The Most Difficult Guitar Chord, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the guitar chord you think is the most difficult!
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:24
Mastering guitar chords can be a complex journey, filled with both familiar grips and intricate fingerings that challenge even seasoned players. Understanding which chords are the toughest helps learners focus their practice on the most challenging aspects. The difficulty of a guitar chord can vary widely from player to player, making it intriguing to see which chords others find the most taxing.
By voting for the guitar chords you find the most difficult, you contribute to a unique, community-sourced ranking. This list not only assists beginners and intermediate players in identifying key areas for improvement but also offers insights into the varying experiences of guitarists at different skill levels. Each vote adds to a collective knowledge base, guiding guitarists on what to expect as they advance.
What Is the Most Difficult Guitar Chord?
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1100votesThis chord is a challenging one to play because it requires the player to stretch their fingers across the fretboard to reach all of the necessary notes. It is also known as the "Jimmy Bruno chord." [The B7b13 chord is a complex and challenging guitar chord that combines different elements to create a unique sound. It is typically used in jazz and blues music.
- Root Note: B
- Chord Type: Dominant 7th
- Extension: Flattened 13th
- Fingering: X21202
- Intervals: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th, Flattened 13th
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237votesThis chord is commonly used in jazz and requires a lot of finger strength and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "half-diminished chord." [The F#m7b5 chord, also known as F sharp minor 7 flat 5, is a challenging guitar chord that consists of the notes F#, A, C, and E. It is often used in jazz, fusion, and funk music to create tension and add complexity to chord progressions.
- Chord type: Tetrachord
- Root note: F#
- Quality: Minor
- Extension: Seventh
- Alteration: Flat fifth
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320votesSimilar to the F#m7b5 chord, this chord requires a lot of finger strength and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "minor 7 flat 5 chord." [The C#m7b5 chord is a highly complex and challenging chord to play on the guitar. It is classified as a minor seventh flat five (m7b5) chord, which consists of the root note C#, flattened third note E, diminished fifth note G, and minor seventh note B. The chord is sometimes written as C#ΓΈ7 or C#min7b5.
- Difficulty Level: Difficult
- Fretting: Barre chord
- Finger Placement: Requires intricate finger positioning
- Hand Stretch: Requires significant hand stretch
- Fingering: Involves pressing multiple strings simultaneously
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423votesThis chord requires a lot of finger stretching and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "augmented seventh chord." [The G#7#5 chord is a complex and challenging guitar chord that consists of G#, B#, D#, and F## notes. It is classified as a dominant seventh sharp five chord, often used in jazz and advanced harmonic contexts to create tension and dissonance.
- Chord Type: Dominant Seventh Sharp Five
- Root Note: G#
- Third Note: B#
- Fifth Note: D#
- Sharp Fifth Note: F##
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520votesThis chord is commonly used in blues and rock music and requires a lot of finger strength and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "Hendrix chord." [The Bb7#9 chord is a complex and challenging guitar chord that creates a dissonant and bluesy sound. It consists of the following notes: Bb, D, F, Ab, and C#. The chord is also known as Bb dominant sharp ninth or Bb7+9.
- Root Note: Bb
- Third: D
- Fifth: F
- Flatted Seventh: Ab
- Sharp Ninth: C#
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611votesThis chord requires a lot of finger stretching and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "augmented major seventh chord." [The Cmaj7#5 chord is an advanced guitar chord that combines a major seventh quality with an augmented fifth interval. It is characterized by its unique and dissonant sound.
- Chord Type: Major 7th with augmented 5th
- Root Note: C
- Interval Structure: 1 - 3 - #5 - 7
- Fingering: X 3 4 4 4 X
- Alternative Names: Cmaj7+5, Cma7#5
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710votesSimilar to the Cmaj7#5 chord, this chord requires a lot of finger stretching and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "augmented major seventh chord." [
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81votesThis chord is commonly used in jazz and requires a lot of finger strength and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "half-diminished chord." [The G#m7b5 chord, also known as G sharp minor seven flat five, is a challenging guitar chord that consists of four distinct notes. It is typically formed by combining the root note G#, the flattened third note B, the flattened fifth note D, and the flattened seventh note F#. This chord is often used in jazz, fusion, and other advanced music genres to add complexity and tension to compositions.
