A great way to master chords on the cigar box guitar is to memorize the most common chord shapes, or “moveable chords.” Moveable chords allow you to keep your fingers in the same shape and change the chord name by moving to a different fret.
For example, play an A major chord with a barre on the second fret as shown in the diagram below. Now, move the same chord down to the fifth fret to play a C chord.
You will quickly realize moving the same shape is easy. All you have to do is study where the root for each chord is and the letter names on the fingerboard.
Let’s have a look at the 4-string cigar box guitar fingerboard below. Find the A and the D on the 4th string.Â
4-String Cigar Box Guitar Fretboard
The root of the chord is the note that gives the chord its name – so, the root of a C chord is C. The root, or C in this case, is found on each of the four strings. I recommend learning the notes on the fourth string to start, then moving on to the third string.
Fortunately, we have two strings tuned to a G in GDGB tuning, so when you learn the notes on the fourth string, you are also learning the notes on the second string.
With time and practice, you can learn the note names on the cigar box guitar and expand your chord knowledge exponentially by memorizing chord shapes.Â
Here are 11 of the most common moveable chord shapes (major-minor-augmented-diminished). Transpose each chord or move the chord up the neck into all 12 keys in music. So that’s 11 x 12 or 132 chords!
Cigar Box Guitar Moveable Chords:
The Complete 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book
The Complete Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book is the most extensive library of chords ever assembled for the 4-string cigar box guitar. With over 2000 chords, chord progressions, strumming patterns and exercises included. Chords are shown with diagrams, tablature, notation, and some photos. A must-have for all cigar box guitar players.
4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chords in GDGB Tuning
The Complete Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book
The Complete Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book is the most extensive library of chords ever assembled for the 3-string cigar box guitar. With over 2000 chords, chord progressions, strumming patterns and exercises included. Chords are shown with diagrams, tablature, notation, and some photos. A must-have for all cigar box guitar players.
3-String Cigar Box Guitar Chords in GDG Tuning
This page seems to have broken images. I don’t see them as referenced in the article.
Thanks for letting me know. The images are back online.
Looks good!
Brent,
I’m a bit confused about dominant 7th, major 7th chord shapes with respect to 3string CBG. Since they are defined by 4 unique notes, how do you form a shape on them? At most technically you could only get at most a true triad chord of 3notes. Please help. I am sure I am missing something.
Hi, thanks for your question. You are right there are technically 4 notes in a dominant 7th chord but only 3 strings on your CBG. In this case, you have to omit one of the notes. The 5th of the chord is usually the best to omit as the 3rd and 7th are the most important notes. Sometimes, you can omit the root if you are playing with a bass player or another chording instrument like guitar or piano. Omitting notes is very common on all instruments for the chords to be playable in different positions.
Got it makes sense thank you.
Are there moveable chords on the 3string?
Hi, yes you can do the same thing on a 3-string CBG. The article just shows the 4-string so subtract the bottom note (first line on tab) and use the same chords. I believe there is a section in the 3-string chord book that shows some moveable chords.