Can you play this chord?

[LiveMusic]

Do you play this chord... C-shape barre chord. Say, at fret 3, it would be 365343. I can play about any chord necessary to play pretty much anything, but I really have trouble with this. It would come in handy to play, say, Eb. Like, I have a song there is a part that might be a key change... playing in key of G and then the part, I need to slide from D to D# (Eb). A barre of 254232 up to barre 365343. And the only thing I think it going to sound halfway decent is this barre chord I mention. I could barre an A-shape at fret 5 and slide up to fret 6 but I don't think that will sound as good, because then I have to go back to G and walk down to Em. Do you play this chord, is it part of what you do? I guess I am just going to have to force myself to play it until I can nail it. Is this a pretty common chord for good players, because I've never used it. Actually, I rarely play Eb but it does come up once in awhile!

[mr. beaumont]

I can, but it's without a doubt one of my least favorite shapes to need to grab on the fly...luckily the music I play hardly ever calls for it!

[samcclark]

If you don't need the 3rd in the bass you only need to barre the top 3 strings which makes it a lot easier, if you're OK with the root in the bass.

[Nymuso]

Sure, play it all the time. It's a pretty handy movable shape. BUT - I grab the bass string with my thumb. For some that's quite the no-no.

[mr. beaumont]

Keep in mind too, if you don't need the G on top but DO need it on the bottom:

3 x 1 3 4 x is a very handy shape.

[eljay]

It's a whole lot easier on a Strat than on an acoustic . . .

[pgilmor]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Keep in mind too, if you don't need the G on top but DO need it on the bottom:

3 x 1 3 4 x is a very handy shape.

Yikes!! I'd rather grab the C-shape barre!!

[Rhythmdoctor]

I don't have my guitar in front of me, but what you're describing (If I'm visualizing this correctly) is simply an open C chord shape but barred at higher frets. Right? So in your example starting at 3rd fret, you'r playing an Eb major, right?

I don't play that very often. I can do it but it's not the most fluid chord I play.

[815C]

I use it all the time.

When I was first learning, a great guitarist told me the most difficult chord will become as easy as an open Em if you practice it enough. I have found this to be true.

[Gordon Currie]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Keep in mind too, if you don't need the G on top but DO need it on the bottom:

3 x 1 3 4 x is a very handy shape.

This muting of selected strings is super powerful, and chord melody is pretty much impossible on guitar without it. Of course, it is a somewhat advanced technique and can take a long time to master.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by pgilmor

Yikes!! I'd rather grab the C-shape barre!!

Really? Goes to show everybody's hands are different...I find this much easier-- fingeed 2 1 3 4...underside of the middle finger naturally mutes the 5th string.

[Stratcat77]

Originally Posted by 815C

I use it all the time.

When I was first learning, a great guitarist told me the most difficult chord will become as easy as an open Em if you practice it enough. I have found this to be true.

I have to believe this is true. I've run into situations where making this shape would be very handy and would provide a different voicing. Eb is a great example.. I sometimes play Eb as X1134X. The "C shape" version would provide a different ring.

You've inspired me to practice it until it's easy to use!

[rick-slo]

An awkward chord shape as a full barre. Many viable alternatives are usually as good or better.

[Nyghthawk]

The short answer is, "No." the long answer involves language not appropriate for a family-friendly forum.

I find a different fingering or capo-up to another key.

[CycleBob]

For me I’d generally go x65343. Much easier when you only have to barre the high e, b and g strings.