[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.

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by Cactus

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

Yeah, good question. I've been wanting to post something about these, and I don't think there is anything here on that yet (somebody jump in).

Basically, partial barre chords are playing only 3 or 4 strings at a time. For example for a partial E form barre chord, you might play the top three strings only.

For example, if an F chord is:

133211

Then you might play a

xxx211 instead.

The same formation as the Dm7 chord without playing the open D string. Or not. Up to you. It's not so much about rules is it is about making the sounds you want.

You can take that partial barre form (barre the high E and B strings with your index finger in the first fret while playing the G string in the second fret with your middle finger) and move it up the neck.

xxx433

and you're playing a G chord.

See the connection?

How about taking the A form. Play an A chord on the top three strings, xxx220, using your pinky and ring fingers in the second fret on the G and B strings. Now take that formation up the neck to

xxx553

Use your index finger for the high E strings and your pinky and ring fingers for the 5th fret strings. You're now playing a C chord.

See the connection? Partial barres and 'partial' chords are just selected strings from the larger barre formations.

Steve

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by 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

Thanks Chris.

Yep, life gave you some lemons, so it looks like you have to make some lemonaid

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by solidwalnut

Thanks Chris.

Yep, life gave you some lemons, so it looks like you have to make some lemonaid

That's the way I look at it Steve, Django played with 3 fingers, so it would be a poor show if I didn't make an effort to play with one crooked one.

[thedamon]

partial barre chords

Lets take any three chord song with D G A as your chords. Use only the high four strings.

D 2324 first finger barres the second fret.
this is the same D chord you learned, but with your ring finger on a F# bass instead of an open D bass.
G 3345 first finger barres the third fret.
just like an F chord, just slid up 2 frets.
A 5222 first finger barres the second fret.
you could still play the A bass note. 52220X

Switching between these chords is not hard.

Now the advantage of this comes with when you have a three chord song in, say G C D.

G 7879
C 88910
D 10777 pinky on the 10th fret

Practice.

[thedamon]

Also you can do seventh above. D G A7.

A7 is 3222

or G C D7

D7 is 8777

[Cactus]

Thanks Steve,

I think I will try and draw some diagrams for my self, ad simply practice. This may be the answer to some of my playing situations, as to relive some pain from the knuckles/joints. Again, I appreciate all your work and time man!

Thanks !


thedamon

Thanks to you as well..... You always give out some good stuff.



starsailor

Yes sir, I can assure you I know what you mean about the horse injuries. Like getting bucked off, you get back on. Same with everything in life, the way I see it. Get up 'and do' what everyone tells you (including yourself), that you cannot do !

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by Cactus

Thanks Steve,

I think I will try and draw some diagrams for my self, ad simply practice. This may be the answer to some of my playing situations, as to relive some pain from the knuckles/joints. Again, I appreciate all your work and time man!

Thanks !


thedamon

Thanks to you as well..... You always give out some good stuff.



starsailor

Yes sir, I can assure you I know what you mean about the horse injuries. Like getting bucked off, you get back on. Same with everything in life, the way I see it. Get up 'and do' what everyone tells you (including yourself), that you cannot do !

I've got a few injuries, nothing major, just some that cause discomfort now I'm getting older but there are so many people out there who manage to overcome major disabilities and they make me realise that mine are pretty trivial in comparison, life is for living so we should go for it.
Good luck with your playing and the barre chords Cactus, think you'll get on fine you have a good outlook on life.

Best Wishes

Chris

[Cactus]

Originally Posted by starsailor

I've got a few injuries, nothing major, just some that cause discomfort now I'm getting older but there are so many people out there who manage to overcome major disabilities and they make me realise that mine are pretty trivial in comparison, life is for living so we should go for it.Good luck with your playing and the barre chords Cactus, think you'll get on fine you have a good outlook on life.
Best Wishes

Chris

Thanks!
We just get back on, and ride.

All the Best to you as well !


Cactus

[Fat Eddie]

Originally Posted by si16

Hotel California is a good one.

Bm F# A E G D Em F#

Originally Posted by solidwalnut

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

Cheers to both of you. I rather stupidly didn't think of playing the much used chords like G as a barre chord. Now that I know I can do that I can experiment with lots of progressions and songs. I've been doing Kirk's Pachelbel lesson which has a couple of different shaped Barres and my speed of chord change is definitely improving, although I keep reminding myself that accuracy is King and the speed will progressively improve with every hour of practice, practice, practice! all the best Ed

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by Fat Eddie

...I've been doing Kirk's Pachelbel lesson which has a couple of different shaped Barres and my speed of chord change is definitely improving, although I keep reminding myself that accuracy is King and the speed will progressively improve with every hour of practice, practice, practice! all the best Ed

Can I get an 'amen' from the guitar choir??

[Aunt Doty]

AMEN!!!

[Beholder]

Thanks for the lesson, helped a lot

Still.. I've been doing... euhm.. or trying to do barre chords for over a week, the problem is that I can't make string B sound right and clear when I play barre chord such as F... I know it's about training but that B string just doesn't sound good! sry if this is a stupid question, anyways help is welcome

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by Beholder

Thanks for the lesson, helped a lot

Still.. I've been doing... euhm.. or trying to do barre chords for over a week, the problem is that I can't make string B sound right and clear when I play barre chord such as F... I know it's about training but that B string just doesn't sound good! sry if this is a stupid question, anyways help is welcome

For my hand, I have to place my entire finger as far across the strings as possible so I can use the fattest part of my index finger.

[GeneC728]

This is a really good explanation of how to use and play bar chords and hopefully it will be of great use to me. But just to be honest with you, I have tried, tried and tried to learn to make bar chords. I just cannot make a clean bar chord. I've practiced for hours, day after day and weeek after week but still can't do it. I've read every instruction on how to make them but I can't press down 6 strings with my left index finger. I have long slender fingers and it should be no problem but so far no luck. I'm not a beginning guitarist either. What's the secret, if there is one?

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

Hi GeneC. What kind of guitar do you have?