8 Must-Know Chords for R&B Guitar!
- ryanboisselle
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
In today’s post, I want to show you 8 essential guitar chords that’ll get you playing real R&B in no time.
These chords are the backbone of the genre. You'll find them everywhere—from smooth ballads to tight neo-soul grooves.
If you’re into R&B or soul, you’ve probably noticed:
The chords sound rich—but smooth. Tight—but expressive.
A far cry from the open chords and barres most beginners start with.
That’s no accident.
These styles rely heavily on what are called 4-part chords—(voicings built from the root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th). They’re what give R&B its color, texture, and feel.
And the best part? You don’t need to memorize 50 different shapes to get started. Just four core chord types—used in the right context—can take you a long way.
🎶 The 4 Essential Chords You Need to Know
1. Major 7th (Maj7)
Clean, lush, and smooth—perfect for neo-soul or slow R&B ballads. Great for chords like Cmaj7, Fmaj7, or Bbmaj7.
2. Minor 7th (min7)
A staple sound for soul rhythm guitar. Tight and mellow. Think Am7, Dm7, Gm7—used in countless grooves.
3. Dominant 7th (7)
Bluesy, gritty, and funky. If you like, or D’Angelo—you need these.
4. Minor 7♭5 (m7♭5)
Used more in jazz-influenced R&B and neo-soul. Has a moody, unresolved feel that’s great for movement and color.
🧑🏫 How to Start Practicing
Start simple. I recommend beginning with the Am7 shape rooted on the 6th string (it’s the top-left chord in the PDF).
Here’s how to practice the chord:
Play each string individually to make sure it’s clean
Watch your thumb placement
Practice taking your hand off the fretboard and putting it back cleanly
Repeat until you can land the shape confidently
Once that feels good, jump into a classic:
🎵 Try: “Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers
This tune is a great intro to R&B phrasing and groove—and it uses several of these chords.
Start by isolating the Dm7 shape (as we've already covered the Am7 earlier).
Use the same approach as with Am7: clean fretting, good hand form, confident grip.
Once you’re comfortable, try switching between Am7 and Dm7 slowly—no time, just feel.
When that’s smooth, turn on a metronome or drum loop and play the changes in time. Then gradually add the rest of the chords from the tune.
🔁 More Beginner-Friendly R&B Tunes
Here’s a short list of easy tunes that use similar chords and feel great to play:
D’Angelo – Brown Sugar
Bill Withers – Lovely Day
Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Stevie Wonder – Superstition
Work through these and you’ll start developing your ear, your feel, and your vocabulary.
✨ Want to Go Deeper?
These 8 chords are just the beginning.
If you want help getting them under your fingers, building real groove, and learning how to comp and solo with confidence—let’s work together.
I offer private and group guitar lessons in Tokyo (Takadanobaba), and I teach in both English and Japanese.
Whether you're brand new to R&B or just want to clean up your chord work, we’ll focus on the music you want to play—and get you sounding great.
Let’s make some music.♬
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