A triad is three notes played together. Here that is E major: E, G sharp, and B.
Each picture plays those three notes on three strings next to each other. The other three strings stay quiet. There are twelve pictures.
Count strings from the thin one. The 1st string is high E. The 2nd is B, the 3rd is G, the 4th is D, the 5th is A, and the 6th is low E, the thick string. The line under each picture starts at that thick string.
The heading on each picture is the lowest note you play. That note is on the thickest of the three strings in the picture.
In the list under a picture, 1st, 3rd, and 5th are the note's job in the chord, not the string number. 1st is E, the note E major is named after. 3rd is G sharp. 5th is B. The picture marks that job as deg.
x means muted. 0 means open.
Muted means do not play that string. Open means play it with no finger. A number on a string is the finger: 1 is index, 2 is middle, 3 is ring, 4 is pinky. Barre means one finger holds two or three strings on the same fret.
On the G (3rd string), B (2nd string), and high E (1st string)
These pictures leave the low E (6th string), the A (5th string), and the D (4th string) quiet. The lowest note sits on the G string, the 3rd string. The first picture's lowest note is G sharp.
G sharp is the lowest note, on the G (3rd string)
E xxx100
str fret note deg | fret 1 | fret 2 | fret 3 |
e 0 E 1st 0|--------|--------|--------|
B 0 B 5th 0|--------|--------|--------|
G 1 G# 3rd |---1----|--------|--------|
D x x|--------|--------|--------|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xxx100
str E A D G B e
x x x 0 0
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fret 1 | | | 1 | |
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fret 2 | | | | | |
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fret 3 | | | | | |
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note G# B E
deg 3rd 5th 1st
Short code xxx100, thickest string first.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: muted, do not play.
G string: fret 1, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
B string: open, note B, 5th.
High E string: open, note E, 1st.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
B is the lowest note, on the G (3rd string)
E xxx454 barre 4
str fret note deg | fret 3 | fret 4 | fret 5 |
e 4 G# 3rd |--------|---1----|--------|
B 5 E 1st |--------|--------|---2----|
G 4 B 5th |--------|---1----|--------|
D x x|--------|--------|--------|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xxx454 barre 4
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 3 | | | | | |
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fret 4 | | | 1 | 1
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fret 5 | | | | 2 |
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note B E G#
deg 5th 1st 3rd
Short code xxx454, thickest string first.
Barre fret 4 with the index finger on the G and high E strings.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: muted, do not play.
G string: fret 4, index finger, note B, 5th.
B string: fret 5, middle finger, note E, 1st.
High E string: fret 4, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
E is the lowest note, on the G (3rd string)
E xxx997
str fret note deg | fret 7 | fret 8 | fret 9 |
e 7 B 5th |---1----|--------|--------|
B 9 G# 3rd |--------|--------|---3----|
G 9 E 1st |--------|--------|---2----|
D x x|--------|--------|--------|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xxx997
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 7 | | | | | 1
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fret 8 | | | | | |
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fret 9 | | | 2 3 |
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note E G# B
deg 1st 3rd 5th
Short code xxx997, thickest string first.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: muted, do not play.
G string: fret 9, middle finger, note E, 1st.
B string: fret 9, ring finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
High E string: fret 7, index finger, note B, 5th.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
On the D (4th string), G (3rd string), and B (2nd string)
These pictures leave the low E (6th string), the A (5th string), and the high E (1st string) quiet. The lowest note sits on the D string, the 4th string. The first picture's lowest note is E.
E is the lowest note, on the D (4th string)
E xx210x
str fret note deg | fret 1 | fret 2 | fret 3 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B 0 B 5th 0|--------|--------|--------|
G 1 G# 3rd |---1----|--------|--------|
D 2 E 1st |--------|---2----|--------|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xx210x
str E A D G B e
x x 0 x
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fret 1 | | | 1 | |
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fret 2 | | 2 | | |
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fret 3 | | | | | |
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note E G# B
deg 1st 3rd 5th
Short code xx210x, thickest string first.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: fret 2, middle finger, note E, 1st.
G string: fret 1, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
B string: open, note B, 5th.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
G sharp is the lowest note, on the D (4th string)
E xx645x
str fret note deg | fret 4 | fret 5 | fret 6 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B 5 E 1st |--------|---2----|--------|
G 4 B 5th |---1----|--------|--------|
D 6 G# 3rd |--------|--------|---3----|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xx645x
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 4 | | | 1 | |
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fret 5 | | | | 2 |
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fret 6 | | 3 | | |
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note G# B E
deg 3rd 5th 1st
Short code xx645x, thickest string first.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: fret 6, ring finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
G string: fret 4, index finger, note B, 5th.
B string: fret 5, middle finger, note E, 1st.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
B is the lowest note, on the D (4th string)
E xx999x barre 9
str fret note deg | fret 7 | fret 8 | fret 9 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B 9 G# 3rd |--------|--------|---1----|
G 9 E 1st |--------|--------|---1----|
D 9 B 5th |--------|--------|---1----|
A x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E xx999x barre 9
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 7 | | | | | |
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fret 8 | | | | | |
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fret 9 | | 1 1 1 |
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note B E G#
deg 5th 1st 3rd
Short code xx999x, thickest string first.
