Playing E-based Minor Barre Chords

Now it's time to add other chord qualities into your repertoire. Playing a minor, a dominant 7th, or a minor 7th in its barre form is very easy just like playing a major barre. Soon enough, as you continue to practice, you'll notice that everything gets a lot easier.

Minor chords

The following simple steps describe how to play the Fm (F-minor) barre chord:

1. Play an F major barre chord. See my previous about playing major barre chords based on E and learn how to play an F Major chord.

2. Remove your second finger from the 3rd string.

And that's it!

You only need to remove one finger to instantly switch between a major barre chord and a minor barre chord.

Now, by learning how to do that, you can play any of the 12 minor chords by moving the Fm chord to the appropriate fret. Refer to the table below to know the name of the minor chord you are playing at different frets.

FRET

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

NOTE

Fm

F#m/Gbm

Gm

G#m/Abm

Am

A#m/Bbm

Bm

Cm

C#m/Db

Dm

D#m/Ebm

Em

Test you skills by playing the simple progression below:

The dots above the slashes in the 2nd and 4th bars are called staccato marks. They tell you to cut the notes short. To do this, slightly release the pressure on your left-hand fingers right after you strum the chord. The symbols at the end of the measures 2 and 4 are called rests. As it name says, you must not play anything when you see this symbol.