E-shape barre chords

An open E major chord uses the nut as a barre. If you replace the nut with your index finger, the shape can slide anywhere. The chord's name is the note your index finger plays on the low E string.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• Form the E-shape major and minor barre chords.
• Name an E-shape chord from the fret of its root on the 6th string.
• Change between an open chord and an E-shape barre chord.

Take the open E major chord. If you play it with fingers 2, 3 and 4 instead of 1, 2 and 3, the index finger is free. Now slide the whole shape up one fret and lay the index finger across all six strings at fret 1. The index finger has replaced the nut. The chord you get is F major.

Move the shape up two frets and you have F♯ major; three frets, G major. The shape never changes, only its place on the neck.

The root is on the 6th string. In an E-shape chord, the note under your index finger on the low E string is the root, and gives the chord its name. So you need to know the notes on the low E string: fret 1 is F, 3 is G, 5 is A, 7 is B, 8 is C, 10 is D.

For the minor version, use the open Em shape (finger 1 stays barred and you lift the one finger that makes the third). Fret 5 gives A minor, fret 3 gives G minor, and so on.

From open E to F.

1. Play open E major: fingers 2 and 3 on the A and D strings (fret 2), finger 1 on the G string (fret 1).
2. Re-finger it as ring on A (fret 3), pinky on D (fret 3), middle on G (fret 2). The index finger is free.
3. Slide that shape up one fret and put the index finger across all six strings at fret 1. You are playing F major: 1-3-3-2-1-1.
4. Slide the rigid shape to fret 3 for G, fret 5 for A.

Naming any E-shape chord. Look at the fret of the barre. Fret 5? The low E string at fret 5 is A, so it is A major (or A minor with the minor shape).

Do these in order. Each one is small. Tick the ones you have practised.

• 1.Name that chord

  3 min

  1. Look at the low E string diagram: fret 1 is F, 3 is G, 5 is A, 7 is B, 8 is C, 10 is D.
  2. Say the chord for the E-shape barre at each of those frets (for example 'fret 5 is A major').
  3. Then say the minor version (for example 'fret 5 is A minor').

  You have it when

  • You can name the E-shape major chord at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 without looking.
  I practised this one

• 2.Slide the shape

  5 min

  1. Form F major (fret 1 E-shape). Strum once.
  2. Slide up to G (fret 3), then A (fret 5), keeping the shape rigid.
  3. Play each chord for four beats and check strings.
  4. Reverse the order.

  You have it when

  • Each chord is clean after you slide into it.
  I practised this one

• 3.Open chord to barre chord

  5 min · 50 → 70 BPM

  1. Play open A, then F♯ minor (E-shape Em shape at fret 2).
  2. Hold each for four beats, then two beats.
  3. Put the index finger down first on the change.

  You have it when

  • You can alternate A and F♯m at 60 BPM with two beats per chord.
  I practised this one

Work slowly, at 50 to 60 BPM, with four beats per chord. Raise it only when the barre is clean. A good target is 70 BPM with two beats per chord.

• Not knowing the chord name when it is moved. Always look at where the index finger sits on the 6th string. That is the root, and the name.
• Letting the shape collapse when sliding. Keep the pressure on as you slide, and keep the fingers locked in shape.
• Muting the high e or B string with the barre. Roll the index finger slightly and check strings individually, as in the barre technique lesson.

Stand By Me uses A, F♯m, D and E. The F♯m is an E-shape minor barre at fret 2, so you can play the whole song with one barre chord.

Try it in: Stand By Me.

Short version (10 minutes)

Slide the E-shape from F to A and back, then alternate A and F♯m for two minutes.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all three exercises and then play the first half of Stand By Me (A, F♯m, D, E) slowly.

• E-shape: the open E shape with the nut replaced by the index finger.
• The chord name is the note on the 6th string under the barre.
• Frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 give F, G, A, B, C, D.
• Minor version: the Em shape with the same barre.

You are ready to move on when you can honestly say:

• I can play E-shape major and minor barre chords with clear strings.
• I can name the chord from the fret of the barre.
• I can change between A and F♯m.