Root 6 Minor Bar Chord
Em
In the previous lesson the root 6 major bar chords were created by moving the open E major (E) chord shape up the fretboard. Root 6 minor bar chords can be created by moving the open E minor (Em) chord shape up the fretboard.
This open E minor chord shape is the basis for the root 6 minor bar chord. It can be moved along the fretboard and the new chord created will take its name from the note on the 6th string. All these bar chords will be minor chords because the chord they were based on was a minor chord. Remember that the chord type does not change, only the letter name of the chord does as it moves up the fretboard. Here are three root 6 minor bar chord shapes that will be used in this lesson : G minor (Gm), B minor (Bm) and F sharp minor (F#m).
Gm
Bm
F#m
Play the following three chord progressions using root 6 major and root 6 minor bar chord shapes. You can play the E major chord as an open chord or as a root 6 bar chord at the 12th fret.
Rhythm Pattern
Rhythm Pattern
The following chord progression descends down the fretboard one fret at a time alternating between a root 6 major chord and a root 6 minor chord. Notice that the only difference between the root 6 major and the root 6 minor chord shape is the second finger.
Rhythm Pattern
The Gm chord is played with the first finger barring the 3rd fret.
