Hey Friend,

Well I give up - my technical troubleshooting will have to wait until the weekend. I can't seem to get any traction when I sit down in the evening  - my wheels are just spinnin'!

At least the PDFs are working. Whether I get it fixed or not, I have a work around I can use until I can figure out something more permanent.

G#° Barre Chords PDF

Today's lesson shows the root 6 and root 5 barre chord positions for G# diminished. First the root 6...

The notes we need for G#° are G#, B and D. The G# is the seventh scale degree for the key of A. B and D are the second and fourth scale degree for the key. Combine the three notes and you get G#°.

We'll start at the fourth position (fret). Barre all six strings with your index finger. That gives us a root note G# on the sixth string.

Because barre chords are second inversions (note order 5 1 3), the first note in strum order is the 5 note, which is D. That first root note on the sixth string is just a bonus that helps fill out the chord sound.

G# repeats itself on the fourth string at the sixth fret. Lastly, the B note on the third string fourth fret completes the chord (this is the 3 note). Even though you're barring all six strings, there's no need to strum through the first and second strings. You can simply mute those or just don't strum them as the D# on the second string doesn't fit in the chord.

The root 5 barre chord moves us up to the eleventh fret, barring the first five strings. It has the same note order as the root 6 barre chord - root, 5 1 3. 

G# is on the fifth string  eleventh fret. Add the D on the fourth string, twelfth fret and the G# repeats on third string thirteenth fret. The B note comes in on the second string, twelfth fret. Mute the first string (you don't need the E note).

There you have it - G#°. Tomorrow, when you get the lesson for the chord changes from A to G#°, you'll be able to hear how this "off sounding" chord fits in the scheme of the key of A major.

Hope your Thursday is an easy slide into Friday and the weekend.

I don't know who the joker was that came up with the idea the week between Christmas and New Years is slow. I'm like the little Dutch boy trying to plug holes in the dyke at work. Too many cracks in the dam and not enough fingers... I guess I'll have to break out the snorkeling mask soon!

Peace~

Dave