1,008 guitar chords with several shapes each, finger numbers, difficulty and real sound, in any tuning.
There are two ways to play E major as a full barre chord: the E shape with your first finger across all six strings at the 12th fret, or the A shape across five strings at the 7th fret. Neither sits at the nut, so E major is a friendlier barre than F or B♭.
The library above opens on E showing only barre shapes, 2 of them, with finger numbers and a difficulty rating. Tap one to hear whether yours rings the same.
E (root), G♯ (major third), B (fifth). A barre shape doubles them across five or six strings, which is why it sounds so full. You will need it in E major (I), A major (V), B major (IV), C♯ minor (III), F♯ minor (VII). More about E major: every shape, the keys it belongs to and easier versions.
x79997(12)(14)(14)(13)(12)(12)The E-shape barre sits at the 12th fret, with the root E under your first finger on the 6th string. It is the open E chord moved up 12 frets, with your first finger doing the job of the nut. String by string it gives 6th string E, 5th string B, 4th string E, 3rd string G♯, 2nd string B, 1st string E.
The A-shape barre sits at the 7th fret, with the root on the 5th string. It is the open A shape moved up 7 frets; leave the 6th string out. It gives 5th string E, 4th string B, 3rd string E, 2nd string G♯, 1st string B.
At the 7th fret the frets are close together, so the barre is short and light (the 7th fret has a dot marker to aim for). Keep your wrist low and the shape relaxed.
The same shape one fret lower is E♭, one fret higher F: once E rings cleanly, slide it to play every major chord.
No barre yet? Put a capo on the 2nd fret and play the open D shape (xx0232): it sounds exactly like E.
Practice: switch between E, A, B as barre chords, four strums each, keeping your first finger in contact with the strings as you move.
The E shape is on the 12th fret ((12)(14)(14)(13)(12)(12)); the A shape on the 7th fret (x79997).
Yes: capo on the 2nd fret and play an open D (xx0232). Or use the open position shape (022100).
Use the one closest to the chords around it. The E shape at the 12th fret has the deeper sound (its lowest note is E on the 6th string); the A shape at the 7th fret is lower down and leaves the 6th string out.
The strings held only by the barre are the ones that buzz: in the E shape that is the 6th string, 2nd string, 1st string at the 12th fret (E, B, E). Play them one at a time and move your first finger slightly until a crease is not sitting on any of them.