A chord diagram may seem like a confusing assortment of lines and dots that look like a mini fence, but it is actually a roadmap for finger placement on the fretboard. Before you fret a single string, you have to decipher what the chord diagram wants from you. The vertical lines are the strings. The horizontal lines are the frets, and dots tell you where the fingertips go. Reading the chord diagram first gives you a clear goal to work toward. It saves you from guessing, straining to hold down the shape, or finding that you need to reposition a finger to eliminate string buzz.
First, grab the guitar, but do not build the chord yet. Scan the chord diagram to see what strings to hit. Sometimes you see an open circle above a string. This indicates that string should play open. Sometimes you see an X, which usually means that string should not sound when the chord rings. This is important because you can form the shape perfectly and still have an unbalanced or muddy chord if you are hitting strings that are not supposed to be playing. You need to understand where to start strumming when the shape needs five strings or fewer.
The dotted lines show the fret positions. A dot on the first line means that you press right behind that first fret. You want your fingertips on the guitar strings just behind that fret wire, neither too far in the space, nor directly on top of the metal fret. If you fret further back, there will be buzz. Pressing right onto the fret can dull the note. When your fingertip is right up next to the fret, the note will sound clear without you needing to press down too hard.
The numbers in the circles are finger numbers. 1 for index, 2 for middle, 3 for ring, and 4 for pinkie. They are not there for decoration. If you follow this number guide, you build muscle memory. The shapes you hold now will help you transition later. If you do the chord shape every time, but change up the fingers each time, you might get the chord to sound once, but then when you try the next change, it will be a struggle. If you follow the numbers, the transitions will be more fluid.
Now that you have analyzed the chart, try the shape. One finger at a time, build the chord. Do not strum right away. Pick each string. Check the strings one by one. Start with the lowest string in the chord. The goal now is not to play the chord, but to get a clean sound on each string. The goal of each string is one of three sounds: clean sound, a string that buzzes, or muted. The clean sound is what we are after. This indicates that the finger is in place. The string that buzzes might mean that you are too far back from the fret, or you are not applying enough pressure. If you are getting muted sound, then another finger is touching the string by accident.
Your thumb and hand position are also crucial. If the wrist is too flat, the fingers will touch other strings. If the hand grips too tight, the chord will become fatigued faster and it might take longer for you to get a consistent chord sound. You want to build the chord so that the fingers stand tall enough on the string to keep the sound clear. You do not want to press hard on the fretboard. The fingering should be natural and relaxed.
When you get a clean ring on all of the strings, you pick up a pick or your thumb to strum a down stroke slowly. Listen again for any changes. Does one string disappear when you do this? Are you hitting an X? Did your hand shift, moving your finger off the fret? You should be careful. These few notes should be checked more carefully than a quick strumming of the same chord shape. A chord chart is not only for once, use it as a reference. If the chord doesn’t ring right, you can consult your chart again to see what is happening.
If your goal is not to rush, then you are on the right track. If you are able to see the chord diagram, form the shape correctly, check the strings, and hear it, without guessing where to hit and where to place the finger, then you are making progress. Once this happens, the transitions and strumming will sound better as you move onto the next open chord. So the next time you see a chord diagram, make your eye your first point of reference, and not your fingers.