GUILLORY GUITAR SCHOOL |
THE "G" SHAPE |
The Major triad created by a straight line over three strings, ( 2nd, 3rd & 4th), forms one of the most basic visual element of fingerboard harmony. Seen above in a frame, they are the open strings in a basic G chord. This exact voicing is repeated a major second ( two fretts )higher in the A shape, and a fourth ( one string) higher in the C shape. Use this shape when positioning your hand below the bass note on the 6th string. |
To use a G shape anywhere, play the 6th string root with the fourth finger. The first finger forms a barre on the triad over strings 2, 3, and 4. | |
The third finger frets the major third on the 5th string also providing a strong first inversion option. | |
When the 5th string is omitted you can hammer-on a sub-dominant chord ( C-shape on strings 2 & 4, see lower diagram ). The G and C shapes are best suited to major chords. |