We're going to use a "G" chord and a G major pentatonic to illustrate how we can use 5 basic chord shapes to move up and down neck of guitar.

These 5 basic chord shapes are open forms (played at end of neck near tuning pegs) of "G" chord, "E" chord, "D" chord, "C" chord, and "A" chord. Of course, when we play chord shapes in different positions, chord name will no longer be "E", "D", "C", or "A". In fact, chord will be a "G" chord every time we play it -- although we use fingerings normally associated with open "E", "D", "C", and "A" chords.

At Beginning -- "G" chord

We'll start with basic open "G" chord. The chord form is:

--ooo- open

|||||| 1st fret

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|x|||| 2nd fret

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x||||x 3rd fret

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The pentatonics in this form of chord are these:

E--0--3---------------------------------------------------------- B--------0--3---------------------------------------------------- G--------------0--2---------------------------------------------- D--------------------0--2---------------------------------------- A--------------------------0--2---------------------------------- E--------------------------------0--3----------------------------

Note that third fret on two "E" strings and second fret on "A" string follow basic "G" chord form.

The following box demonstrates tab above and shows basic chord form. The "c" is a note in chord form, "r" is root note of chord, and "x" are extra notes that, when combined with "c" and "r" notes, make up pentatonic.

xxcccx open

|||||| 1st fret

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|cxx|| 2nd fret

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r|||xr 3rd fret

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Second Stop on Fretboard - "E" chord

To move down fretboard, we're going to use barred form of "G" chord. This is basically open "E" chord; however, played at third fret it gives us a "G" chord. The chord form is:

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xxxxxx 3rd fret

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|||x|| 4th fret

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|xx||| 5th fret

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Note how third fret of "c","r","x" pattern links these two chord forms, since they have notes in common.

The pentatonics in this form of chord are these:

E--3--5---------------------------------------------------------- B--------3--5---------------------------------------------------- G--------------2--4---------------------------------------------- D--------------------2--5---------------------------------------- A--------------------------2--5---------------------------------- E--------------------------------3--5----------------------------

Following same "c", "r", and "x" notation as above, here is pentatonic pattern:

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|xxx|| 2nd fret

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c|||cr 3rd fret

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|||c|| 4th fret

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xcr||x 5th fret

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Third Stop on Fretboard - "D" chord

We'll slide on down a couple of frets to next position on fretboard. We're now using a form similar to open "D" chord.

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xxx||| 5th fret

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|||||| 6th fret

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|||x|x 7th fret

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||||x| 8th fret

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The fifth fret notes link this chord form to previous one.

The tab for pentatonic of this form looks like: