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Worship Guitar Chord Chart & Library
Look up any guitar chord and see exactly where each finger goes. This free chord library is a quick reference for worship leaders and church musicians — whether you are learning your first hymn or looking for a new way to voice a familiar one.
How to use the chord library
Pick the root note
Choose the letter name of the chord you need — for example G, D or C. If your chord sheet shows a sharp or flat, such as F♯ or B♭, select that root.
Choose the chord type
Select major, minor, seventh or another type to match the chord symbol. A lone letter means major, “m” means minor (Em), and “7” adds a seventh (D7).
Follow the diagram
Vertical lines are strings, low E on the left; horizontal lines are frets. The numbers show which finger to use: 1 is your index finger and 4 your little finger. Strum only the strings that are not marked with an X.
Chords for the most common worship keys
A large share of hymns and praise songs use just four chords from their key: the I, IV, V and vi. Learn these for one key and you can already play a surprising number of songs; learn them for all five keys below and you can follow almost any chord chart.
| Key | I | IV | V | vi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | G | C | D | Em |
| D | D | G | A | Bm |
| C | C | F | G | Am |
| A | A | D | E | F♯m |
| E | E | A | B | C♯m |
Changing key with a capo
If a song sits too high or low for your singers, a capo lets you keep the same easy shapes and move the key. Play G-shape chords with a capo on the 2nd fret and the song sounds in A; capo 3 gives B♭, capo 4 gives B. Play C shapes with capo 2 and the song is in D. Many worship guitarists play almost everything with G, C and D shapes and let the capo do the work.
Using the chords on our hymn pages
Many hymns on Praise & Worship show chords above the Roman-script lyrics. If you meet a symbol you do not know, look it up here, practise the change slowly with the metronome, and then return to the hymn.
Frequently asked questions
Which guitar chords should I learn first for worship?
Start with G, C, D and Em. Together they form the I–IV–V–vi of the key of G, which is one of the most common keys for hymns and praise songs. Once you can switch between them smoothly, add A, Am and E, and you will be able to play in the keys of G, C, D and A — enough for most of a hymnal.
What do the numbers on a chord diagram mean?
They tell you which finger to place on each dot. 1 is your index finger, 2 your middle finger, 3 your ring finger and 4 your little finger. An O above a string means play it open, and an X means do not play it. Using the suggested fingers makes changing to the next chord much easier.
Barre chords are hard. Are there easier options?
Yes. Most barre chords have a simpler version: play Fmaj7 instead of F, or Bm7 using only four strings instead of a full Bm. Another option is to use a capo and choose a key whose chords need no barre at all. Keep practising barre chords for a few minutes a day, but do not let them stop you leading worship now.
How do I use a capo to match a singer’s key?
Find the key the singer is comfortable in, then choose a capo position that lets you play easy shapes. For example, if the song needs to be in A, put the capo on the 2nd fret and play the chords you would use in G. Each fret raises the pitch by one semitone, so move the capo up or down until it suits the voice.
Is the chord library free?
Yes. The chord library is free, with no account and nothing to download. It is a free widget from GuitarApp that we embed here so that musicians using Praise & Worship can check a chord without leaving the site. Use it as often as you like on a phone, tablet or computer.
More for church musicians
- Guitar Tuner
Tune up in seconds using your phone or laptop microphone.
- Metronome
Keep a steady beat for practice and for counting the band in.
- Scale Finder
See scale patterns on the fretboard in any key.
- Browse hymns by theme
Find hymns for thanksgiving, prayer, Christmas and more.
- Hymn index
Every hymn by number, with lyrics and chords.