Understanding the Fretboard: Basic Barre Chords

Last week we talked about the first step in understanding the fretboard, finding octaves and transposing riffs. This week we will take our exploration a little further as we study barre chords.

An important concept to grasp is that the fretboard is nothing more than a collection of patterns. This is especially important when thinking about chords. Every chord that can be played in the open position, the basic rhythm position, can be moved up and down the fretboard as long as its shape remains the same. There are a couple of chords that are more naturally inclined to be moved up and down the fretboard, and these chords are called “barre” chords.

The major barre chord takes the shape of the open E major chord:

E---------------------------------0--------------------------------------------------------- B---------------------------------0--------------------------------------------------------- G---------------------------------1--------------------------------------------------------- D---------------------------------2--------------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------------2--------------------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------0---------------------------------------------------------

Notice how both the E strings are open, meaning that the root (E, in this case) is played on the E strings. That makes it easy to play any other major chord on the guitar. You just have to find the root note on the E strings and build the chord around that. For example, here is a G major barre chord:

E---------------------------------3--------------------------------------------------------- B---------------------------------3--------------------------------------------------------- G---------------------------------4--------------------------------------------------------- D---------------------------------5--------------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------------5--------------------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------3---------------------------------------------------------

Notice how both of the E strings are fretted on the third fret G. The fingering for the chord requires that you bar your index finger all the way across the strings, so you play the low E string with the tip of your finger, and the pad towards the base of your finger holds down the high E and B strings. Some finger strength is required for the strings to ring true, but as usual, this strength will be developed with practice, so don’t be discouraged.

After you bar the index finger, use your pinky on the A string, your ring finger on the D string, and your middle finger on the G string, then slide this formation up and down the fretboard, using the E strings to establish the root of your chord. This way, you can play all twelve major chords using the same fingering in different positions.

To practice your major barre chords, find a song that has only major chords, then try and play it using all barre chords. A good song to practice on is “Wild Thing,” the classic tune by the Troggs that so many bands have covered. Try playing it in the key of G, which makes the chord progression for the chorus (“Wild thing/ You make my heart sing…”) G, C, D, C. When you are practicing, concentrate on holding those three strings down tight with your index finger, and try to make each note ring out separately and distinctly.

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