Lesson 67 Video

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Lesson 67

Lesson 67 - A Shape Barre Chords

Barre Chords - "A" Shape

 

Lesson Goals:

♦ Review definintion of a barre chord 
♦ Learn barre chords in the "A" shape
♦ Learn C, D and E barre chords

In this lesson we will work on barre chords based on the "A" shape.

The main difference with barre chords that use the "A" shape is that the root note for these chords will be on the 5th string.

Let's take a look at the "A" shape.

67 a comp 01

With barre chords in the "A" shape, you will actually be barring with two fingers. The 1st (index) finger will barre across the fret at the root (like we did with "E" shape barre chords), and, you will use your 3rd finger to barre the three strings that make up the "A" shape.

The trick with these "A" shape barre chords is to do the barre with the 3rd finger without touching or muting the other strings.

Keep practicing though, and your fingers will learn to cooperate.

If we take the A chord like in the diagram above and slide it up to the 3rd fret, we wind up with a C chord as illustrated below.

68 a to c comp 01

With "E" shape barre chords (last lesson) we could determine the name of the chord by the name of the root note on the 6th string. With "A" shape barre chords we determine the name of the chord by the name of the root on the 5th string.

If we slide the C chord up two frets to the 5th fret we wind up with a D chord. See below.

67 d diagram 01

In the above diagram, the root note is on the 5th fret of the 5th string making this a D chord.

Sliding up two more frets to the 7th fret you arrive at an E chord. See below.

67 e diagram 01

Hopefully you can see how simple it is to figure out any major chord just by knowing the notes on the 5th fret.

Coming up after this, we will put some of these chords to use in a new song!

Lesson 67 Summary

Practice the "A" shape barre chords until you can play them pretty cleanly. It may take a little effort. Then work on transitioning back and forth between "E" shape barre chords and "A" shape barre chords. It will prepare you well for the next song!

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Jam Tip!

When playing barre chords in the "A" shape it is easy to slide in some of the Blues Rhythm Riff. The formation of the "A" shape barre chords is identical except that it is the full chord instead of just a two note "5" chord like we did in the lessons covering the Blues Rhythm Riff. Take a look at the illustration below.

67 d riff diagram 01

C barre chord

67 c pic

D barre chord

67 d pic

E barre chord

67 e pic