Barre Chords are played by barring your index finger across the fretboard to form a moveble chord pattern based off the 6th and 5th string more commonly but sometimes the 4th string is used.
These types of chords are common since they provide a simple reusable chord form that is easy to remember and once learned easy to use and play. They also allow guitarists to play chords up and down the neck using most of the strings for a fuller sound.
Minor
Root on the 6th String
The Root of the Gm Barre Chord is located on the 3rd fret of the 6th string.
Notice that the Key Signature in the Score
below has 2 Flats (Bb and Eb) instead of 1 Sharp (F#) as you saw in the Major
Barre Chords on the 6th String? The Key of G Major has an F# whereas
the Key of G Minor has Bb and Eb. We used a Minor Key Signature here
since Chord Progressions in a Minor Key use different Types of Chords than
a Major Key, although they use the same Starting Notes for the same chord
Progression.
For more Info on Key Signatures see our Theory Lesson on Key Signatures
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Minor
Root on the 5th String
The Root of the Cm Barre Chord is located on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
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Minor
Root on the 4th String
The Root of the Gm Barre Chord is located on the 5th fret of the 4th string.
Notice that it is the same as the Gm chord with the Root off the 6th string but the 6th & 5th strings aren't played. Thus, you only need to bar the 1st & 2nd strings. It doesn't sound as full or powerful as the previous Barre chords though.
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