3-Part Barre Chords

A barre chord is a chord that uses a barre. A barre is made by using one finger to press down on multiple strings. The diagrams below show fingerings for 3-part barre chords based on the CAGED patterns 4 (6th string root) and 2 (5th string root). While the 4th string root chords (CAGED pattern 5) aren’t barre chords yet, they will be later when we expand these 3-part chords to 4-part chords.

6th String Root (based on CAGED pattern 4)

Root 6 – diminished

5th String Root (based on CAGED pattern 2)

Root 5 – diminished

4th String Root (based on CAGED pattern 5)

Root 4 – diminished

What to Practice

Try these three practice examples:

Harmonized Major Scale

Remember there are seven notes (called degrees)  in a major scale. A chord can be built from any degree. Regardless of the key, every major scale has major chords at positions 1, 4, and 5, minor chords at positions 2, 3, and 6, and a diminished chord at position 7. This can be written out using Roman numerals, where uppercase numerals represent major chords (any chord with a major 3rd) and lowercase numerals represent minor or diminished chords (any chord with a minor 3rd.) The small circle next to chord vii means diminished.

I ii iii IV V vi vii°

• Using 6th string root chords only, play a harmonized G major scale:
  G Am Bm C D Em F#dim G
• Using 5th string root chords only, play a harmonized E major scale. Once the root note goes beyond fret 12 (the B chord), play the chords down an octave. (The B chord will have its root at fret 2 instead of fret 14.)
  Remember the pattern, regardless of key, is I ii iii IV V vi vii°
• Using 4th string root chords only, play a harmonized B major scale. Once the root note goes beyond fret 12, play the chords down an octave. (The iii chord will have its root at fret 1 instead of fret 13.)

Classical Progression

This well-known classical chord progression has been used in several compositions, including Bach’s French Suite No. 2 in Cm. Play the chords and try to keep the lowest root notes between frets 1 and 7 while using 6th, 5th, and 4th string root chords. Then, play it again – keeping the root notes between frets 6 and 12. I think it sounds best played in a triplet feel.

Fm   | Bb   | Eb   | Ab   |
Ddim | G    | Cm   | Edim |
Fm   | Bb   | Eb   | Ab   |
Ddim | G    | Cm   | Cm   ||

Sunny

Play the song Sunny by Bobby Hebb. The song starts in one key and then modulates up a half-step several times. The original version starts in E. I usually play it starting in A.

• Original Bobby Hebb version starting in Em
• Cover by Jamiroquai starting in Am

Here’s a simplified version using only 3-part chords:

Am     | C      | F      | E      |
Am     | C      | F      | E      |
Am     | Gm  C  | F      | Bb     |
Bdim   | E      | Am     | Bdim E || (repeat)