Hey Friend,
Like A major, an E major barre chord is one of the easier barres to play. That's because for at least the open position, you get to use the nut as the barre. This lines up with the root 6 barre chord, which makes sense, since we're using an E shape to play an E chord.
It IS a little difficult to consider the root 6 version a barre chord without having your index finger stretched across all six strings. You'll just have to use your imagination.
Or don't - you can just as easily continue this as an exercise and only use your middle, ring and pinky to form the chord. You can even lay your index finger across the nut to simulate the barre version.
That's actually not a bad idea (if I do say so myself), because it continues your practice and keeps you in the right frame of mind for any other barre chord you might need. You decide.
The notes laid out are as follows: E B E G# B E across all six strings, from the sixth to the first. The repetition of three Es and two B notes gives the chord a full sound, with its character defined by the G# note (which is the 3 note).
The root 5 position is at the seventh fret and uses the A shape, as you would expect.
Your index finger goes across the first through fifth strings on the seventh fret, and then add the A shape across the fourth, third and second strings using your ring finger to barre the strings. The notes are E B E G# E from the five string to the first. Again, three E notes to really stress the root note in the chord.
And if you're paying attention, you can get away with including the open sixth string when you strum to add the low E note into the chord. I always enjoy doing that because it adds more power to the chord.
The exercise files walk you through each version, including two versions of the E5 power chord for both positions.
Remember, even if you struggle with barre chords, you always have a backup with power chords. Because major and minor chords rely heavily on the 1 and 5 notes, a power chord is almost always a substitution that will work.
(Right-click and select "save link as" to save to your computer)
If you want to read more about them, I put together over 250 power chords in the ebook Easy Power Chords.
Tomorrow, we'll have some fun with A to E chord changes. Until then...
Peace~
Dave | 
