CHORDS
These shapes allow you to play chords and bass at the same time so you can create your acoustic version of the song. There’s a neat trick here, too: you’ll be holding down the A5 chord throughout, using your free fingers to fret the bass notes. Sure, it’s a handy way to fret the chords, but, more importantly, it’s an interesting harmonic idea – the two constant notes provide a kind of musical link common to all the chords, and it’s something you can try in your own chord progressions. It works well with open C or G shapes in particular. Finally, notice how the capo on the 7th fret turns the pitch of the open D shape into an A – that’s why there are two names under each chord.