Your first two guitar chords are not just an exercise. They are the doorway into actually playing music. E minor and A sus2 are two of the most beginner-friendly shapes on the fretboard. They require only two fingers each and they sit in a very comfortable area of the neck. More importantly, they sound great together, which means you can play something musical from day one. If you are just starting out, the complete beginner’s roadmap gives you the full picture of where these chords fit into your learning journey. This article, however, zooms in on the exact finger placement for each chord and, most critically, how to move between them without losing the beat.
Why These Are the Best First Two Guitar Chords to Learn
Not every chord is created equal for a new player. Some shapes are awkward. Others require a stretch that your hand simply is not ready for yet. E minor and A sus2, however, are different. Both chords use only two fingers, which means your fretting hand is not overloaded from the start.
In addition, these chords sit right next to each other on the neck. As a result, the shift between them is small and manageable. That proximity is actually the secret. Because the hand does not need to jump across the fretboard, you can focus your attention on timing rather than navigation.
Finally, these two chords together create a sound that is genuinely musical. You are not just practicing a drill. Instead, you are playing a real chord movement that appears in actual songs.
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Finger Placement for E Minor
E minor is one of the most forgiving chords on guitar. First, place your middle finger on the second fret of the A string (the fifth string). Then, place your ring finger directly below it on the second fret of the D string (the fourth string). That is the entire chord.
Strum all six strings. Because your two fingers are sitting just behind the fret wire, the notes should ring out cleanly. If you hear any buzzing, check that your fingertips are pressing straight down and that they are not accidentally touching the adjacent strings.
One common mistake is pressing too hard. In fact, you only need enough pressure to make the note ring. Relax your grip, and the chord will actually sound better.
Finger Placement for A Sus2
A sus2 requires a small but deliberate hand shift. First, move your index finger to the second fret of the D string (the fourth string). Then, place your middle finger on the second fret of the G string (the third string). You are fretting only those two strings, so strum from the A string (fifth string) down. Do not strum the low E string (sixth string), because it is not part of the chord.
The “sus2” in the name means suspended second. In practice, however, you do not need to think about the theory. Just know that A sus2 has an open, slightly unresolved quality that sounds beautiful on its own and even better when it follows E minor.
Because only the fourth and third strings are fretted, this chord is almost as easy as E minor. The main adjustment is simply shifting your hand slightly up the neck toward the high strings.
The Real Challenge: Switching Between Your First Two Guitar Chords
Knowing each chord shape individually is only half the job. In fact, most beginners can form both chords in isolation without much trouble. The real challenge is moving from one to the other in time, without pausing, without looking at your fretting hand, and without breaking your strumming rhythm.
This is true of every chord change you will ever learn. Therefore, the skill you are actually building here is not just E minor and A sus2. You are building the muscle memory and timing awareness that will serve you for every chord transition that follows. For a look at how that same principle applies to strumming rhythm, see this breakdown of beginner strumming patterns and note values.
So here is the core rule: the moment you feel the chord is clean enough, start practicing the change. Do not wait until each shape feels perfect in isolation first. Instead, move between them from the very beginning.
A Practice Routine Focused on the Chord Change
The most effective way to practice this transition is to slow everything down. First, set a metronome or a drum loop to a comfortable tempo, somewhere around 60 BPM. Then, strum E minor for four beats, change to A sus2, and strum it for four beats. Repeat that loop continuously.
Do not stop when you miss the change. Instead, keep the strumming hand moving, even if the chord is not perfect when the beat arrives. Because the goal is to stay in time, a slightly muddy chord on the beat is better than a perfect chord a half-beat late.
Next, focus on lifting your fingers from E minor early. Many beginners wait until the last possible moment to move. As a result, they arrive at A sus2 too late. Try releasing E minor a fraction of a beat before the change so your fingers have time to travel.
Once the change starts feeling natural at a slow tempo, then gradually raise the BPM. Do not rush that process. In short, slow and accurate always beats fast and sloppy.
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Where These Chords Take You Next
Mastering your first two guitar chords is a genuine milestone, but it is just the beginning. Once E minor and A sus2 feel comfortable, you are ready to expand your chord vocabulary. The natural next step is adding E and A major shapes, which share some of the same finger geography. From there, adding the D chord opens the door to full songs. You can read about the E and A major chords and where they show up in real music, then move on to adding the D chord and practicing all three changes together.
All of this connects back to the full beginner guitar roadmap, which shows you exactly how each new skill builds on the last. The journey from your first two guitar chords to playing real music is shorter than most beginners expect. Because you are starting with chords that are genuinely easy and genuinely musical, you will feel that progress from your very first practice session.
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Four music-industry veterans with decades of combined experience in music education, curation, and production at TrueFire and ArtistWorks. The TrueFire Studios Education Team plans and edits this content and works with our master-musician faculty to keep it accurate and genuinely useful.
Featured Contributor
Jeff Scheetz is TrueFire’s Director of Education and a veteran touring guitarist who has shared stages with the Scorpions, .38 Special, ELO, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai. With eight albums of original music, numerous TrueFire courses, and 300-plus clinics worldwide, he blends blues, rock, and instructional clarity built over decades of teaching.
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