Lesson #3- BaRRe CHoRDS well, this is when the real fun begins! really... this is your introduction to the wonderful world of barre chords (also called power chords, but there is a difference)... ok.. here we go... A "barre" means that something is pressing down the strings all at one fret... essentially, the "nut" of your guitar (the piece of plastic/ivory/graphite that your strings are run over at the top of the neck (there are slots in it for the strings)) is a barre because all the strings "sound" off of it... if you put your index finger at the 3rd fret and press down all the strings, then your index finger is considered the barre. this is the basic idea behind the barre chord- you replace the nut by your index finger by pressing down all the strings any given fret... now, if you press down all the strings at the 3rd fret, and strum, it sounds pretty bad... just like strumming your guitar open with no strings fretted... so, what we need to do is to press down some strings on top of the barre you set up with your index finger... Remember the E chord that i wrote in lesson #1 ? that "shape" is what we will be using, along with the shape of the A chord... the "shape" of a chord is what it says... it is how the chord looks, or is shaped... ok.. here is the E chord: E e 0 b 0 g 1 d 2 a 2 E 0 <--- (root) ok... remember from lesson #2 that the root names the chord... so the E names a chord... with E-shaped barre chords, we are interested with the root on the 6th string only... now, since the basis on barre chords is that your index finger replaces the nut, we'll slide this (the shape) up to the 3rd fret... this is what we'll get: e 3 b 3 g 4 d 5 a 5 E 3 <---- (root) do you see? the 3rd string is 1 fret up from the 2nd, just like the E chord, and the 4th and 5th string frets are 2 up from the 6th string... is is the same shape, just shifted up the neck... there are several ways to finger this, but i find it easiest to do the following: press down all the strings at the 3rd fret with your index finger (push hard, finger strength will come with practice) e 3 <--- index b 3 <--- index g 4 <--- middle d 5 <--- pinky a 5 <--- ring E 3 <--- index it is a stretch, but will come easily with practice... ok... now that we have a new chord, lets give it a name! the root is on the 6th string with the "e-shaped" barre chord, so the note on that string names the chord... so: E F F# G (open) (1st fret) (2nd fret) (3rd fret) so the chord is another form of a G chord!! wow... all together now: wow. that's cool... ok.. gee, great enthusiasm you all have.. geesh.. now, this shape can be moved all the way up the neck til your heart's content... here are all the notes on the 6th string for you to reference in helping you name the chords (remember, the root for the E-shaped barre chords are on the 6th string): E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B,C,C#,D ,D#,E 0,1,2 ,3,4 ,5,6 ,7,8,9 ,10,11,12 now... you say you don't want to go from the 3rd fret to the 8th fret to go from a G chord to a C chord using barre chords? then i introduce to you the A-shaped chords... ok, the reason there are a-shaped barre chords is because people didn't want to have to go up and down the neck like a madman/woman (gotta be PC) switching from chords to chords... the A chord: A e 0 b 2 g 2 d 2 a 0 <--- root E 0 note that the root is on the 5th string... so, if we take this "shape" and move it up the neck by replacing the nut with our index finger again, then we can play other chords with the A-shape.. example: try this e 3 <--- index b 5 <---\ use your pinky and ring fingers g 5 <--- >--together to press down these 3 d 5 <---/ strings... a 3 <---index (root) E X <--- the 6th string in A-shaped barre chords isn't played.. you can mute it by barely touching it with the tip of your index finger. notice again that you are laying your index finger across all the strings pressing them down hard (except now, you don't press down the 6th string)... ok, let's name this chord... remember the root is on the 5th string, so that names the chord... here are the notes on the 5th string and the corresponding fret numbers: A A# B C (open) (1st fret) (2nd fret) (3rd fret) so the chord is a C chord!... makes going from a G chord to a C chord a lot easier huh?... ok, here are all the notes on the A string up to the 12th fret... A,A#,B,C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G ,G#,A 0,1 ,2,3,4 ,5,6 ,7,8,9 ,10,11,12 so, if you move this shape up to the 5th fret, you will be playing a D.. got it? one more example of each to make sure i didn't lose you... using the E-shape: using the A-shape: F: B: e 1 e 2 b 1 b 4 g 2 g 4 d 3 d 4 a 3 a 2 <-- root E 1 <-- root E x after a while, you will pick up on these pretty easily and be able to tell which shape each is... (note to the curious: the E and A shapes are popular because they are the easiest shapes to move up the neck... you can move the C chord shape up the neck, but it won't be too comfortable to play... ) ok... there you go... BaRRe CHoRD 101... remember, if you are still confused, then simply write me, and i will get back to you as soon as i can... THINGS TO REMEMBER: 1. root names the chord 2. barre chords are basically replacing the nut with your index finger. 3. guitar is fun... don't get frustrated... it will come naturally with time, practice, and the biggie... PATIENCE! have fun...