The Movable Chords

The following diagram shows the 6 major movable chord shapes. Not every chord functions like a movable chord, which makes these unique and very handy. The practical implications of this method are really incredible. Once you learn how to play these positions, you will be able to hit these chord shapes anywhere on the neck of the guitar without having to learn a bunch of individual shapes. This way you will be able to play fuller chords in several different places on the neck depending on which of the movable chord shapes you use. As you can see, the frets aren't marked, because these are not chords, they are positions. The fret they are played at determines what chord they will be. 

In this diagram, you will probably recognize the top four shapes as your regular Em, E, A and Am chords. For demonstration purposes, they are labeled as A, E etc. but it is important for you to realize that they are different chords now that they've been barred. What chords do they become?

If you remember the music scale, you will know that the 12 notes on that scale are C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# and B. So each of these chords are going to change in relation to that scale. When you bar the E at the first fret, it will become an F chord, F# at the second fret, G at the third fret and so on. 

Same with the A position. When barred at the first fret, it will become an A#. When barred at the second fret it will become a B, a C at the third fret, C# at the fourth fret and so on.

The A minor chord will become an A#m at the first fret, a Bm at the second fret, a Cm at the third fret, etc. 

The Em position will become an Fm when barred at the first fret, an F#m at the second fret, a Gm at the third fret, G#m at the fourth etc. etc.

You can always refer back to the music scale if you forget what the chord becomes, because as you move the chord, it moves with the music scale.