Barre fret 9 with the index finger on the D, G and B strings.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: muted, do not play.
D string: fret 9, index finger, note B, 5th.
G string: fret 9, index finger, note E, 1st.
B string: fret 9, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
On the A (5th string), D (4th string), and G (3rd string)
These pictures leave the low E (6th string), the B (2nd string), and the high E (1st string) quiet. The lowest note sits on the A string, the 5th string. The first picture's lowest note is B.
B is the lowest note, on the A (5th string)
E x221xx
str fret note deg | fret 1 | fret 2 | fret 3 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B x x|--------|--------|--------|
G 1 G# 3rd |---1----|--------|--------|
D 2 E 1st |--------|---3----|--------|
A 2 B 5th |--------|---2----|--------|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|
E x221xx
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 1 | | | 1 | |
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fret 2 | 2 3 | | |
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fret 3 | | | | | |
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note B E G#
deg 5th 1st 3rd
Short code x221xx, thickest string first.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: fret 2, middle finger, note B, 5th.
D string: fret 2, ring finger, note E, 1st.
G string: fret 1, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
E is the lowest note, on the A (5th string)
E x764xx
str fret note deg | fret 4 | fret 5 | fret 6 | fret 7 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|--------|
B x x|--------|--------|--------|--------|
G 4 B 5th |---1----|--------|--------|--------|
D 6 G# 3rd |--------|--------|---2----|--------|
A 7 E 1st |--------|--------|--------|---3----|
E x x|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D string: fret 6, middle finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
G string: fret 4, index finger, note B, 5th.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
G sharp is the lowest note, on the A (5th string)
E xb99xx barre 9
str fret note deg | fret 9 | fret 10 | fret 11 |
e x x|---------|---------|---------|
B x x|---------|---------|---------|
G 9 E 1st |----1----|---------|---------|
D 9 B 5th |----1----|---------|---------|
A 11 G# 3rd |---------|---------|----3----|
E x x|---------|---------|---------|
E xb99xx barre 9
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 9 | | 1 1 | |
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fret 10 | | | | | |
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fret 11 | 3 | | | |
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note G# B E
deg 3rd 5th 1st
Short code xb99xx, thickest string first.
Barre fret 9 with the index finger on the D and G strings.
Low E string: muted, do not play.
A string: fret 11, ring finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
D string: fret 9, index finger, note B, 5th.
G string: fret 9, index finger, note E, 1st.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
On the low E (6th string), A (5th string), and D (4th string)
These pictures leave the G (3rd string), the B (2nd string), and the high E (1st string) quiet. The lowest note sits on the low E string, the 6th string. The first picture's lowest note is G sharp.
G sharp is the lowest note, on the low E (6th string)
E 422xxx barre 2
str fret note deg | fret 2 | fret 3 | fret 4 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B x x|--------|--------|--------|
G x x|--------|--------|--------|
D 2 E 1st |---1----|--------|--------|
A 2 B 5th |---1----|--------|--------|
E 4 G# 3rd |--------|--------|---3----|
E 422xxx barre 2
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 2 | 1 1 | | |
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fret 3 | | | | | |
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fret 4 3 | | | | |
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note G# B E
deg 3rd 5th 1st
Short code 422xxx, thickest string first.
Barre fret 2 with the index finger on the A and D strings.
Low E string: fret 4, ring finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
A string: fret 2, index finger, note B, 5th.
D string: fret 2, index finger, note E, 1st.
G string: muted, do not play.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
B is the lowest note, on the low E (6th string)
E 776xxx
str fret note deg | fret 5 | fret 6 | fret 7 |
e x x|--------|--------|--------|
B x x|--------|--------|--------|
G x x|--------|--------|--------|
D 6 G# 3rd |--------|---1----|--------|
A 7 E 1st |--------|--------|---3----|
E 7 B 5th |--------|--------|---2----|
E 776xxx
str E A D G B e
x x x
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fret 5 | | | | | |
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fret 6 | | 1 | | |
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fret 7 2 3 | | | |
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note B E G#
deg 5th 1st 3rd
Short code 776xxx, thickest string first.
Low E string: fret 7, middle finger, note B, 5th.
A string: fret 7, ring finger, note E, 1st.
D string: fret 6, index finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
G string: muted, do not play.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
E is the lowest note, on the low E (6th string)
E cb9xxx
str fret note deg | fret 9 | fret 10 | fret 11 | fret 12 |
e x x|---------|---------|---------|---------|
B x x|---------|---------|---------|---------|
G x x|---------|---------|---------|---------|
D 9 B 5th |----1----|---------|---------|---------|
A 11 G# 3rd |---------|---------|----2----|---------|
E 12 E 1st |---------|---------|---------|----3----|
A string: fret 11, middle finger, note G sharp, 3rd.
D string: fret 9, index finger, note B, 5th.
G string: muted, do not play.
B string: muted, do not play.
High E string: muted, do not play.
E major uses the notes E, G sharp and B.
The first picture, where G sharp is the lowest note, is the three thin strings of the open E major chord. On the E major page that chord is 022100. Here those three strings are xxx100. The open E also plays the open low E string, the A string at fret 2, and the D string at fret 2. This picture leaves those strings quiet.