[vindibona1]

Here is a simple way to think of it...

You have your basic cowboy chords, G,C,D,E,A, Em, Am, plus their 7th variations. When you move up the neck, each fret is equal to being 1/2 step higher, two frets a whole step.

So let's use Am as a relatively easy example... if you move that chord up two frets you have Bm. But with the standard Am fingering of 2-3-1 if you move that up two frets you still have strings 1, 5 and 6 still open and that has to be moved up too. What to do? You change the Am fingering to 3-4-2 and then the index finger bars the 2nd fret (just above the 2nd finger) to act a a capo. And voila, you have Bm. you can leave the 6th string un-strummed as the 5th string is the root of the chord, but the 6th string's F# is still in within the chord and you can still play it if you like the way it sounds.

It's the same with the E chord which may be even a better example. Change the fingering to 3-4-2, slide it up and use the index as a capo to bar the fret above it. Slide it up one fret and you have a fully barred F maj chord. Two more frets and you have a G major, etc.

The A chord has a couple different fingering variations. You can finger the A major as 2-3-4 or 3-2-4 , OR, (my preferred fingering) bar the 2nd fret 2nd, 3rd, 4th string with the ring finger. Then you slide everything down one fret, apply the index finger bar and you have Bb.

The D and C shapes are a litle more difficult but with practice can be done similarly. Even the G shape can be done with a stretch, but uses the same principle. It's all largely a matter of knowing your basic chords and knowing the names of the notes on the lower strings.

Good luck.