23-Chord Challenge FAQs

Below are some of the questions I get most often. As more come in, I'll expand this list.

1. What If I’m Not a Beginner?

The 23-Chord Challenge is designed for someone starting from zero.

But maybe you already know some chords.

For example, many beginners start with A, D, and E.

That’s great. Get in where you fit in.

You can join the challenge at any point. Plug in the chords you already know and work your way forward.

The journey will be even faster for you.

2. Is the 23-Chord Challenge Only for Guitar?

No. The 23-Chord Challenge works with any chordal instrument – i.e. ukulele, lute, piano, and xylophone.

3. What about Picking, Shredding, Soloing, etc.?

There are many different aspects of guitar learning. And as the name suggests, the 23-Chord Challenge focuses on just one – i.e. learning chords.

If you can master these 23 chords, you can “play” the majority of popular songs on the radio.

So when do you learn all those other skills like picking, strumming, sweeping, arpeggios, crescendos, scales, tempo, etc.?

When do you tackle music theory and basic musicianship?

I’ve actually written an entire article about this. Check out the Rule of One to learn more.

4. Do I Have to Use the Chord Genome Project?

No. You don’t have to use the Chord Genome Project to take the 23-Chord Challenge:

You already know the 23 chords needed to reach 50%.

You also know the optimal order in which to learn those chords.

The songs you need to practice are already published online.

With enough time and effort, it’s possible to find them all.

The Chord Genome Project merely simplifies the process. This searchable database makes it easier to find guitar tunes you can start playing right now.

5. Does Chord Genome Work on Mobile Devices?

In theory, yes. The platform is technically “mobile-ready.” But I strongly recommend using a laptop or desktop.

It’ll make life much easier.

Hopefully, the Chord Genome Project will become a truly stable mobile platform in the future.

6. How Accurate Are the Song Results?

Eh. They’re accurate “enough.”

Remember these tunes are submitted by amateurs and experts alike.

Moreover, songs get edited and removed all the time. It’s a bit annoying to be honest.

Fortunately, you can use sites like Archive.org to see what a tune looked like before it was changed.

This free tool takes periodic “snapshots” of the Internet. And this allows you to go back in time to find edited or deleted songs.

Anyway, managing a database of this size isn’t easy. And the results aren’t 100% perfect – which is why the Chord Genome Project is still in beta. But even with these limitations, the platform makes finding playable music much easier.

For more on this, be sure to read: