The Four Essential Barre Chords

There are four essential barre chords. Two chords with the root on the 6th string and two chords with the root on the 5th string. With one chord major and one chord minor.

(see also 100 easy songs to play on guitar)

Instructions for a Major Barre Chord with the root on the 6th string.

Place your 1st finger down as a barre. Place your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 5th and 4th strings two frets up and your 2nd finger on the 3rd string one fret up. The result is a major barre chord with the root on the 6th string.

Notice that the chord shape is the same as an E major chord in open position.

Instructions for a Minor Barre Chord with the root on the 6th string.

Place your 1st finger down as a barre. Place your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 5th and 4th strings two frets up. The result is a minor barre chord with the root on the 6th string.

Notice that the chord shape is the same as an E minor chord in open position.

Instructions for a Major Barre Chord with the root on the 5th string.

Place your 1st finger down as a barre. Place your 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers on the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings two frets up. The result is a minor barre chord with the root on the 5th string. Avoid playing the 6th string

Notice that the chord shape is the same as an A major chord in open position.

guitar barre chords major barre 5th string

Instructions for A Minor Barre Chord with the root on the 5th string.

Place your 1st finger down as a barre. Place your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 4th and 3th strings two frets up and your 2nd finger on the 2nd string one fret up. The result is a major barre chord with the root on the 5th string. Avoid playing the 6th string.

Notice that the chord shape is the same as an A minor chord in open position.

guitar barre chords minor barre 5th string

Study these 4 shapes. You should notice they are all similar. For instance, the difference between a major barre chord and a minor barre chord is just one note moved down one fret on the neck. As well the finger for a major barre chord with the root on the 6th string is the same as a minor barre chord with the root on the 5th string, just moved up on set of strings.

If your not sure how to read these diagrams, then refresh your memory with How To Read Chord Diagrams.

(see also 100 easy songs to play on guitar)

Comments

Your First Scale / The Pentatonic Scale

The first scale most guitarists learn is the minor pentatonic scale. Pentatonic may sound scary but it really isn't, it simply means 5 notes. So a pentatonic scale is just a 5 note scale. The pentatonic scale is extremely useful for guitarists. This is for a few good reasons. - Music that is commonly played on the guitar (rock, blues, country, pop, ect...) use the pentatonic scale in its melodies and improvisation. - The pentatonic scale is easily playable on the guitar with pentatonic 'boxes'. - The licks and riffs from the pentatonic scale sound amazing. With that said, lets get into the minor pentatonic scale. The following is a tab file and a scale diagram of the minor pentatonic scale in the Key of A. Didn't I say a pentatonic scale was only 5 notes. The above tab file and scale diagram feature alot more then 5 notes. Take a look at the red dots on the scale diagram, for example the 5th fret on the Low E string and High E string and the 7th fret on ...

How To Build A Barre Chord

It should be clear by now that the barre effectively replaces the use of the nut on the guitar. If not, then go back and read Part One . Once understanding the barre replaces the use of the nut, it should make sense that you could use the same basic chords in open position and apply them after the barre. Use the exact same chord shape, just replace the nut with the barre using your first finger and refinger the chord as necessary. While this method will work with all open position chords, there are four particular chord shapes, two major shapes and two minor shapes, that are essential for all guitarists. The two basic open position chords that we will be using to build our major barre chords are the E major and the A major chord forms. Let's start with the E major chord. This chord should already be familiar. If not then read up on the basic chords in open position . The two diagrams to the right is an E major chord in open position followed by an F# major barre chord. T...

Tuning The Rest Of The Guitar

The same method is used to tune the next two strings, the D string and the G string. Fret the 5th fret on the A string and that gives the note D, you can now tune your D string in comparison to the 5th fret of the A string. Once the D string is tuned, do the same for the G string. Fret the 5th fret on the D string and that gives the Note G and you can now tune the G string. The B string is tuned with the same method but instead of fretting the 5th fret of the G string, you fret the 4th and tune in comparison to the 4th fret, not the 5th. You should now just have the High E string to tune. In this case, we go back to the original method of fretting in comparison to the 5th fret of the previous string. The following diagram will help illustrate the entire tuning process. You should now be able to tune your guitar. It may take a while for a beginner but you should get it. If your having trouble, read through the material again. The above diagram should illustrate the method clea...

Grab The Guitar

Search This Blog