- Difficulty Level: Difficult
- Fingering: Barre chord with the index finger barring the fourth, third, and second strings
- Chord Type: Minor seventh flat five
- Root Note: G#
- Third Note: B (flattened)
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98votesThis chord requires a lot of finger stretching and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "sharp eleventh chord." [The Ebmaj7#11 chord is a challenging and complex guitar chord that consists of the following notes played together: Eb, G, Bb, D, and F#. It is a major 7th chord with an added #11 or sharp 11th. The chord creates a rich and jazzy sound, often used in jazz and fusion genres.
- Notes: Eb, G, Bb, D, F#
- Chord Type: Major 7th with #11
- Fingering: X6568X
- Difficulty Level: Challenging
- Tonal Quality: Rich and Jazzy
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109votesSimilar to the G#m7b5 chord, this chord requires a lot of finger strength and precision to play correctly. It is also known as the "dominant seventh flat five chord." [The C#7b5 chord, also known as C# dominant seventh flat five chord, is a complex and dissonant guitar chord. It is formed by combining the notes C#, E#, G#, and B. The 'b5' symbolizes the flatted fifth interval, which is the diminished fifth or tritone interval between E# and G#. This chord has a tense and unresolved sound, often used in jazz and fusion genres to create tension and chromatic movement.
- Name: C#7b5
- Notes: C#, E#, G#, B
- Intervals: Root, Major Third, Flatted Fifth, Minor Seventh
- Symbol: C#7b5
- Chord Type: Dominant Seventh Flat Five
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Ranking factors for difficult guitar chord
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Finger stretch and positionSome chords require a significant stretch between fingers or unusual finger positioning, which can be challenging for players, especially for beginners or those with smaller hands.
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Number of fingers usedGenerally, chords that require the use of all four fingers of the fretting hand or even the thumb can be more difficult to play.
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Barre chordsBarre chords require the index finger to press down on multiple strings simultaneously, which can be particularly strenuous for inexperienced players.
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Complexity of the chord shapeThe more intricate and less intuitive the chord shape, the harder it generally is to play. This includes chords that require the hand to be twisted or contorted in irregular ways.
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Chord transitionsHow smoothly and quickly can the guitarist move from one chord shape to another? A challenging chord may be even more difficult if it's preceded or followed by another difficult shape.
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Fretting hand strength and finger independenceSome chords require a strong grip on the fretboard and an ability to move each finger independently, which can be difficult for beginners or those with decreased hand strength.
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Muting unwanted stringsIn some cases, the guitarist may need to mute certain strings while playing a chord, in order to keep the desired sound. This can add an extra layer of difficulty.
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Alternate and open tuningsChords can be more challenging to play in alternate or open tunings, as the finger patterns and shapes may differ significantly from standard tuning.
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Physical limitations or discomfortSome chords can be uncomfortable or even painful to play for extended periods, especially for people with existing hand or wrist issues.
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Personal preference and experienceIndividual guitarists may find specific chords more difficult to play than others, based on their own comfort level and experience with playing different chord shapes.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult guitar chord. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or chord is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 8619 views
- 204 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each chord once every 24 hours. The rank of each chord is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most difficult guitar chord
Playing the guitar requires a lot of practice and patience, and mastering the different chords is no exception. While some chords may be relatively easy to play, others can prove to be quite challenging, even for experienced guitarists. In fact, there is often debate among guitar players about which chord is the most difficult to play. Factors such as hand size, finger dexterity, and strength all play a role in determining which chords are the most challenging. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, learning and perfecting difficult guitar chords can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. So, which chord do you think is the most difficult to play? Let's find out!
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