Lesson 5  – How To Play All Minor Chords (3-String Triads) Using Just One Finger

Ready to learn a shape that will allow you to play every MINOR Chord up and down the guitar neck, with just one finger? Guess what?  You’ve already learned it!  It’s the same shape you use to play all Major chords, up and down the guitar neck.  It’s the old “A” shape or one-finger bar shape.

This shape is to be used when the chord root is on either the 2^nd or 4^th strings.  I will teach you a second shape (in a subsequent lesson) to use when the root is on either the 1^st or 3^rd string.  We’ll identify the two positions of the 1^st shape as Major shape “1-A” and “1-E”.

Minor Chord Shape “1-A”

Minor shape “1-A” … starts on the 2nd string (A-String) and ends on the 4th string (E-String)

The easiest way to play every MINOR CHORD (up and down the guitar neck) is to strum the “A”, “C”, and “E” strings together, mimicking either the old “A-Chord” shape, or better yet, a one-finger bar chord.

Here are three examples: To play an A-Minor chord (A, C, E) simply strum the “A”, “C”, and “E” OPEN strings.  To play a B-Minor chord (B,D,F#), simply move up to the 2^nd fret (on the A-string) and again, press down and strum the 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th strings. To play a C-Minor chord (C, Eb, G) move up to the 3rd fret and do the same, etc. Use this form to play Minor chords all the way down the neck on the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th strings. Practice moving back and forth between different chords.

Minor Chord Shape “1-E”

Minor shape “1-E” … starts on the 4^th string (E-String) and ends on the 6^th string (B-String)

Here are three examples: To play an E-Minor chord (E, G, B) simply strum the “E”, “G”, and “B” OPEN strings.  To play a F-Minor chord (F, Ab, C) simply move up to the 1^st fret (on the E-string) and again, press down and strum the 4^th, 5^th, & 6^th strings. To play a G-Minor chord (G, Bb, D) move up to the 3^rd fret and do the same, etc. Use this form to play Minor chords all the way down the guitar neck. Try playing the same chords on each set of strings (A, C, E) and (E, G, B).