It would take a lot of time to count the ways to find guitar chords. There are hundreds of places to go for the basic chords for a favorite song, if you want to accompany yourself and sing.
If the need is for something more complex, such as the chord progression of an intricate rock ballad or jazz tune, the search may take a bit longer. But, with the rapid growth of the World Wide Web, guitar chords for songs are readily available, without visiting your favorite music store and purchasing a songbook. Of course, that store and its knowledgeable staff can also help with the chords to a single tune or a complete book of songs by a popular band.

It pays to be careful when searching for chords on the Web, because some of the people who post their version of a song might not be 100 percent accurate. Most, however, have the best intentions and will provide good information (if not perfect). But remember that getting the chords for a favorite song is not the same as knowing how to play a guitar.

There is a major difference between finding chords for songs and learning how to play electric guitar, or taking acoustic guitar lessons.

A simple search for chords, in general, will provide the musician with, literally, millions of Web sites. Some are devoted to chords for a particular, popular band (everybody from The Beatles to ZZ Top).

Other sites offer guitar chords for songs by several different bands or individual singers, depending on what the person behind the Web site is interested in. In many cases, all that will be offered is a list of chords, such as G, C or D printed over the lyrics. It's then up to the individual who wants to learn the song to know the melody and really fine-tune the chord changes.

In other cases, the guitar tablature is there, showing exactly where to put each finger, on which fret and on which strings. Of course, this is very helpful for solo and lead playing.

Many younger players today started with "guitar tabs" as their primary way of learning guitar, while the older generations learned how to play electric guitar by learning sheet music right along with their lessons.

There probably isn't a right way or a wrong way, only a comfortable way. Results, after all, are what matter.

Some Web sites that come up when searching for chords do help the guitar player find chords for a certain song, but the Web site may contain a lot more information about guitars, amplifiers and instructional videos for acoustic guitar lessons. So it pays to be selective and not rush through a search.

Take some time to find just what is needed, whether it's for a specific song or just any song by a particular band. If the player is looking for chords and may have an interest in video instruction, the opportunities are many. Chances are it's out there.

If the person looking for chords has already learned enough to be able to play at a level that other people want to listen to, the search for guitar chords can start for real. But if that individual needs some basic help getting started learning how to play electric guitar then visiting with a local professional or experienced guitar player is a great first step.

The same holds true for acoustic guitar lessons.

On the Web, in print or in person, the ways to find guitar chords for songs are too many to count.