Pop music has a secret: most of it cycles through four chords. G, C, D, and Em. These four shapes, in some rotation, are Stand By Me, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Let It Be, With or Without You, and approximately every campfire singalong ever.
Em (the easiest chord on guitar)
Two fingers, 2nd fret on the A and D strings. Strum all six. Use your middle and ring fingers, keep your index free for what's next.C major
Three fingers in a slight diagonal:- Ring finger: 3rd fret, A string
- Middle finger: 2nd fret, D string
- Index finger: 1st fret, B string
- Strum from the A string down (skip the low E).
D major
Three fingers in a triangle on the G, B, high E strings:- Index: 2nd fret, G string
- Ring: 3rd fret, B string
- Middle: 2nd fret, high E string
- Strum from the D string down (skip low E and A).
Read the full guide
A longer write-up with every detail, drill, and common pitfall.
The transition trick
Switching from G to C: keep your ring finger on the same fret, just shift it from the high E string to the A string. The shared finger is the "pivot."G to D: don't even try to clean-pick the change; just lift G and stab D as a single motion. Speed comes later; rhythm comes first.
Drill the cycle
60 BPM, four strums per chord:
G (4) → C (4) → D (4) → Em (4) → repeat.
Five minutes. Don't worry if chords buzz during transitions. Stay in time, even if you have to thunk a dead beat to make the change.
Next: strumming patterns. Down-down-up. Boom-chuck. The patterns that turn four chords into songs.