Tenor Guitar Chord Chart – 84 Chords, CGDA Tuning – 11x17 Poster
Learn tenor guitar chords, discover new chord variations, and expand your playing with 84 easy-to-reference chord diagrams designed for traditional CGDA tuning.
Whether you're learning your first chords or exploring the richer harmonies of jazz, folk, and traditional music, this 11x17 tenor guitar chord chart puts a comprehensive collection of chord fingerings in one convenient place.
Designed specifically for the four-string tenor guitar tuned C–G–D–A (low to high), the chart includes 84 chord diagrams covering all 12 chromatic roots, from A through G♯/A♭, with major, minor, diminished, sixth, minor sixth, seventh, and minor seventh chords.
The large portrait layout makes it easy to find chord shapes while practicing, learning songs, teaching lessons, or exploring new musical ideas.
84 Tenor Guitar Chords in One Handy Reference
This chart includes seven chord types for each of the 12 chromatic roots:
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Major chords – The foundation of countless songs and chord progressions.
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Minor chords – Essential for minor keys and contrasting major-key harmonies.
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Diminished chords – Useful for passing chords, harmonic movement, and jazz-influenced progressions.
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Sixth chords (6) – Add a warm, colorful sound often heard in jazz, swing, and vintage popular music.
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Minor sixth chords (m6) – Expand your minor-chord vocabulary with a distinctive harmonic color.
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Dominant seventh chords (7) – Common in blues, jazz, folk, and progressions that lead toward another chord.
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Minor seventh chords (m7) – Frequently used in jazz, blues, and contemporary chord progressions.
From A major to G♯ minor seventh, the chart gives you a convenient way to explore chord variations without repeatedly searching through books or online diagrams.
Made Specifically for CGDA Tenor Guitar Tuning
Traditional tenor guitar tuning is C–G–D–A, from the lowest-pitched string to the highest. This all-fifths tuning is closely related to tenor banjo tuning and differs significantly from standard six-string guitar tuning.
Because the strings are tuned in fifths, chord fingerings can look quite different from those used on a conventional guitar.
This chart provides CGDA-specific chord diagrams, so you can find fingerings intended for your instrument rather than trying to adapt shapes from a six-string guitar or a tenor guitar using another tuning.
Important: This chart is for CGDA tuning. It is not designed for GDAE Irish tenor tuning or DGBE/Chicago tuning.
Learn How to Read and Play the Chord Diagrams
Each chord is presented as a visual fretboard diagram showing where to place your fingers.
Chord name: The label above each diagram identifies the chord, such as C, Cm, C6, C7, Cm6, Cm7, or Cdim.
Finger positions: Numbered circles show the recommended fretting fingers, helping you understand how to form each chord.
Fret positions: When a chord is played farther up the neck, the diagram includes a fret number to identify its starting position.
Barre chords: Some diagrams show a finger covering more than one string, helping you recognize and practice movable barre-chord shapes.
Muted strings: An X identifies a string that should not be played for that particular chord shape.
Keep the poster nearby while learning songs. When you encounter an unfamiliar chord, find its name on the chart, check the fingering, and practice moving into and out of that shape.
Explore Jazz, Folk, Swing & Traditional Tenor Guitar
The tenor guitar has a history in early jazz and dance-band music, with later connections to folk, traditional, and acoustic styles.
Its four-string design and fifths-based tuning give it a distinctive musical character.
The inclusion of sixth, seventh, minor seventh, minor sixth, and diminished chords makes this chart particularly useful for musicians interested in expanding beyond basic three-chord songs.
For example, you can explore how a C major chord differs from C6, C7, or Cm7, then experiment with those sounds in your own arrangements.
The chart also works well alongside tenor guitar method books, sheet music, chord progressions, and lessons.
A Useful Practice Tool for Beginners and Intermediate Players
Beginners can start with common major and minor chords, gradually adding more shapes as their skills develop.
Intermediate players can use the same chart to explore chord substitutions, jazz-style harmonies, different chord qualities, and more interesting accompaniment patterns.
Because the diagrams are organized by chord root and chord type, it's easy to compare related fingerings and locate the chords you need while practicing.
Music teachers can also use the chart as a visual reference during lessons, helping students identify finger positions and understand how chord types differ.
Choose Standard Gloss or Laminated
Both versions feature the same 11x17 inch portrait layout and all 84 chord diagrams.
Standard Gloss Poster: Printed on premium 80 lb gloss cover paper, providing a crisp, colorful music reference for your practice room, teaching studio, or music area.
Laminated Poster: Printed on 80 lb gloss cover paper and protected with 3 mil lamination for added durability. The laminated surface is dry erase marker compatible, allowing you to highlight chords you're practicing, mark chord changes, or identify fingerings you're working on, then wipe the markings away for your next lesson.
For example, a teacher could mark the chords needed for a student's current song, or a player could highlight a group of seventh chords to practice during the week.
Carefully Packaged for Shipping
Both the standard premium gloss and laminated versions of our 11x17 tenor guitar chord chart are shipped rolled in a sturdy kraft mailing tube to help protect the poster during transit.
Once received, carefully unroll the chart and allow it to relax before displaying it on your wall or using it during practice.
Whether you choose the premium gloss paper or the durable laminated version, you'll receive the same 84-chord CGDA reference chart, securely packaged for delivery.
Large 11x17 Portrait Format
The 11 x 17 inch portrait design gives all 84 chord diagrams room to be displayed together, making the chart a convenient reference for your music room, practice space, classroom, or teaching studio.
Keep it near your instrument, hang it on the wall, or use it alongside your favorite tenor guitar method book.
Product Details
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Instrument: Four-string tenor guitar
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Tuning: CGDA (C–G–D–A, low to high)
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Size: 11 x 17 inches
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Orientation: Portrait
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Total chords: 84
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Chord roots: All 12 chromatic roots, A through G♯/A♭
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Chord types: Major, Minor, Diminished, 6, m6, 7, and m7
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Diagrams: Numbered finger positions, fret indicators, barre fingerings, and muted-string markings where applicable
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Standard version: Premium 80 lb gloss cover paper
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Laminated version: 80 lb gloss cover paper with 3 mil lamination
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Dry erase compatible: Laminated version only
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Made in the USA
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Shipping: Rolled in a protective kraft mailing tube.
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Packaging: Both premium gloss and laminated versions ship rolled.
From your first major chords to colorful jazz harmonies, keep 84 CGDA tenor guitar chord fingerings within easy reach.