Resources > Lessons 10

Major Barre Chords

This lesson you'll learn how to play Barre chords on the A string. Example 1 is a D Major chord. Play an A Major chord with fingers 2, 3 and 4, now place the chord at the 7th fret. Barre all the strings except the low E at the 5th fret.

Tip - Keep your thumb in a low position on the neck for Barre chords.

Example 1

This chord is the A Major chord shape played at the 5th fret (D) A string so it is a D Major.

Note: Remember X = don't play this string

Example 2

This is a popular alternative fingering of the A Major shape Barre chord.

Example 3

This chord is the A Major chord shape played at the 8th fret (F) A string so it is F Major.

Minor Barre Chords

Keep your Barre at the 8th fret now play the A Minor shape instead of the A Major shape. The chord is now F Minor.

Example 4

Example 5

This chord is the A Minor chord shape played at the 6th fret (D#) A string so it is D# Minor.

Enharmonic Notes

Enharmonic notes are notes that have two names. The Natural notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. If a natural note is raised a semitone it becomes sharp. If a natural note is lowered a semitone it becomes flat. Here's an example, play F on the 1st fret low E string. Now raise it a semitone to the F# on the second fret. This note can also be called Gb as it is a semitone lower than G. Take a look at the fretboard diagrams below to see which notes have two names and are therefore Enharmonic.

Example 6 - E string notes with sharps

Example 7 - E string notes with flats

This chord is the E Major chord shape played at the 7th fret (Cb) E string so it is Cb Major.

Example 8

This chord is the E Minor chord shape played at the 4th fret (Ab) E string so it is Ab Minor.

Example 9 - A string notes with sharps

Example 10 - A string notes with flats

This chord is the A Major chord shape played at the 4th fret (Db) A string so it is Db Major.

Example 11

This chord is the A Minor chord shape played at the 6th fret (Eb) A string so it is Eb Minor.

Example 12

The strumming pattern below is a variation of strum pattern 3 in lesson 2. The difference is that this pattern plays the chords in Barre chord form and has Left hand Muting.

Well that brings us to the end of our guitar lessons for now. Click here for a bonus riff featuring another new technique.

These are the Marshall Rock-Kit guitar and amp settings used by us for the sound file recordings that accompany this lesson.