root 6 bar chords

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A major 5th fret.
The chords illustrated below are called root 6 bar chords and get their name from note on the Low E string. Notice the image to the left illustrating the A major root 6 bar chord, 5th fret. You could use this fingering pattern to play all the major chords along the Low E string. The note on the Low E string, determines the chord. Since the index finger is located at the 5th fret, this would be the A major chord. But, if we moved the index finger to the 3rd fret and used the same fingering pattern, we would now have the G major chord. If we moved the index finger to the 7th fret, with the same fingering pattern, we would have the B major chord and so on. Check out the notes along the Low E string on the illustration below.

By lifting the middle finger of the A major chord, 5th fret, you would now have the A minor root 6 bar chord. Lift the middle finger in the image above and you would now be playing the Am chord.

 

Em chord
The illustration to the left shows the Em chord played in the open position. The lower illustration shows the notes of this chord. If you used this fingering pattern along with the index finger, you could play all the minor chords along the Low E string.
This minor chord is still determined by the note of the Low E string. Move this fingering pattern to the 2nd fret and you would have the F# minor chord. Move the fingering pattern to the 7th fret and you would have the Bm chord and so on. Notice that when you do lift your middle finger, you are forming the Em chord. The Em chord is played in the open position. You can add the index finger with the fingering of the open position Em chord to play all these minor chords.

 


A minor chord 5th fret. 
The illustration to the left shows the Am chord using the Em fingering pattern along with the index fingering which covers the entire 5th fret. You can use this fingering pattern to play all the root 6 minor bar chords along the guitar fretboard. The note on the Low E string determines the chord. Look at the illustration below and find the A note 5th fret A string. Compare that to the illustration to the left.

 

A major 5th fret.

 
Check out the bar chord lesson.
Check out the major progression chart and incorporate these chords into your progressions.

Good luck,

Guitar Secrets