Barre Chords and Beyond
The two barre shapes that play every major and minor chord, then the chords that come next: minor 7th, sus, major 7th and 6th, add9 and slash chords, 9ths and 13ths, and real progressions. Free in eight sizes, in US or UK music terms.
Make it yours: see it in another style
Any US home printer (8.5 × 11 in). A binder, desk or music stand.
Download the PDFLetter, US · 60 KB
Customize this posterChange the sections, style and colors, and add your own title, in the Music Theory Poster Maker. $9 PDF.
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Make this poster yours
- Your own title, like “Mrs. Green’s Music Room”
- Only the sections you teach, or add more
- A different style: Dark, Modern or Minimal
Customize this poster →$9 PDF · try it free first
On the Letter poster (3 sections)
- Barre Chords
- Sus Chords
- Minor 7th Chords
Plus a practice tip in the space left over.
The bigger the poster, the more fits: A2 and larger have all 9 sections.
All sizes and files
| Size | Dimensions | Sections | US terms | UK terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 216 × 279 mm · 8.5 × 11 in | 3 | PDF, 60 KB | PDF, 60 KB |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm · 8.3 × 11.7 in | 3 | PDF, 64 KB | PDF, 64 KB |
| 11 × 17 in | 279 × 432 mm · 11 × 17 in | 5 | PDF, 100 KB | PDF, 100 KB |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm · 11.7 × 16.5 in | 5 | PDF, 100 KB | PDF, 100 KB |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm · 16.5 × 23.4 in | 9 | PDF, 149 KB | PDF, 149 KB |
| 18 × 24 in | 18 × 24 in · 457 × 610 mm | 9 | PDF, 149 KB | PDF, 149 KB |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm · 23.4 × 33.1 in | 9 | PDF, 179 KB | PDF, 179 KB |
| 24 × 36 in | 24 × 36 in · 610 × 914 mm | 9 | PDF, 180 KB | PDF, 180 KB |
What’s on the barre chord chart
- Barre chords: the E shape (root on the 6th string) and the A shape (root on the 5th), major and minor, shown as F, Fm, B♭ and B♭m, with a table of which fret gives which chord.
- Sus chords: Dsus2, Dsus4, Asus2, Asus4, Esus4 and Gsus4.
- Minor 7th chords: Am7, Dm7 and Em7 open, plus Fm7, Bm7 and Cm7 as barre shapes.
- Major 7th and 6th chords (11 × 17 in and larger): Cmaj7 to Amaj7, and C6 to A6.
- Add9 and slash chords (11 × 17 in and larger): Cadd9, Gadd9, Eadd9, G/B, D/F♯ and C/G.
- Progressions, 9th and 13th chords, diminished and augmented, and how to read a chord box (A2 and larger).
Every shape is worked out from standard tuning and checked: each sounds only the notes of its chord, all the ones it needs, with the right bass note.
How to use it
- Learn one barre shape at a time: start with the E shape at the 1st fret (F). It’s the hardest; once it rings clearly, the A shape comes quickly.
- Move it: use the table to play any chord. The E shape at the 3rd fret is G, at the 5th fret A. One shape gives you twelve chords.
- Swap in colour: try Am7 instead of Am, Cmaj7 instead of C, or Dsus4 before D. Same chord, new feel.
- Play the progressions: the pop, blues and jazz rows show the shapes in keys guitarists use, ready to play.
Learn it step by step
The poster is a reminder; these free lessons and guides teach each part, with notes you can play and hear.
- Barre Chords
- Lesson 31: Major and Minor Chords · Chord Formulas
- Sus Chords
- Chord Formulas
- Minor 7th Chords
- Chord Formulas
- Major 7th and 6th Chords
- Chord Formulas
- Add9 and Slash Chords
- Chord Formulas
- Guitar Progressions
- Chords in a Key · Lesson 32: Chords in a Key
- 9th and 13th Chords
- Chord Formulas
- Diminished and Augmented
- Chord Formulas
Questions
Is it really free? Yes. Download it, print as many copies as you like, and share the link. No email or account.
Is it for beginners? It’s the next step. Start with the guitar chord chart of open chords, then move on to this one.
Which size should I print? Letter or A4 for barre, sus and minor 7th chords; 11 × 17 in and larger add more chord types, and A2 and up have the full chart.