Diagrams of Chords
in the
Principal Major and Minor Keys
The four vertical lines represent the four strings, the double horizontal line the nut and the single horizontal lines the frets.
A black dot, , indicates that the string upon which it is placed is to be pressed down, or stopped, at the position indicated.
The number above the dot tells which finger to use.
The circle, indicates an open string, i.e. the string upon which it is placed is to be played without being stopped.
The bracket indicates that two or more strings are stopped with one finger.
Example: in the diagram above, the first and second strings are stopped be the first finger just abobe the first fret. The third string is open and the fourth string stopped by the third finger just above the third fret.