The movable chord system
Barre chords, one shape at a time.
A barre chord is an open shape with your index finger acting as the nut. Learn the E-shape and the A-shape, and the same grip gives you a major or minor chord in every key. F and Bm are the two doors in.
Two movable shapes
Find your barre.
Pick a root and a quality, then compare the E-shape and A-shape. The index finger becomes the nut; the rest of the shape moves with it.
Root
Quality
C major
Two places to put the barre
E-shape root on the low E string · A-shape root on the A string
E-shape
C major
C major · E-shape (8th fret)
Barre at fret 8 · root on the low E string
A-shape
C major
C major · A-shape (3rd fret)
Barre at fret 3 · root on the A string
A barre only needs to cover the strings the shape uses. For the A-shape, mute the low E string; for the E-shape, the index finger covers all six.
One barre, two families
The E-shape puts the root on the low E string. The index finger covers all six strings; the ring and pinky fingers make the rest of the shape. F major at the 1st fret is the classic example: 133211.
The A-shape puts the root on the A string and leaves the low E out. The index finger covers the A–high e strings; the ring and pinky make the shape. Bm at the 2nd fret is the classic example: x24432.
Major and minor share the same barre. The difference is one fret on the string that carries the third: the G string for the E-shape, the B string for the A-shape.
All 12 roots
The chart shows the lowest fret for each shape. “open” means the root is the open string; every other number is the fret where the index finger bars.
| Root | E major | A major | E minor | A minor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 8fr | 3fr | 8fr | 3fr |
| C♯ / D♭ | 9fr | 4fr | 9fr | 4fr |
| D | 10fr | 5fr | 10fr | 5fr |
| D♯ / E♭ | 11fr | 6fr | 11fr | 6fr |
| E | open | 7fr | open | 7fr |
| F | 1fr | 8fr | 1fr | 8fr |
| F♯ / G♭ | 2fr | 9fr | 2fr | 9fr |
| G | 3fr | 10fr | 3fr | 10fr |
| G♯ / A♭ | 4fr | 11fr | 4fr | 11fr |
| A | 5fr | open | 5fr | open |
| A♯ / B♭ | 6fr | 1fr | 6fr | 1fr |
| B | 7fr | 2fr | 7fr | 2fr |
How to make the barre ring
- Put the index finger just behind the fret, not on top of it.
- Roll the finger slightly toward the nut so the bony edge presses the strings.
- Keep the thumb behind the neck; use arm weight rather than squeezing.
- Place the other fingers first, then lay the barre down.
- Check one string at a time; fix the dead string before adding speed.
If only the high strings ring, the index is probably collapsing at the middle joint. If only the low strings ring, move the barre closer to the fret and check that the ring finger is not muting the next string.
F and Bm are the two doors
F at the 1st fret teaches the E-shape; Bm at the 2nd fret teaches the A-shape. They are hard for different reasons: F needs a six-string barre, Bm needs a five-string barre with the low E muted. Do not wait for both to be perfect before playing songs.
If F is still fighting you, use the four ways to play F. If Bm is the wall, read Bm without the barre for the Bm7 and four-string options.
Common mistakes
- Pressing all six strings when the shape only uses five.
- Putting the barre on the fret wire instead of just behind it.
- Letting the index finger collapse at the middle joint.
- Using only hand strength instead of arm weight.
- Adding distortion before the chord rings cleanly.
Next
Open the F major guide for the E-shape and the B minor guide for the A-shape. If you want the rock version first, the power chord chart uses the same movable idea with only two or three strings.
Frequently asked questions
What is a barre chord?
A barre chord uses the index finger as a movable nut across several strings. The other fingers make an open chord shape behind it. Move the whole shape up or down the neck and the chord changes key.
What is the difference between the E-shape and A-shape?
The E-shape starts with the root on the low E string and the index finger covers all six strings. The A-shape starts with the root on the A string and the low E is muted. Both are movable; they just use different string groups.
Why does my barre chord buzz?
Most often the index finger is too far from the fret or collapsed at the middle joint. Move it closer to the fret, roll it slightly toward the nut, keep the thumb behind the neck, and check one string at a time.
Do I have to press all six strings?
Only the strings the shape uses. The E-shape uses all six; the A-shape uses five and mutes the low E. Pressing strings that are not in the chord wastes hand tension.
Which barre chord should I learn first?
F major at the 1st fret, then Bm at the 2nd fret. F teaches the E-shape; Bm teaches the A-shape. Use the four-string Bm or Bm7 while the full barre develops.