Master Guitar Chord Inversions on Three Strings

Whether you’re a beginner picking up the guitar for the first time or an experienced player looking to expand your skills, learning to play chord inversions on just three strings can open up a whole new world of sound and understanding.

In most beginner guitar lessons, students first learn chords using four, five, or six strings. This is a great starting point, but few guitarists are introduced to playing chords using only three adjacent strings.
So why focus on three strings? And what exactly is an inversion?

In short, even though guitar chords typically involve strumming multiple strings, major and minor chords are each built from just three distinct notes. You can duplicate those notes across strings, but the essential structure remains three separate pitches.
Mastering the sound and shape of each chord using just one of each note simplifies the fretboard and helps you gain a deeper understanding of how music is mapped on the guitar.

Chord inversions simply mean rearranging the order of the notes.
For example, the notes of a C major chord are C, E, and G.

• E, G, C is a C major inversion.
• G, C, E is another inversion.

By practicing chord shapes on three adjacent strings, beginning students gain a clearer visual and aural understanding of the guitar. Intermediate players will discover new voicings and sounds that may have previously been overlooked.

Playing on Three Adjacent Strings

The standard guitar tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E.
The spacing (interval) between strings is consistent, except between the G and B strings, which have a different interval to facilitate easier chord fingering.

When working with three adjacent strings, there are four basic sets to explore:

• E-A-D
• A-D-G
• D-G-B
• G-B-E

Each set produces different chord shapes and positions.

• E-A-D and A-D-G have symmetrical shapes.
• D-G-B and G-B-E require unique shapes because of the tuning difference between G and B.

Even if these concepts seem a little complex to visualize at first, don’t worry! Learning guitar is a hands-on experience—and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Guitar Instruction at Grosse Pointe Music Academy

At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we specialize in helping students of all ages and levels master the guitar.
Our University-trained instructors offer lessons for:

• Acoustic Guitar
• Electric Guitar
• Classical Guitar
• Bass Guitar

We also offer exciting group programs like:

• Rock Band Classes
• Guitar Ensemble

We can customize instruction for different age groups—and even offer lessons where parents and children learn together!

In addition to guitar, we proudly offer lessons in:

• Piano
• Drums
• Bass Guitar
• Violin
• Viola
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Saxophone
• Ukulele

Plus, our Music Together® program provides a wonderful early childhood music experience for ages birth to 5 years.

Locations

Grosse Pointe Park Campus
19443 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
313-458-7723
info@grossepointemusicacademy.com

Canton Music Academy
5880 N. Canton Center Road, Suite 425
Canton, MI 48187
734-667-4983
canton@grossepointemusicacademy.com

You’ve always wanted to play. Start today!