Moving barre chords

One shape, many chords

In a barre chord, your index finger acts as the nut. Move your whole hand one fret toward the body of the guitar: every note goes up a half step, and so does the chord. The shape stays the same; only its name changes.

The root, the note that gives the chord its name, is always under your index finger, on the lowest string of the shape:

• E shape (like F): the root is on the low E;
• A shape (like B minor): the root is on the A string.

Landmarks

You don’t need to know the whole neck. The inlay dots on the fretboard, at the 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th frets, are enough:

Fret	1	2	3	5	7
Low E	F		G	A	B
A string		B	C	D	E

You’ll find every other note on the notes on the fretboard page.

The E shape: F, G, A

F at the 1^st fret, G at the 3^rd, A at the 5^th. Your hand keeps its shape and slides.

To slide, release the pressure without lifting your fingers off the strings, slide, then press down again: like an elevator.

The A shape: B, C, D

In the A shape, your ring finger (or three fingers) bars the D, G and B strings two frets above your index. B at the 2^nd fret, C at the 3^rd, D at the 5^th. Don’t strum the low E.

Same idea in minor: B minor at the 2^nd fret becomes C minor at the 3^rd.

Exercise: find the fret

Without looking at the diagrams: play a barred G, then a barred C, then a barred D, then a barred A. For each one, first ask yourself “E shape or A shape?”, then “which fret?”. Start again in a different order.

You’ve got it when…

• You play F, G and A in the E shape, sliding without lifting your hand
• You play B, C and D in the A shape
• You find the fret for a barre chord without looking at a diagram