PARTIAL AND FULL GRIPS · 8 MIN SUGGESTED

Jazz Guitar Barre Chords: Sixth-String Root Sevenths

Construct movable dominant, minor and major-seventh grips from a sixth-string root, with explicit finger and barre assignments.

Sixth-string-root seventh-chord barres · By Vincent Iannone · Updated 30 October 2026

How do you play seventh-chord barre chords with a sixth-string root?

Sixth-string-root barre chords place the root under the index finger on the low E string, and the whole shape moves up and down the neck to change key. The index finger lays across the strings at the root fret and the other fingers press notes above it. The A7 example at fret 5 is 5-7-5-6-5-5, sounding A2, E3, G3, C♯4, E4 and A4. The minor seventh form lowers the third, C♯ to C, and the major seventh form raises the seventh, G to G♯, which changes the hand shape. Repeated note names on different strings are normal in these fuller voicings, but each string sounds only one fret at a time. The same three forms transfer to any root on string 6.

The idea

The sixth-string root fixes the position of this movable family. A full index barre supplies several notes, while higher fingers replace selected notes above it. The major-seventh form uses a second short barre on strings 4–3; it is a different hand configuration from the minor and dominant forms. Repeated pitch classes on different strings are normal, but one string can sound only one fret at a time.

Put it under your fingers

1. Study the authored A7 at fret 5. Read the full index barre and the two higher fingers before sounding the chord.
2. Compare A7, Am7 and Amaj7. Name which third or seventh changes; do not infer chord quality from the bass alone.
3. Reconstruct the G7 shape, contrast Gm7 at the same root, then transfer the dominant form to B-flat.

Make it yours

Compare the full sixth-string-root forms with the three-note shell alternative. Check clarity one string at a time, release pressure, and move the dominant form between A, G and B-flat.