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.

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