E-Shape Barre Chords: One Shape, All 12 Major Chords

The E-shape barre is a single chord shape that produces every major chord on the guitar. Move it up the neck one fret at a time and you cycle through F, F#, G, G#, A, and so on. It's the most useful barre shape to learn first because once you have it, you have access to every major chord without learning a new shape.

The E-Shape Barre Anatomy

Take a regular E major chord. Move it up two frets. The fingers that were in the open chord (now sitting at frets 3 and 4) need a new "nut" behind them. Your index finger lays flat across all 6 strings at the 2nd fret, providing that nut. Now you've got an F#:

• 2nd fret, all 6 strings: index barre
• 3rd fret, 3rd string (G): middle finger
• 4th fret, 4th string (D): ring finger
• 4th fret, 5th string (A): pinky

The root of the chord is on the 6th string, on whatever fret the index is barring. Index at the 1st fret = F. Index at the 3rd fret = G. Index at the 5th fret = A. And so on.

Major and Minor Versions

The E-shape barre has two close cousins: the E-major shape on top (for major chords) and the E-minor shape on top (for minor chords). The barre stays the same; only the fingers above change.

Em-shape barre at the 2nd fret = F#m. The shape is just two fingers above the barre instead of three.

Memorizing the Notes on the 6th String

To use E-shape barres, you need to know which fret of the 6th string corresponds to which note. From the open string up:

• Open: E
• 1st fret: F
• 2nd fret: F#
• 3rd fret: G
• 4th fret: G#
• 5th fret: A
• 6th fret: A#
• 7th fret: B
• 8th fret: C
• 9th fret: C#
• 10th fret: D
• 11th fret: D#
• 12th fret: E (one octave above the open string)

The dot markers on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets correspond to G, A, B, D, and E. Memorize those five and you've got the most-used barre positions.

Common E-Shape Barre Chords

• F major: barre at fret 1
• F#m: barre at fret 2 (Em shape on top)
• G major: barre at fret 3
• Am: barre at fret 5 (Em shape)
• Bm: barre at fret 7 (Em shape)
• C major: barre at fret 8

Notice that some of these chords also have open-position versions (Am, C major). The barre versions sound fuller and let you change positions quickly without lifting your hand off the neck.

FAQ: E-Shape Barre Chord Questions

Why is the E-shape barre the most useful?

Because the E shape is one of the easiest open chords to learn, and the barre version uses the same fingering with a single index finger added underneath. Once you can play E major, you're a barre away from every major chord on the neck.

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

F#m at the 2nd fret. The Em shape is two fingers and the 2nd fret has lower string tension than the 1st. Less work than F major.

Do I need to barre all 6 strings?

For major-shape barres, yes. The 6th string at the barre fret provides the bass root. For some minor-shape variations you can mute the 6th string and barre only 5 strings, but learning to barre all 6 cleanly is worth the effort.

Why does my E-shape barre sound dead on the high strings?

Usually because your index finger is flat across the strings and the dent between knuckles falls under the high E or B string. Roll the finger slightly toward the headstock so the bony outer edge contacts the strings.

Can I use the E-shape barre for 7th chords?

Yes. The same barre with an E7 shape on top gives you any dominant 7th chord. Move it up the neck for different keys.