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Guitar: Lesson 9
Movable Chord Shapes
By Zack Cart
Prerequisites:
You should be able to understand and perform the concepts and techniques outlined in the following lessons before attempting this lesson:
Guitar: Lessons 1-8
Music Theory: Lessons 1-8
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In the last lesson, we learned some easy and useful “campfire chords,” to get you started in strum-able chord playing. The last chord, F Major, came with a promise that the shape can be used for MANY more chords than just F major.
For now, we will look at just two ways in which the chord can be used. On some guitars, this will open up a total of 24 playable chord names, on others, you will only be capable of playing 14 to 20, but either way, much is to be gained by careful study and practice here!
To begin with, play the F major shape you learned in the previous lesson. The notes, excluding duplicates in different octaves, are F, A, and C, the notes of F major. Hence, the chord is named F Major! Makes sense, no?
Now, relax your grip on the chord a bit, and slide everything up one fret, so that the middle finger is now barre-ing on the second fret. Figure out which notes you are now playing, if they are, from bottom to top, F#, C#, F#, A#, C#, and F#, you have done this correctly. If you refer back to the theory lessons, you will find that this chord is F# Major! (Or Gb major, if you spelled the notes differently)
Slide it up again, and the chord will be G major. Again, and it is Ab Major. Once more, and it will be A Major. Suddenly, you can play a variety of major chords with only a single finger shape.
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Now, if you play the F major chord again, and this time move all fingers except the barre up one fret, from C, F, and A, to F, Bb, and Db, you will find a new chord. The notes, from bottom to top, will be F, Bb, F, Bb, Dd, and F. Again, referring back to your theory, you can name this chord Bb minor.
If you repeat the exercise of moving the shape up the fret board, you will find that you have also learned a number of other minor chords, with only a slight alteration to the original shape.
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An excellent practice method for these new chords is to find a collection of songs which utilize only major and minor chord types, and play through the chords using only these two barre-chord shapes. Strive for comfort and fluidity, and as always, take care to stop if you begin to strain your hands!