This paper analyzes the first stages of char formation by different analytical techniques. The chars were obtained by coal pyrolysis carried out at 400°C for 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes in a nonhydrogenating atmosphere, in absence of catalyst and according to a modified Gray-King method. The aim was to study the changes happening in converting coal into char. FTIR, CP/MAS 13C and FS were applied as spectroscopic techniques together with solvent swelling measurements, proximate and ultimate analysis. The obtained data shows the practical disappearance of the aliphatic hydrogen content with increasing pyrolysis time. The longer the stay in the reactor, the higher the char aromaticity. On the other hand, there is a change from highly condensed structures to pyrene and phenanthrene type molecules. © 1990.