Play 1000 Songs With Just 3 Fiddle Chord Shapes | FiddleHed (2025)

Overview

Don’t wait to “get it” before you start playing.

The best way to learn chords is to play your way in:

• Memorize just three chords: D, G, and A Major.

• Play them on at least 10 simple songs from the list below.

• Then you’ll be in a better position to understand some music theory—which makes it even easier to figure out chords by ear. 🧠

This keeps it fun and helps you stick with it!

🔁 Chord Review

Here’s a quick refresher on the basic chord shapes for D, G, and A Major.
These shapes are super beginner-friendly—and yes, you’ll be playing two notes at once. 🎯

🎵 Songs in D Major will use:

• D Major – I chord → D0A0 (open strings = easy win!)
• G Major – IV chord → D0A1 (one finger, one dream)
• A Major – V chord → D1A0 (the ol’ finger switcheroo)

🎵 Songs in G Major will use:

• G Major – I chord → G0D0
• C Major – IV chord → G0D1
• D Major – V chord → G1D0
  (Same shapes, different strings. Mind = blown 💥)

🎵 Songs in A Major will use:

• A Major – I chord → A0E0
• D Major – IV chord → A0E1
• E Major – V chord → A1E0
  (Yes, you’re playing musical Sudoku—but with fewer numbers.)

Why this matters:

✋ You’re using the same finger shapes across all three keys.

🧠 That’s not just convenient—it’s a pattern your brain and fingers will start to recognize.

🪄 Muscle memory + pattern recognition = fiddle magic.

Explore more:

Want more chord shapes? Check out the ChordFinder(like Google Maps, but for fingers).

Ready to level up? Try the Chord Backup Pathway for a deep dive into ChordLandia 🗺️.

Download the Essential Fiddle Chord Chart.

🎯 The Chord Challenge

Learn to play chords for 5-10 songs from the list below.

Memorize the chords for at least one.

Once you’ve played 10 or more songs with chords written out, try your hand at the ones marked with a * (no chords notated).

Use your ears. Trust your fingers. Learn to figure out what chords to play.

That’s how you grow as a musician.

You’ve got this! 💪🎻

Tunes with only I, IV, orV Chords

Remember : Tunes marked with * do not have chords notated.

Once you’ve practiced chord backup on at least 10 songs with chords written out, try playing these tunes without chord markings by ear—it’s a great next-level challenge!

Tunes In D Major

These all use D Major (I), G Major (IV) and A Major (V).

1. Arkansas Traveler
2. Angeline The Baker
3. Bile ’em Cabbage Down – Variation 1
4. Buffalo Gals
5. Boys of Bluehill
6. Camptown Races
7. Carry Me Back To Virginia
8. Dawning Of The Day
9. Dennis Murphy’s Polka
10. Down By The Sally Gardens*
11. Fais Do Do
12. Fisher’s Hornpipe
13. Florida Blues
14. Freres Jacques
15. Galway Girl
16. Garry Owen
17. Harvest Home
18. Haste To The Wedding
19. J’etais Au Bal*
20. John Ryan’s Polka
21. JoyTo The World
22. Kerfunken Jig
23. La Valse Des Jonglements
24. Little Liza Jane
25. London Bridges
26. Maison De Glace*
27. Mary Had A Little Lamb
28. Miss Monaghan’s Reel
29. Ode to Joy
30. Oh Susannah
31. Rubber Dolly
32. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
33. Saint Anne’s Reel*
34. Scotland The Brave
35. Shenandoah*
36. Sheebeg and Sheemore*
37. Shortnin’ Bread
38. Soldier’s Joy
39. Shooting Creek
40. Tennessee Waltz*
41. This Old Man*
42. Tobin’s Jig
43. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
44. When The Saints Go Marching In
45. Whiskey Before Breakfast
46. Wildwood Flower
47. Wind That Shakes The Barley*

Tunes In G Major

1. Bury Me Beneath The Weeping Willow Tree
2. Club Ceili
3. Constant Billy
4. Cumberland Gap*
5. Danny Boy*
6. Deck the Halls*
7. Golden Slippers
8. Groundhog
9. Hobart’s Transformation
10. Ida Red
11. I Saw The Light
12. I’ll Fly Away
13. Irish Washerwoman
14. Jarabe Tapatio (Mexican Hat Dance)*
15. Keep On The Sunny Side
16. Kerry Polka
17. Kerfunken Jig
18. Kesh Jig
19. Lazy John
20. Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her
21. Magpie*
22. Mouth Of Tobique
23. Miss McCleod’s

Tunes In A Major

1. Bill Cheatham
2. Cajun Fiddle
3. Candy Girl
4. Cotton Eyed Joe
5. Cripple Creek
6. Hector The Hero
7. Hesitation Blues
8. Jenny Lynn – Basic

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Chord Backup Pathway >>