Originally Posted by: Otto Ray SingAre these actually the same chords as they go down, or are they something like an increased octive?

Frequently, these are movable shapes that a beginner guitarist is already familiar with. And then they are also parts of barre chords.

See here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=383
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=378

In my opinion, the best way to visualize chords on the guitar is in triad inversions. The reason I prefer this approach is that you get to see each chord in it's most elemental, fundamental form; the basic buildign blocks of all chord shapes. And then, how all those little individual building blocks are integrated to cover the fretboard. :)

See here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=148
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=730
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=731
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=733
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=734

Hope this helps!