A-Shape Barre Chords: The 5th-String Root System

The A-shape barre is the second master barre shape on guitar. The root sits on the 5th string instead of the 6th, which means the chord lives in a higher register than the equivalent E-shape barre. Useful for any context where you want a brighter, less-bassy version of the chord.

The A-Shape Barre Anatomy

Take a regular A major chord. Move it up two frets. Add an index barre at the 2nd fret. You've got B major:

• 2nd fret, all 6 strings: index barre (the 6th string is muted by the barre, since A is a 5-string chord)
• 4th fret, 4th string (D): middle finger
• 4th fret, 3rd string (G): ring finger
• 4th fret, 2nd string (B): pinky

Three fingers stacked on the same fret across three strings. The hardest part is making sure none of them mute the 1st string above them.

The Half-Barre Variation

An alternative fingering uses a half-barre with the ring finger across strings 4, 3, and 2 at the 4th fret. The downside is that the half-barre tends to mute the 1st string (high E), turning the chord into a 4-string voicing.

For most songs the 4-string voicing sounds fine. The 3-finger stacked version is brighter but harder to fret cleanly.

Major and Minor Versions

A-shape barre with the A major shape on top = major chord. A-shape barre with the A minor shape on top = minor chord. The barre stays the same.

Am-shape barre at the 2nd fret = Bm. The shape changes one finger position to make the 3rd minor instead of major.

Memorizing the Notes on the 5th String

To use A-shape barres, memorize the 5th string fret-to-note map:

• Open: A
• 1st fret: A#/Bb
• 2nd fret: B
• 3rd fret: C
• 4th fret: C#
• 5th fret: D
• 6th fret: D#/Eb
• 7th fret: E
• 8th fret: F
• 9th fret: F#
• 10th fret: G
• 11th fret: G#/Ab
• 12th fret: A (one octave up)

Common A-Shape Barre Chords

• Bb major: barre at fret 1
• Bm: barre at fret 2 (Am shape)
• C major: barre at fret 3
• C#m: barre at fret 4 (Am shape)
• D major: barre at fret 5
• F major: barre at fret 8 (alternative to the E-shape F at fret 1)

When to Use A-Shape Instead of E-Shape

The A-shape gives you a higher voicing than the E-shape for the same chord. Use A-shape when:

• You want the chord to sound brighter, with less bass
• You're already playing high up the neck and don't want to jump back to the 1st fret
• The next chord is also an A-shape (faster transitions)

FAQ: A-Shape Barre Chord Questions

Why does my A-shape barre sound dead on the 1st string?

Usually because the three fingers stacked at the same fret are crowding the 1st string and muting it. Curl them more aggressively so each one stands on its tip.

Is the A-shape barre easier or harder than the E-shape?

Different difficulty profile. The barre is the same. The shape on top is harder to fret cleanly because three fingers are stacked on one fret across three strings (vs the E shape's three fingers on two different frets).

Do I need to barre all 6 strings for an A-shape?

The 6th string is not part of the chord. You can barre it or not, but you should mute it (don't play it). The barre across all 6 strings is acceptable as long as the 6th string is muted by the index pad or by your strumming hand.

What's the easiest A-shape barre to start with?

Bm at the 2nd fret. The Am shape is the same shape you already know in open position, and the 2nd fret has lower string tension than the 1st.

Can I use A-shape barres for 7th chords?

Yes. A7-shape on top of the barre gives you any dominant 7th. The Am7 shape gives you minor 7ths.