If electric has the power chord, acoustic has the open G. Three fingers, all six strings ringing, big and bright. You'll play this chord more than any other.
The fingering
- Middle finger: 3rd fret, low E string
- Index finger: 2nd fret, A string
- Ring finger: 3rd fret, high E string
- Strum all six strings
Common variants
Some teachers teach a four-finger G that also frets the B string at the 3rd fret. We'll stick with the three-finger version for now. Later, try ring finger on the B string and pinky on the high E, both at the 3rd fret, for a fuller G.Deep-dive guide
Read the full guide
A longer write-up with every detail, drill, and common pitfall.
Drill it
Practice metronome
60BPM
Set 60 BPM. Strum G on each downbeat. Eight times. Then lift your fingers, shake them out for two seconds, place them down again. Repeat for five minutes. The lift-and-replace is the magic; that's how your hand learns the shape.
Listen for the ring
A properly fretted G should ring cleanly on every string. If any string is dead or buzzy, your finger is touching an adjacent string. Move your fingertip more directly on top of the string, push down hard, recheck.Next: three more chords. By the end of lesson 5 you'll play the four most common chords in pop history.