tally up or timer to watch. It’s simply a place where you can feel safe to learn what you want, when you want. When you’re ready to really get stuck in and practice, go fullscreen and hide the help panel.

It should of been time to bring these shapes to life: click and strum away…