Home
> Chords
> D Form Chords
D
Shape
Barre Chords
In parts 1-4 of this guitar barre chords series, we
were introduced to E
shape,
A shape, C shape and G shape barre/movable chord forms. We built these
based
on the foundation shapes of the open position chords: E, A, C and G
(and their major and minor variations).
This lesson, we're looking at the final chord form in the series -
D shape barre chords (or "movable chord shape" - it doesn't always
require a barred finger!). Just as the other shapes relate to their
open position equivalent, so too does the D shape build on the open D
chord we learn when we first pick up the guitar.
D shape chords offer higher voicings than the other shapes, because
you're only using the highest 4 strings on your guitar. As we'll see in
the coming lessons, you can variate between low and high voicings to
make your music more dynamic.
Quick
Links
> The
Theory | Fingering
| Exercise
&
Jam Track | Chord
Chart
The basic D shape barre chords
Let's start with the
basic major D shape. Don't play anything at the moment, just
observe (click the diagram to hear)...

So, just like in the first four lessons, we can see how the open
position shape simply gets shifted up the fretboard. We can position
this shape at any fret depending on the key we're playing in. To do
this, we need to establish where the main root note of this shape
lies...
 
The lowest root note for D shape barre chords is on the
D string.
Therefore, if we know the fretboard notes along the D string, we'll
know that positioning that shape with the D string root note at fret 6
would make it... Ab (A flat) major. Ab is the note at fret 6 on the D
string!
Now, with the D-shape, you can barre below the
lowest root note, on the A
string. That note on the A string would be a lower voiced 5th
(more on what
that means another time). The main thing to know is that including that
extra
note in the chord won't ruin it. You may prefer the chord without that
lower A
string 5th, in which case you need to avoid picking or strumming it.
You decide!
Know
all the root notes on the D string? If not, spend some time
studying fretboard theory. With the right tools,
it's not as boring as it sounds!
|
Just like above, we're going to refer back to the open position
D chord for its minor chord shape (click diagram to hear)...

Again, we simply shift that shape up the fretboard to the desired
fret/key.

We'll also look at more D-shape chord variations in a bit.
Fingering D shape barre chords
The
basic major D shape from above isn't strictly a "barre chord" because
your index finger is only required to fret the root note, rather than
create the "barre" across 2 or 3 strings at once. However, it's good to
get into the
habit of barring that index finger anyway, because you'll be able to
apply pull offs and hammer ons. The barred index finger, across the top
4 strings (D, G, B, e) will be able to "catch" the pull off and allow
you to create intricate phrases around the chord shape...

And the basic
minor shape...

If you've mastered the other
four chord shapes from the
previous lessons, the physical demands of fingering these movable
chords should prove less of a problem.
Try the exercise below, where we change from D shape chords to open
position chords. At first it'll feel awkward, but as you should now
realise, the more you work at it, the more that muscle memory sets in
and the more "second nature" it becomes!

Example - Download Jam Track
What other chords can
you play using the D shape?
The D shape has its own library of chord
variations to experiment
with.
For reference, below are some of the most common D form chord
variations. Remember you can also apply these to the original open
position shape - they work the same way, as they use the same shape,
from the same D shape chord family.
Have fun!
Major
D Shape
Barre/Movable Chords
Major (e.g.
Ab)
Dominant 7
(e.g. Ab7)
Major 7 (e.g.
Abmaj7)
Add 6 (e.g.
Abadd6)

|
Minor D Shape
Barre/Movable Chords
Minor (e.g.
Abm)
Minor 7 (e.g.
Abm7)
Minor Major 7
(e.g. AbmM7)

|
Suspended
D Shape Barre Chords
This
is where the major or minor 3rd is
replaced with the 4th/11th or 2nd/9th from the major scale - more on
this in the separate chord theory lessons. They tend to be used as
tension chords
because of their "unresolved" feeling within a progression.
Sus
4 (e.g. Absus4)
7
Sus 4 (e.g. Ab7sus4)

Sus
2 (e.g. Absus2)

Don't be afraid to
experiment with this
shape. Use that barre/root string as the foundation for the chord, and
simply add/remove fingers to the proceeding frets (as far as you can
stretch in some cases). You're sure to find some unique sounding chord
voicings. This is how I learned - far more rewarding than relying a
chord chart.
Where
next?
Well, we've learned the 5 main
barre/movable chord shapes! Now it's
time to look at how they all work together as part of the fretboard
tapestry. In the next lesson in this series, we're going to look at
chord relationships - how these 5 chord shapes relate to one another
and how you can map their relationships on the fretboard.
The progress we're making here is tremendous, and soon you'll realise
just how little you need to rely on parrot-fashion learning and finally
ditch that restrictive guitar chord chart for good!

Barre Chords: The Big Picture >
< Main Guitar Chords
Section
|