More of this Feature • Part 1: overview • Part 2: fingerpicking • Part 3: strumming patterns • Part 4: slash chords • Part 5: slides • Part 6: string bending • Part 7: learning songs • Part 8: practice schedule

Related Content • Index of Guitar Lessons • Buying Your First Guitar • How to Read Guitar Tab • Easy to Play Songs • Guitar Chord Library

The chord example in part three uses a C/G (pronounced "C over G") chord. This is just one of the hundreds of these types of chords you'll find in popular music, and is referred to as a "slash chord".

Understanding how to read these chords is simple - the letter to the left of the slash is the type of chord - so in this case it is "C" chord (aka a C major chord). The note to the right of the slash is the bass note in the chord - a "G" in this circumstance. So, a C/G chord is a C major chord with the note G in the bass. If you study the chord in part three, you can clearly see the C major chord, with the G on the third fret of the sixth string also being fretted in the bass.

Here are a few of the many common slash chords:

D/F# - (pronounced "D over F#") - a standard Dmajor chord with an F# in the bass, usually played by wrapping the thumb around the neck of the guitar, and fretting the second fret of the sixth string.

A/C# - (pronounced "A over C#") - An Amajor chord with a C# in the bass, usually played by barring the second fret of the fourth, third, and second strings with your first finger, and playing the fourth fret of the fifth string (the C#) with either the third finger, or the pinky finger.

C/E - (pronounced "C over E") - A Cmajor chord with an E in the bass, usually played by simply fretting a Cmajor chord, and including the open low E string in the strum.

Amin/G - (pronounced "A minor over G") - An Aminor chord, with a G in the bass, usually played by fretting an Aminor chord, and using the pinky finger play the third fret of the sixth string (the "G").

Things to Try:

• Invent slash chords, by simply thinking of a chord type, then picking a random note to play in the bass. Next, try and figure out how to play these chords. They may not sound wonderful, but you may stumble upon some that you like. And, it's great practice for learning note names on the fretboard.
• Try making up some chord progressions that use the above, or other slash chords. Here are a couple to get you started: Amin - Amin/G - Fmaj, or Gmaj - D/F# - Emin, or Dmin - Dmin/C - G/B - Cmaj .

Now, let's move on to learning how to slide.

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