Intermediate 5th Chords 5th Chord Shapes

2 STRING (ROOT 6) 5th CHORD

If you know the E & A shaped bar chords then 5th chords are just an easier version of them, in some cases I teach students 5th chords first.

You can see how a root 6 position 5th chord
is only the lower two strings of the E shaped bar chord.

The most common 5th chord only use the lowest two strings of the E and A shaped bar chords. Although there is a 3 string 5th chord as well !

2 STRING (ROOT 5) 5th CHORD

The root 5 position 5th chord
is only the lower two strings of the A shaped bar chord.

This is another 5th chord using only the lower two notes of an A shaped bar chord. Remember the root note is the the 1st finger, this note will give the chord a name (e.g. A 5th ,B 5th and C 5th an so on), you will learn this in 5th chord placement section.

2 STRING (ROOT 4) 5th CHORD

The root 4 position 5th chord
is only the lower two strings of the D shaped bar chord.

Root 4 position bard chords aren't common in songs, I only use them a few times through out the night when playing. The sounds of these chords can be produced on the 5th string, just further up the neck, they are used more as a personal preference for me.