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Barre Chords
Barre Chords
Barre chords are chords that do not contain any open strings. All notes are fretted
and a single finger may need to hold down as many as 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 6 strings.
We will no longer use X to remind you not to play that string. From here on, you will
only play the strings that you are pressing on. If a tab line has nothing written on it,
then do not play that string.
In the above positions, the root note is the first note on the low E string on the 3 rd fret.
We know that this is G because if we count up on the open E string from the chromatic
scale we will get open E – first fret F – second fret F# - third fret G. That’s why these
are G & Gm chords. If we move the whole position up two frets to the A, then these
chords would be A & Am.
C is on the 3rd fret on the A string and is our root note, which is why these chords are C
& Cm. Again, we can move this entire position to any root note on the A string. In the
C example you can use your ring finger to hold down all three notes on the 5 th fret. Or,
you can use all four fingers to play this chord. Certain situations are considered to be
“player’s preference.” The Cm example is best to use all four fingers.