[solidwalnut]

Barre Chords for Beginners and Beyond

It's time to create a lesson-thread where all folks of experience can help our brothers and sisters who are new to learn and play and use barre chords. Such a dirty word at times and hard work for those who are starting out. But fear not! We're glad to help. Here ya go.

What are Barre Chords?

They are chord formations that can move up and down the fretboard. Stop here and open this lesson to check out the basics of them.

Keep that lesson open so we can take advantage of the great graphics that Kirk has on his lessons. Notice the first graphic you see: The E chord form moving up the neck two frets. This is what it's all about. At this point, we're only going to concentrate on two forms: The E major and the A major forms. The variations follow these easily but we need to get a grip on the basic principles first. We need visual anchors.

Let's use the fretboard map for both anchors. Keep this fretboard page open for reference, but for simplicity sake I'll repeat the E and A strings here.

0........1...........2..........3..........4..........5..........6..........7...........8...........9..........10.........11........12.........13........14.........

A ||-A#/Bb-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|---E---|---F---|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|--

E ||---F----|F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|---E---|---F----|-F#/Gb|--

If this doesn't translate well for you in your monitor, just refer to the E and A strings on the fretboard map page.

The E form Barre

Starting with the top string or the low E, the open string is of course an E note. This is the bass note of the open E chord and the visual anchor for the E form barre chord. When you first learn to play the open E chord, you usually learn it by using the index, middle and ring fingers and it looks like this:


022100

Now play the same chord using the middle, ring and pinky fingers.


022100

What happens if you slide this formation up one fret and barre your index finger across all of the strings? Well, what's the first fretted note of the E string? An F of course, so it's the F major chord. And so on up the neck.


133211

Now open up the E Form Major page and check out how the rest of the E form barre chords work up the fingerboard.

The A form Barre

Starting with the next string, the A is of course an A note. This is the bass note of the open A chord and the visual anchor for the A form barre chord. When you first learn to play the open A chord, you often learn it by using the index, middle and ring fingers.


x02220

This isn't always so, but go with me on this one for now.

Now play the same chord using the middle, ring and pinky fingers.


x02220

What happens if you slide this formation up one fret and barre your index finger across all of the strings to the A string? Well, what's the first fretted note of the A string? A Bb of course. So it's a Bb chord. And so on up the neck.


x13331

Now open up the A Form Major page and check out how the rest of the A form barre chords work up the fingerboard.

Ok, ok, there are variances on how the A and the A form barre chords are formed. Notice in the variations on the A form barre pictures below that I'm really only reaching over to the fret the A string and not barreing the rest. Work smarter, not harder! Sometimes your fingers just can't do any of these things. Here's another variation on the open A, and this is often used when playing electric.



And here's a couple of those variations on the A form barre.



"A form barre 2" comes in handy when you want to learn that rock and roll move.



To Sum it Up, Let's Talk...

Take a look at the photos...notice that I'm only barreing the strings that aren't covered by the other fingers. Take the E form barre for example, for a G chord: 355433. I only need to barre the 3's!! The middle, ring and pinky fingers are taking care of frets 5 and 4! This could make a difference in how you approach the form. For my hand specifically: as I barre across with the index finger, I go across as far as I can (see the third pic) so the B and bottom E strings are near the crease of the finger and hand. That way, I use the fleshy part of the finger to barre those strings. This leaves the fleshy part of finger near the tip to barre the top E.

Be sure to check out all the links under Chords and check out the chord pictorials and chord finders here at this site.

There's much to talk about as far as playing barre chords. One area you can work with is discovering that it's ok to play partial barre chords. There are many players who can't play full barre chords, and so they stick with partials. No problem. Often times partials are desirable. Let's talk about those.

Let's talk about the different ways you play the A forms. What are some of your tips on learning and playing barre chords? Where's the thumb supposed to be? Are there links to other threads from this site about barre chords? What happens when my hand starts cramping?

This lesson can also be found in my lesson forum. For a list of the lessons, click the Lessons for the Beginner and Beyond link below.

[Cactus]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

The numbers represent the frets your fingering. BTW, your B chord is actually a C chord. A B chord would be your index across the 2fret and your other fingers or finger covering the 2,3,4 string.

I realize i put the B chord in the wrong place on the diagram, sorry.
But, embrassed as i am, ha, man i do not get it yet!

For example. I know how to Barre a F/G/A, etc. It is the "(numbers and diagram)" I cannot get a grip on.....Sorry. I need a pic or something, but I am not catching the meaning of the numbers here.

Best i can explain it.


Cactus

[Fretsource]

I think I'm beginning to see the source of your confusion.
The problem is NOT that you put B in the wrong place on the diagram (It's just the chord name and it could go anywhere).
The problem is that the original diagram, posted by TheDamon is wrong. As SolidWalnut pointed out in the post following that original diagram being posted, the chord shown is NOT B major, it's C major. - If you saw the diagram but missed the correction that followed, then no wonder you're confused.

Here's how to read the simple open E major chord using that numbering system
6 numbers are arranged vertically, like this:

0
0
1
2
2
0
Those six positions are the six strings of the guitar, with the thick E string at the bottom, and the thin E string at the top.

The bottom number is 0 in this case. That means that the low 6th string is to be played open.

The next number above that is 2. That means you have to play string 5 at fret 2

Above that is another 2, so string 4 is also played at fret 2.

