5 Simple Ways To Break Out Of The Open Position On Guitar
by Simon Candy
Have you ever tried to play guitar higher up the neck, only to find yourself falling back on a few bar chords before returning to the open position?
There's nothing wrong with bar chords, of course. But if they're the only thing you use outside the first few frets, your playing can start to feel a little repetitive.
Most players don't struggle because they can't physically move around the fretboard. They struggle because they don't know what to do when they get there.
The good news is that you probably already know many of the ingredients needed to create more interesting sounds further up the neck. You simply need a few practical ways to apply them.
In this lesson, we'll look at 5 simple ways to break out of open position guitar playing using ideas such as octave shapes, harmonics, open strings, double stops, and triads.
Watch the video below to learn more:
1. Move Open Chord Progressions Up an Octave
One of the easiest ways to explore the fretboard is to take a chord progression you already know and move the fretted notes up an octave.
The open strings stay exactly where they are, while the fretted notes move twelve frets higher.
This creates a surprisingly rich sound because the open strings continue to ring underneath the higher chord tones.
The result is often more spacious and expressive than simply playing the original progression in the open position.
Let’s take the following chord progression as an example:
By simply moving the chords up an octave, we get a more unique version of the same progression:
If you're a fingerstyle player, this approach can instantly create fresh sounds from familiar chord progressions.
Watch the video above for more examples of this approach.
2. Use Natural Harmonics for a More Expressive Sound
One of the most beautiful ways to add colour to your playing is through natural harmonics.
Natural harmonics can be found at the:
- 12th fret
- 7th fret
- 5th fret
They produce a clear, bell-like tone that stands out from ordinary fretted notes.
A simple application is replacing part of a chord with harmonics.
For example, when moving through a chord progression, you can briefly substitute an Em chord with the harmonics found at the 12th fret. The harmony remains intact while the sound becomes lighter and more atmospheric.
It's a small change that can dramatically increase the musicality of a progression.
Here is an example of this:
For even better ways of using harmonics in your playing, be sure to watch the video above.
3. Combine Open Strings with Higher Fretboard Shapes
One of the most effective guitar tricks is moving fretted notes higher up the neck while leaving the open strings unchanged.
This works particularly well with pentatonic scales and simple melodic phrases.
Instead of each note stopping when the next note begins, the open strings continue to resonate underneath the melody.
The result is a fuller, more piano-like sound.
For example, check out this open position E minor pentatonic scale:
Applying this idea, we could play this scale like so:
This idea can be applied to:
- Scales
- Riffs
- Fingerpicking patterns
- Blues phrases
It's a simple concept, but it creates a lot of depth and movement.
Watch the video above for examples of riffs created using this open string trick for a great sound.
4. Use Double Stops to Create Bigger-Sounding Melodies
Double stops on guitar are when you simply play two notes at the same time.
For example, rather than playing a scale note on its own, add another note above or below it, and suddenly the line sounds much richer with harmony, like so:
You can make the sound even bigger by combining those double stops with open strings.
This works especially well when playing solo because you create the feeling of melody and harmony happening together.
Check out this example:
The beauty of double stops is that they sound sophisticated while remaining relatively easy to play.
5. Explore Triads Up the Neck
If you want more freedom around the fretboard, few concepts are as useful as triads.
Triads can open up an entirely new way of viewing chord progressions because triads allow you to play the essential notes of a chord in multiple areas of the neck.
For this approach, rather than playing full triads, try:
- Using only part of the shape
- Adding open strings around it
- Letting open bass notes support the harmony
This creates large, resonant chord sounds using very small shapes.
Here is an example of this using a simple A to E Chord vamp:
It's particularly useful for fingerstyle players because it gives you access to beautiful chord voicings without requiring difficult stretches or complicated fingerings.
Watch the video above for more examples of this.
Bringing the Ideas Together
One of the most powerful things about these concepts is that they don't need to be used in isolation.
You can combine:
- Harmonics with triads
- Open strings with double stops
- Octave chord shapes with harmonics
- Triads with ringing open strings
As you begin mixing these ideas together, you'll discover countless ways to move around the neck while keeping your playing sounding connected and musical.
Final Thoughts
Learning to play beyond the open position isn't really about learning hundreds of new chord shapes.
It's about seeing familiar ideas in a different way.
Whether it's moving a progression up an octave, experimenting with harmonics, using double stops, or exploring triads, these approaches help you unlock more of the fretboard without making your playing feel more complicated.
Start with just one idea and spend a few minutes exploring it.
You may be surprised by how quickly the fretboard begins to feel bigger, more accessible, and far more inspiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get better at playing guitar higher up the neck?
Start by using familiar chord progressions and moving them to different areas of the fretboard. Triads, octave shapes, and harmonics are excellent tools for developing confidence higher up the neck.
What are natural harmonics on guitar?
Natural harmonics are bell-like tones produced by lightly touching the string above certain frets, most commonly the 12th, 7th, and 5th frets.
Are triads useful for acoustic guitar?
Absolutely. Triads allow you to create smaller, more flexible chord shapes that work beautifully for accompaniment, fingerstyle, and melodic playing.
What are double stops on guitar?
Double stops are simply two notes played together. They create a fuller sound than single-note lines and are commonly used in blues, country, rock, and fingerstyle guitar.
Why do I always return to the open position?
Many players know how to move around the fretboard technically, but lack musical ideas for using those positions. Learning simple concepts such as harmonics, triads, and octave shapes helps bridge that gap.
Other Lessons You Might Like
Explore these related lessons to continue building your guitar skills:
Play Up the Fretboard
Learn additional practical ways to move around the neck confidently and make better use of the entire fretboard.
Triad Chord Shapes
Discover how triads work and how they can unlock chord progressions all over the guitar neck.
Natural Harmonics On Guitar
A deeper look at harmonics and how to use them to create beautiful, sparkling textures in your playing.
Open String Solo Riffs
Explore creative ways of combining open strings with fretted notes for a bigger, more resonant sound.
Double Stops Guitar Lesson
Learn how to use double stops to make melodies sound fuller and more expressive.
Easy Fingerpicking Chord Progressions for Beginners
Learn simple chord progressions that sound rich, flowing, and musical without needing difficult techniques or advanced theory.