The Most Difficult Guitar Chord to Play, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the guitar chord you think is the most difficult!

Updated on May 1, 2024 06:24

For guitarists ascending the path to mastery, tackling challenging chords is part of the growth process. Each chord comes with its set of struggles, from complex finger positioning to advanced hand stretching. Determining which chord strikes as the toughest can help both new and experienced players set personal benchmarks and focus areas. By sharing their opinions on which are the most demanding guitar chords, users contribute to a collective resource that benefits the larger community of guitar players. This dynamic ranking not only clarifies what awaits guitarists as they advance but also instills a sense of accomplishment once these hurdles are overcome.

What Is the Most Difficult Guitar Chord to Play?

1

104
votes
Bb7#5

This chord requires the player to use all four fingers and stretch them across four frets. It is also known as the "Hendrix chord" because Jimi Hendrix frequently used it in his music.
The Bb7#5 chord is a complex and challenging guitar chord that consists of the following notes: Bb, D#, F#, and A. It is a dominant 7th chord with a sharp 5th (also known as an augmented 5th or a sharp augmented 11th). The technical difficulty of this chord lies in the hand position required to achieve the proper finger positioning on the fretboard.

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Fingering: Barre chord or alternate finger positioning

Position on the Fretboard: 4th fret

Key: Bb major

Notes: Bb, D#, F#, A
2

34
votes
C#m11

This chord involves a complex finger placement and requires the player to hold down multiple strings with one finger.
The C#m11 chord is a challenging guitar chord that requires a high level of finger dexterity and precision. It is commonly used in various musical genres, including jazz and blues.

Chord type: Extended minor 11th

Root note: C#

Quality: Minor

Interval structure: 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11

Fingering: 1, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4
3

15
votes
G#dim7

This chord is challenging because it involves a lot of finger stretching and requires the player to hold down all four strings with one finger.
The G#dim7 chord is a highly challenging guitar chord due to its complex finger positioning and the stretch required to play it. It is also known as G#diminished 7 or G#°7.

Chord Name: G#dim7

Common Alternative: Abdim7

Number of Fingers: 4

Finger Positions: 1st finger: 2nd fret on the 3rd string, 2nd finger: 1st fret on the 2nd string, 3rd finger: 2nd fret on the 1st string, 4th finger: 2nd fret on the 4th string

Difficulty Level: Advanced
4

20
votes
F#maj7

This chord requires the player to use all four fingers and stretch them across four frets. It is also difficult to mute the strings that are not supposed to be played.
The F#maj7 chord is a challenging chord to play on the guitar due to its complex finger positioning and the requirement of spanning multiple frets. It is characterized by its rich, jazzy sound and is commonly used in various music genres.

Chord Name: F#maj7

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Fingering: 2-2-2-4-4-2

Fret Position: 2nd Fret

Root Note: F#
5

15
votes
Ab9

This chord requires the player to hold down four strings with one finger, which can be a difficult stretch for some players.
The Ab9 chord is a challenging guitar chord that consists of four different notes. It is formed by combining the root note Ab, the major third note C, the perfect fifth note Eb, and the minor seventh note Gb. The chord is often played with all six strings of the guitar, requiring complex finger positioning and precise fretting.

Chord Name: Ab9

Root Note: Ab

Major Third: C

Perfect Fifth: Eb

Minor Seventh: Gb
6

17
votes
B7b9

This chord involves a complex finger placement and requires the player to hold down multiple strings with one finger. It is commonly used in jazz music.
The B7b9 chord is a challenging guitar chord known for its intricate finger positioning and stretching. It is derived from the B major chord and adds a flat ninth interval, represented by the note A flat (Ab), to create a complex and dissonant sound.

