1,008 guitar chords with several shapes each, finger numbers, difficulty and real sound, in any tuning.
There are two ways to play G♯ minor (A♭ minor) as a full barre chord: the E shape with your first finger across all six strings at the 4th fret, or the A shape across five strings at the 11th fret. Neither sits at the nut, so G♯ minor is a friendlier barre than F or B♭.
The library above opens on G♯m showing only barre shapes, 3 of them, with finger numbers and a difficulty rating. Tap one to hear whether yours rings the same.
G♯ (root), B (minor third), D♯ (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 (iii), F♯ major (ii), B major (vi), C♯ minor (v), E♭ minor (iv). More about G♯ minor: every shape, the keys it belongs to and easier versions.
466444x(11)(13)(13)(12)(11)4664x7The E-shape barre sits at the 4th fret, with the root G♯ under your first finger on the 6th string. It is the open Em chord moved up 4 frets, with your first finger doing the job of the nut. String by string it gives 6th string G♯, 5th string D♯, 4th string G♯, 3rd string B, 2nd string D♯, 1st string G♯.
The A-shape barre sits at the 11th fret, with the root on the 5th string. It is the open Am shape moved up 11 frets; leave the 6th string out. It gives 5th string G♯, 4th string D♯, 3rd string G♯, 2nd string B, 1st string D♯.
Around the 4th fret the strings are lower than at the nut, so this barre is easier than F or B♭ at the 1st fret: keep the first finger straight and close to the fret wire.
The same shape one fret lower is Gm, one fret higher Am: once G♯m rings cleanly, slide it to play every minor chord.
No barre yet? Put a capo on the 4th fret and play the open Em shape (022000): it sounds exactly like G♯m.
Practice: switch between G♯m, C♯m, E♭7 as barre chords, four strums each, keeping your first finger in contact with the strings as you move.
The E shape is on the 4th fret (466444); the A shape on the 11th fret (x(11)(13)(13)(12)(11)).
Yes: capo on the 4th fret and play an open Em (022000). Or use the fret 4 shape (4664xx).
Use the one closest to the chords around it. The E shape at the 4th fret has the deeper sound (its lowest note is G♯ on the 6th string); the A shape at the 11th fret is higher up the neck 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, 3rd string, 2nd string, 1st string at the 4th fret (G♯, B, D♯, G♯). Play them one at a time and move your first finger slightly until a crease is not sitting on any of them.