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In this video lesson you’ll learn the four basic barre chord shapes and how to use them to create major and minor chords all over the fretboard.
Introduction
Barre chords are created by using one finger to press down some or all of the strings. Typically, you use your index (1) finger to press down all the strings and then form chords underneath. There are four basic shapes that you can use to form any basic major or minor chord. The four shapes are E, E minor, A, and A minor. They are just what they sound like – form an E, Em, A, or Am shape underneath the barre that you make with your index finger. You then move them up and down the fretboard to form the chord you want.
E major shape
Here are the chords that you make when your index finger corresponds with the indicated fret (note that the chords just go up the chromatic scale)
- 1st fret: F major
- 2nd fret: F# (Gb) major
- 3rd fret: G major
- 4th fret: Ab (G#) major
- 5th fret: A major
- 6th fret: Bb (A#) major
- 7th fret: B major
- 8th fret: C major
- 9th fret: C# (Db) major
- 10th fret: D major
- 11th fret: Eb (D#) major
- 12th fret: E major
E minor shape
The chords you create with this shape are the same as the E major shape, except they are all minor chords instead of major chords (reference the chord list above). For example, if you use the Em shape on the with your index finger on the 10th fret, you are playing a D minor.
A major shape
Technically this is an A2 major shape, but it will work to form major chords. Here are the chords you form when your index finger is on the corresponding fret:
- 1st fret: Bb (A# major
- 2nd fret: B major
- 3rd fret: C major
- 4th fret: Db (C#) major
- 5th fret: D major
- 6th fret: Eb (D#) major
- 7th fret: E major
- 8th fret: F major
- 9th fret: F# (Gb) major
- 10th fret: G major
- 11th fret: Ab (G#) major
- 12th fret: A major
A minor shape
The chords you create with this shape are the same as the A major shape, except they are all minor chords instead of major chords (reference the chord list above). For example, if you use the Am shape on the with your index finger on the 10th fret, you are playing a G minor.
Other notes
You can usually form any basic chord using either of the shapes. Notice that you can play a G major chord by using the E major shape on the 3rd fret or the A major chord on the 10th fret.
This is awesome, I had such a hard time learning barre chords until now! Thank you so much!
Do you have any tips for building finger strength cause I can’t get good pressure with my index
Just keep practicing 🙂
How about the 7th’s?
I am playing an am7 and an em7 on the seventh with d d u D but I don’t know what else to add on there
This is the most helpful advice i have ever had, I have played guitar for five years and i played my barre chords as people told me what to play i never thought they actually had a shape to follow, now i understand how to do my barre chords without looking at a chord book 😀
hello sir i really like the way you teach us sir 🙂
and can i use slide for bar chords because it is impossible for me to have that much pressure with my index finger because of a problum in my index finger,i want to know whether can i use slide in bar chords
Thanks! I’ve never really used a slide before, but using it as a bar (like your finger would be) is basically how they work – give it a shot!
I am a beginner and have started trying barre chords. I am having real problems getting my fingers into position while holding the barre.
For example, I can’t play a B using a barre. My fingers just don’t go where they need to. Do I play other variants of the chord or does the flexibility improve somehow. If it is a flexibility thing, then what should I be doing.
I play a classic guitar as I have really big hands (and feet- size US14 or 15)
Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Stuart – the best advice I can think of is just to keep practicing. I remember a point with barre chords when it all just seemed to click and I could finally do it. Building strength is a big part of it, and that just takes time.
Ohhhh, I’m really excited for this lesson. I’ve been trying and gambling over this barre chord….but now I’m Free bcs I practise them once and got it once…..
Thanks so much.
David Psalm, Nigeria
[email protected]
Thanks David!
Hi Brian this is a great lesson, can you please start tutorials for songs using barre chords please
Hi Tim – for any of these songs you can play barre chord version of the chords rather than open chords. Typically, though – on acoustic open chords are much easier to play and they sound better.
Thanks, that was helpful.
-Just beginning
Thanks Eric!
Wow, thanks a lot for this Brian! I’m a beginner with the guitar and your videos are really helpful. I love learning the mechanics of how things work and your explanation cleared up a whole lot for me. Thanks again!!
For some time now I have been taking your tutorials and I am becoming better..God bless you sir
Isaac from Nigeria
Thanks Isaac!
Hey Brian, thanks for putting this page together, very helpful. One thing I’m not understanding is your pictures for A major and A minor? Are they swapped by chance? Should A major use 3 fingers and A minor use 2?
Well it seems like my math brain was trying to recognize a pattern that if the finger position just moves one string over between E and A shapes for the 3 and 4 fingers that the Major and Minor shapes would stay consistent but looking at the non bar chord versions of these chords that’s not true. A minor shape is similar to E major shape. Ignore me, just a beginner!