Frequently asked questions
Why does my F chord buzz no matter what I do?
Almost always one of three things: (1) your barring index finger is rolling too far flat — try rolling it slightly toward its outer edge so the bone (not the soft pad) presses the strings; (2) you're pressing too far away from the fret — slide the whole shape closer to the fret bar; (3) your thumb is wrapped over the top of the neck instead of pressed behind it, which limits how much pressure your index finger can apply. Read our F chord tutorial for a slower walkthrough.
Is FretMapper a tool for transcribing songs from audio?
No — FretMapper is a curated catalog of public-domain songs with their chord charts already worked out. We don't analyze audio. If you want to detect chords from a recording, look for a different tool. If you want to learn songs that are already arranged for beginners, you're in the right place.
Why don't you have any modern pop songs?
Two reasons. First, modern songs are under copyright, and publishing tablature for them without a license is a legal gray area we'd rather not occupy. Second, what beginning guitarists actually need is a small number of songs with simple, clear chord charts — not a sprawling library of half-finished transcriptions of radio hits. The folk and traditional repertoire we cover is the same material that beginning players have used for a century.
Can I use a capo to play these songs in a different key?
Yes, and you should. A capo lets you keep the easy open chord shapes in your hand while shifting the actual sounding pitch up. If a song is in C and you put a capo on the second fret, you're playing the same C shape but it sounds in D. Useful when a song is too low for your voice.
What strumming pattern should I use if the song doesn't list one?
Default to a basic pattern: down on beats one and three, down-up on beats two and four. In notation that's D - D U D U. It works for nearly every folk song in 4/4 time. Once that's automatic, vary it — drop a downstroke here, add an upstroke there. The pattern is a starting point, not a cage.
How long until I can actually play a song from start to finish?
If you practice for 15 minutes a day, most adults can play a simple three-chord folk song from start to finish (changes intact, recognizable strum) in two to three weeks. Children sometimes get there faster, but adults compensate with patience and the ability to practice deliberately. Don't measure yourself against tutorials on the internet — the player you're watching has been at it for years.
Why does my fingertip hurt for the first two weeks?
Because steel strings are pushing into skin that hasn't yet developed calluses. The discomfort peaks around days 3-7, then fades as the skin thickens. There's no shortcut. Don't push through real pain (sharp or sustained), but mild fingertip soreness is just part of the process.
Can I use FretMapper offline?
Yes — every page is plain HTML. Save the page to your phone or laptop and you can read it without an internet connection. The chord diagrams are SVG, embedded in the page, so they save with it.
What's the difference between a chord and a chord shape?
A chord is a name ("G major"), referring to a set of notes. A chord shape is a specific way to play that chord on the guitar fretboard. "G major" can be played as an open G shape (most common), a barre shape at the third fret, a barre shape at the tenth fret, and several others. They all sound like G — they just have different voicings and difficulties.
I'm left-handed. Can I use FretMapper?
Yes, but you'll need to mentally flip the chord diagrams. Our diagrams assume a right-handed player, with the low E string on the left. Left-handed players reading the same diagrams should picture them mirrored. Many left-handed beginners find it easier to learn on a right-handed guitar in standard tuning, then make a decision about handedness later — but this is a personal call.
Why is the same song listed multiple times with slightly different titles?
Many of our songs come in several arrangement variants — capo positions, fingerpicked versions, simplified four-chord versions. Each one has its own page because each one has different chord shapes, a different recommended tempo, and a different practice plan. Pick the version closest to your current level and switch to a harder variant when you're ready.
Do you have video lessons?
No. FretMapper is intentionally text-based, with diagrams. We've found that beginners often get more out of a slow, careful read of a written tutorial — paragraph by paragraph, guitar in hand — than from a video they have to keep pausing. Both formats have value; we focus on the one we can do well.