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Finger Positioning: Barre chord on the 7th fret with additional finger placements

Chord Formula: 1-3-5-b7-b9

Notes Played: B-D#-F#-A-C

Finger Stretching: Requires stretching the fingers across multiple frets
7

7
votes
E7#9

This chord is challenging because it involves a lot of finger stretching and requires the player to hold down all four strings with one finger. It is also known as the "Hendrix chord" because Jimi Hendrix frequently used it in his music.
The E7#9 chord, often referred to as the 'Hendrix chord,' is a challenging guitar chord known for its unique and bluesy sound. It was popularized by the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

Chord Name: E7#9

Fingering: 1st finger: 1st fret on the 5th string (A) 2nd finger: 2nd fret on the 4th string (D) 3rd finger: 1st fret on the 3rd string (G) 4th finger: 2nd fret on the 2nd string (B) Open 1st string (E)

Chord Formula: Root (E) - Major Third (G#) - Perfect Fifth (B) - Minor Seventh (D) - Sharp Ninth (F#)

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Fretting Hand Positioning: Requires stretching and barring of multiple strings, particularly with the 1st finger.
8

9
votes
D#7#5

This chord requires the player to use all four fingers and stretch them across four frets. It is commonly used in jazz music.
The D#7#5 chord, also known as D sharp dominant seven sharp five, is a highly challenging guitar chord due to its complex finger placement and stretch requirements.

Difficulty: Very difficult

Fret: 6th fret

Finger placement: Barre chord

Finger positions: Index finger on 6th fret of the low E string, middle finger on 7th fret of the A string, ring finger on 8th fret of the D string, pinky finger on 8th fret of the G string and 7th fret of the high E string

String muting: Requires precise muting to prevent unwanted string resonance
9

9
votes
G#maj7#5

This chord involves a complex finger placement and requires the player to hold down multiple strings with one finger. It is commonly used in jazz music.
The G#maj7#5 chord is an advanced and challenging guitar chord that requires precise finger placement and strong technique. It features a complex combination of notes, including the root (G#), major 3rd (B#), augmented 5th (Dx) and major 7th (Fx). The augmented 5th (Dx) gives this chord its distinct and dissonant sound.

Difficulty level: Advanced

Finger placement: Difficult

Technique: Challenging

Root note: G#

Third: B#
10

5
votes
C#7#9

This chord is challenging because it involves a lot of finger stretching and requires the player to hold down all four strings with one finger. It is commonly used in blues and rock music.
The C#7#9 chord is a complex and difficult guitar chord that is often used in jazz, funk, and blues music. It is characterized by its rich and dissonant sound, adding tension and dramatic flair to a progression. The chord is commonly played in the 9th fret, with the following finger positions: index finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret; middle finger on the 1st string, 2nd fret; ring finger on the 3rd string, 3rd fret; pinky finger on the 4th string, 4th fret.

Chord Name: C#7#9

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Chord Type: Dominant 7th with sharp 9th

Finger Positions: 2nd string, 1st fret; 1st string, 2nd fret; 3rd string, 3rd fret; 4th string, 4th fret

Root Note: C#

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Ranking factors for difficult guitar chord

Finger Stretch

The distance between the frets that need to be held down, and the number of fingers required to play the chord can impact its difficulty. Chords that require a large stretch between fingers can be challenging, particularly for players with smaller hands or limited finger flexibility.
Finger Strength

Some chords require significant finger strength to hold down multiple strings or to execute challenging barre formations. Beginners or players with less developed finger strength might struggle with these chords.
Finger Independence

The ability to move fingers independently to fret different strings and frets is crucial for playing more complex chords. Chords that require unusual finger placements or intricate finger combinations may be hard for some players to execute.
Number of Strings Involved

Chords that involve all six strings of the guitar are often more challenging than those that only require a few strings to be fretted.
Technique Required

Certain chords might need specific techniques like barring, muting, or fingerpicking to be played correctly. Players who are unfamiliar or less proficient with these techniques might find such chords difficult to master.
Transitioning Between Chords

Some chord shapes might be harder to transition to or from, based on the positioning of your fingers in the previous or next chord. Chords that need significant finger movement or repositioning can make smooth chord changes challenging.
The Amount of Practice

Certain chords might be challenging at first but become easier with practice as muscle memory develops. Chords that are considered difficult might become more accessible with time and repetition.
Personal Factors

Individual factors such as hand size, finger length, flexibility, and experience level can also affect the difficulty of playing a particular chord. What might be difficult for one player could be more accessible for another.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult guitar chord to play. 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

2386 views
219 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 to play

Playing the guitar can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to mastering the various chords. While some chords come naturally to players, others can be a real struggle. Among the most difficult chords to play on the guitar, there are a few that stand out. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced guitarist, you may have come across some of these challenging chords, such as the F chord, the B chord, or the barre chords. In this article, we will explore the most difficult guitar chord to play and what makes it so challenging for guitarists.