Above that is 1 so that string (string 3) is played at fret 1

Above that are two more zeros meaning the 1st and 2nd strings are to be played open.

Put them all together and you have an E major chord.

The 5 string B major chord, barred at fret 2 will look like this:

2
4
4
4
2
X

The X at the bottom means don't play string 6, in this particular shape.

[Cactus]

Well, i tell ya, you cleared things up like crystal on the E chord diagram, thanks for a really great letter of explaination ! Plus, i "got it,".... till i can to the B diagram, and i got so frustrated i laid it down, it just don't click. Guys, I think i am hopless on this...

Ihave my fingers in a knot, and cannot figure out the B diagram, or i am just plain dumb, i don't know which.

I'm not dumb, so that puts me back to just plain don't get it. I know e-a-d-g-b-e, and where stiring 1-6 are, and in what order. As in yor E chord explaination... Excellent ! But then, the B has me stumped to the max as to finger placement.

You worked long and hard on a wonderful post (above) and did a great job, again..Thanks. But man I am lost on the B explaination.. Sorry.


Cactus

[allthumbs]

The index finger goes across the second fret. The top 3 middle strings can be hard to get at first. Think of it like this. Play an A chord on the second fret with your pinky, third and second finger leaving the index finger free. Then slide the A chord up to the fourth fret. Lay your index finger across the second fret and you have a B barre chord. An easy way to do it is to just mini barre with your third finger across the 3 strings in the middle. Does that help.

[thedamon]

The "B" chord has always been difficult for me. You can play it several ways, none are easy. My examples below will show position on the frets, not fingering.

2
4
4
4
2
X

Very hard to master above chord and get a clean sound on all notes. The rock version would be:

X
X
4
4
2
X

and can be walked like below.

X X X X X
X X X X X
4 6 7 6 4
4 6 7 6 4
2 2 2 2 2
X X X X X

Another version of the above "B" chord is:

2
4
4
X
X
X

or

7
4
4
4
X
X

The only other practical ways to play a "B" chord are versions of below barre chords:

7
7
8
9
9
7

or

11
12
11
13
14
14

I know this won't help much, but maybe it will give you some ideas that you can use.

[Cactus]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

The index finger goes across the second fret. The top 3 middle strings can be hard to get at first. Think of it like this. Play an A chord on the second fret with your pinky, third and second finger leaving the index finger free. Then slide the A chord up to the fourth fret. Lay your index finger across the second fret and you have a B barre chord. An easy way to do it is to just mini barre with your third finger across the 3 strings in the middle. Does that help.

GOT YA! (finally) .

I sure do apreciate your patients, and help, and work. Very much!

Cactus

[Cactus]

Thedamon,


Yes sir it does/will help, the more a get the grip of things, which I am strating to do. Thanks for the info.

Thanks again to all you guys.

Cactus

[too2tall]

Steve,

I am getting decent at my open chords but still having some difficulty with the barre chords. My problem is that the crease between the tip of my finger and the middle segment is high enough that the string is not properly depressed. If I move it to where it is not under that crease then the crease under my middle knuckle is the culprit. Any suggestions?

Too2tall

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by too2tall

Steve,

I am getting decent at my open chords but still having some difficulty with the barre chords. My problem is that the crease between the tip of my finger and the middle segment is high enough that the string is not properly depressed. If I move it to where it is not under that crease then the crease under my middle knuckle is the culprit. Any suggestions?

Too2tall

Yes, I think this is similar to what alot of people experience. Try rolling your index finger so you're barreing with more of the side of your finger. If this simply doesn't work, consider learning and using partial barre chords.

All the best,

Steve

[Fat Eddie]

Excellent lesson Steve, and great informative discussion too. Can anyone recommend any well known chord progressions or songs which include a few barre chords to give a bit more structure to barre chord practice?

[si16]

Hotel California is a good one.

Bm F# A E G D Em F#

[Hilch]

Thats Great I am slowly understanding the fret board , and a easy to follow lesson like this really helps ...

Cheers

Trev..

[Cactus]

Originally Posted by solidwalnut

Yes, I think this is similar to what alot of people experience. Try rolling your index finger so you're barreing with more of the side of your finger. If this simply doesn't work, consider learning and using partial barre chords.

All the best,

Steve

Steve,

Where can I/we get a veiw of the "partial barre chords." This sounds likejust the ticket for me as well, due to swollen knuckle joints, and wrist stuff. Perhaps this would make playing less complicated in this respect.

Thanks

Cactus

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by Fat Eddie

Excellent lesson Steve, and great informative discussion too. Can anyone recommend any well known chord progressions or songs which include a few barre chords to give a bit more structure to barre chord practice?

Hi Eddie--

Well, there's good songs like Hotel California that get you to switch between E form and A form barre chords--good stuff.

There's an old one that I learned that helped me play continuous E form barres. It would work just as well for the A form barres.

Freedom (by Bread)

G, Bb, C, F, F#

All using the E form barre.

Change the key and use the A form barres for the song.

C, Eb, F, Bb, B

Steve

[starsailor]

Excellent thread Steve, I do struggle with Barre chords as a horse broke my ring finger decades ago and it didn't heal properly so it isn't straight, it's not a big deal but it makes the whole process a little bit harder. These lessons are brilliant.

Cheers

Chris