Adrian writes:
I've always been baffled by the opening chord to The Beatles 'Hard Days Night' and I've just found it on your site, many thanks. I was also baffled by the last chord to Buddy Hollys 'Heartbeat' and I got shown that by Bruce Welch of the Shadows, I'll try and show it here:

X_0_ _ _ _
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_1_1_1_1 Fret 11
|_|_|_|_3_3
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It consists of two small barres, striking the open 'A' string first, followed by the fingered chord using index finger to barre 4 strings D G B E at 11th [actual notes fingered are Db Gb Bb Eb] [only Db and Gb are used] and 3rd [ring finger] barre at 12th position, [2 notes] on strings B E [actual notes fingered are B E [octave from open strings at 12th], your 2nd finger helps form this 2 fingered chord by pressing down on the ring finger. In the key of A as per the recording, it's a nice sounding chord and could be used for other tune endings. I think the chord is A6, but check.

Whilst on the subject of these interesting baffling chords, I also got shown a chord by Hank Marvin, [only because I asked!] I had attended quite a few of his shows and prior to them playing 'Guitar Tango' on acoustics Hank would strum an opening chord, not used on the original Shadows recording. I was intrigued by this chord and tried emulating at home what I thought I'd heard, but alas my attemps to copy it by ear didn't sound at all correct even though I could see the area he was playing it but couldn't quite make out what he was doing, so I took the liberty of asking him whilst he was signing autographs.

I had to rely on my memory when he told me as neither of us had a guitar at the stage door and as soon as I got home out came my guitar and fortunately got it right! I can see why he uses this chord prior to playing 'Guitar Tango' as it creates the mood, it also reminds me of chords you might hear in Western films, Cowboys and Indians, to create a mood. Anyway it's quite a simple fingered chord, strummed backwards, with all fingered notes being played. [including an open one] here:

  _ _ _0_ _
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T_|_|_|_1_1
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_3_4_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

Play a full Gb [2nd position] non barre chord including thumb, play all 6 notes, but raise your 2nd finger which gives you an open G string, this chord strummed backwards from top E to bottom E gives this mood sounding chord, prior to the instrumentals opening chords of Gb G A G Gb etc. I don't have a name for the chord, but the actual notes played in order of backward strum are: Gb Db G Gb Db Gb.

Permission to reproduce this article from Bob Houlston:
http://www.houlston.freeserve.co.uk/feedback.htm

More on chords:
http://www.guitarsite.com/chords.htm
http://www.guitarsite.com/chords2.htm
http://www.guitarsite.com/chords3.htm