Root Five Bar Chords
This lesson will introduce you to the two most common root 5 bar chords, the root 5 major bar chord and the root 5 minor bar chord. These two chords are derived from the basic A major and A minor chords.
As the term root 5 suggests, the root (name) of the chord can be determined from the note on the 5th string, fretted with the first finger bar. The first examples given in this lesson of the root 5 bar chords are played on the first fret. As the note on the first fret of the 5th string is an A# or Bb, the chords A# or Bb major and A# or Bb minor are produced at the first fret.
Root Five Major Bar Chord
A
A# or Bb
The root 5 major bar chord is derived from the basic A major chord and features a third finger bar across the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings.
Alternative Fingerings
You may find it difficult to avoid touching the first string with the third finger whilst fingering the root 5 major bar chord. However, it is common practice to mute the first string with the third finger as an alternative fingering for this chord.
You may also prefer to bar the first five strings only and mute the 6th string with the tip of the first finger. Now the key note will be the lowest note produced when the chord is strummed, helping to give a clearer, more accurate sound to the chord.
