Lesson 6 Barre Chords
Lesson 6 Barre Chords There are only three types of instruments that can play chords: (1) harps, (2) keyboard instruments like the piano, and (3) stringed instruments like the guitar. Of those three, only the stringed instruments, specifically the guitar, can use the same fingerings anywhere up and down the fretboard. To be able to move the same chord position anywhere up and down the fretboard makes learning chords in any key much easier. This gives guitar players a tremendous advantage over harp and keyboard players. The same type of chord can be played on any fret and produce that type of chord (Major, minor, 7th etc.) in every key. Barre chords enable the guitarist to use the same chord position on any fret on the fretboard. Many guitarists learn barre chords early on because of their usefulness. Barre chords are easy to learn, but generally more difficult to finger than open position chords. Barre Chords Are Based on E and A Chords The most common barre chords come from the open position E chord and its forms (minor, 7th, Maj7, m7) and the open position A chord and its forms. The E chord uses as its bass and root the open 6th (E) string (See Figure 1, following page). The A chord uses as its bass and root the open 5th (A) string. The barre is produced by placing the first finger over all six strings for the “E” chord forms, or by placing the first finger over the 1st thru 5th strings for the “A” chord forms. If you were to play a standard E chord using the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers (instead of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), then the 1st finger becomes available to use as the barre finger (see Figure 2, following page).
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