Barre Chords

In a previous article I discussed the use of an E chord, but held this E chord without using the first finger. (The article was called "Before Barre Chords".) The reason for this structure was to get you familiar with holding the E chord structure with different fingers and in moving this structure to differen fret locations. Now the graphic shows the E chord, but also shows how you would move the pinky to the position that would produce an E 6th chord and then to move the pinky to the position that would form the E 7th chord. This E 7th chord would be an E dominant 7th chord.

The graphic shows an F chord with the first finger across all six strings of the guitar just behind the first fret. Even though you are holding other strings with the other fingers the first finger still goes all across the keyboard. When the pinky is moved it is possible to get an F 6th chord and then an F7th chord. The graphic also shows a G barre chord and the movement of the pinky which would make this into a G 6th chord and then into a G 7th chord.

A common chord progression might be to play using a strum of a down and then up for example going from the E (down and up), then the E6th (down and up), then the E7th (down and up), then the E6th (down and up) then finally the E (down and up). You might do this entire E pattern another time before moving to an F chord and using the same pattern for two complete times and finally through the G chord pattern for two full times and then the F chord pattern for two full times and finally the E chord pattern again.

It is important to realize that when you have learned the E, E6th, and E7th you have then learned 3 chords from the same basic E chord. Simply move this pattern and add your first finger to form the barre then you have made 30 + different chords going down the neck of the guitar. The Am chord is very similar to the E chord in structure. The pinky can be moved in a similar manner from the Am chord pattern to give you another 30 plus chords built out of the Am position and the barre chord.

This means that over 60 different chords are quickly made possible by learning the barre chord and this is actually just the start of the process. Barre chords are commonly used by every type of guitar player. It doesn't matter if you are playing rock, jazz, country, folk or even classical guitar the use of the barre chord is a significant factor in playing a large number of different chords. Review the graphic and try to get that pinky moving.