The first A is the lowest string (top), the D is the 3rd string, the
next a is an octave above the first A and the first string (bottom) is the C#
or third of the A major chord.
This is the IV chord (4th note of the major scale) of a typical three chords blues progression
(also used in pop, country, etc).
This is the V chord (4th note of the major scale):
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This is not a real E chord but it's a good substitute on a 4
string CBG :)
Of course you can also use the slide to slide up to the 5th fret
for the D chord, then up to the 7th fret for the E chord:
If you are tuned to another chord such as G, E or D, the
exact same fingerings and slide positions apply.
If you wer to do this chord with your fingers, the index finger
would be irrelevant because it's behind the barre... but look at your
guitar and see what happens with a slide. Your index finger, stopping
the string, pushes the string down far enough to sneak under the
slide. So you can lower the pitch of one string and change a major
chord to minor - or to a seventh. A minor seventh can be done, by
using two fingers behind the slide, but it's not easy.
Now, remember I said the ring finger is preferred for the slide?
Here's why. You can finger notes ahead of the slide with your little
finger if the slide is on your ring finger - or at least some players
can. I don't have enough control separation between my ring and
little fingers to do this, but you might - try it.
If you can do this, you can use it to play suspended 4th chord and
9th chords. Also you could tune to a minor chord (e.g., DADFAD) and
play major chords using your little finger.
Here are some more chords for a three string CBG in the keys of C, G and D.
