lesson
Barre Chords 2
Let’s look at a second major barre chord shape. This shape is based on the A major open chord shape. The root note of this chord is found on the 5th string.
When you take the A chord shape, move it up one fret and bar across all of the strings on the 1st fret, you have a B flat barre chord.
Move the barre chord shape up another fret to the 2nd fret and you have a B barre chord.
As you move up the fretboard you are moving up the chromatic scale. So the 3rd fret will be a C chord, the 4th fret will be a C sharp or D flat chord, and so on. Each fret you move up the fretboard is one more half step up the chromatic scale.
So using the two barre chord shapes, you can play any major chord in two positions on the fretboard. A C chord can be played at the 8th fret using the 6th string root note shape, and at the 3rd fret using the 5th string root note shape.
Optional Fingering
Here is an optional way of fingering the 5th string root barre chord that some players find easier and faster to grab. In this fingering, you still use your 1st finger to bar across all six strings, but instead of using your other three fingers to play the rest of the chord, you use your third finger to bar across the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings. You mute (do not play) the first string. I usually use my 2nd finger to help my 3rd finger hold the three strings down. I do this by placing my 2nd finger partially on top of my 3rd finger. It sounds odd, but it works for me and adds strength to my 3rd finger.
Barre Chords 2 Example
The following chord progression uses all major barre chords. Give it a try. If your fretting hand starts to cramp after a while, which is common when playing barre chords, take a break and rest your hand. Never play with pain. Listen to your body. If it hurts, take a break. Normally you will use a mixture of barre and open chords, which usually prevents the cramping that comes from playing only barre chords for extended periods.
links
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Audio Files
- Barre Chords 2 Example
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Printable Music Notation Files
- Barre Chords 2 Example
- This lesson was adapted from my book: Better Guitar Method Book 2, which is available at:
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Chord Voicing
Chords are made up of three or more notes. Since the guitar has six strings, there are a number of possible options for playing each chord. A C major chord is made up of a C note, an E note, and a G note. An open C major chord puts those three notes in the following order (from the 6th string to the 1st string): E, C, E, G, C, E. A C major barre chord at the third fret puts those three notes in the following order: G, C, G, C, E, G. The ordering of pitches (notes) in a chord type (and where they are played on the fretboard) is called a chord “voicing.” Now that you have learned two barre chord shapes for the major chord, you know three voicings for each major chord: two barre chord shapes, and one open chord shape.
