How to Play Barre Chords on the Guitar

Barre (or bar) playing is the technique that allows you to play chord patterns in different keys around the fingerboard. It also distinguishes the experienced player from the novice. To learn about moving chord patterns with the help of a capo, see "How to Use a Capo," under Related eHows.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Acoustic Guitars
• Capo
• Electric Guitars
• Guitar Amplifiers
• Guitar Cables
• Guitar Cases
• Guitar Picks
• Guitar Stands
• Guitar Straps
• Guitar Strings
• Sheet Music For Guitar
• Electronic Tuner For Guitars

Learning the Bar

1. 

   Place the first finger of your left hand across the strings on the third fret of the fingerboard.

2. Try to keep your finger straight.

3. Touch the strings lightly; avoid applying any pressure at this point.

4. 

   Pass your right-hand thumb across the strings.

5. Ease your finger down until it makes contact with the fingerboard. The dampened sound will now become clearer.

6. 

   Make sure your first finger joint crease does not fall on a string. Move your finger until the crease lies between the third and fourth strings.

7. Prevent the strings from buzzing by not allowing your finger to curve.

8. Play with the first finger of your left hand across the third fret for a while until you get a clear sound from all strings.

Playing Music

9. With your other left-hand fingers, add the notes of a full G-major chord to the bar. It looks like an E-major chord on the first fret, and it's particularly useful because it makes a full-sounding chord across any fret on the guitar.

10. Strum with your right hand across the strings until every note in the chord rings out clearly. This might take a while but will be very rewarding after you've mastered it.

11. Move the G-major chord up two frets to the fifth fret to play A major. Notice that you've changed into a different key without having to change the chord fingering.

12. Play a blues song with the A major and A7 chord (equals the E7 chord on the first fret) in barre position in 4/4 time, using the 12-bar blues progression (see "How to Play the Blues on the Guitar," under Related eHows): A / D7 / A / A7 / D / D / A / A / E7 / D7 / A / E7 / ... (repeat).

13. Move the barre up and down the fingerboard to play different keys. Find the key best suited for your vocal range.

Tips & Warnings

• Barre chord playing may seem difficult to the beginner until your left-hand fingers have acquired enough strength to hold down the strings. However, great strength is not really required - just find the right position that allows all notes to sound clearly with only moderate pressure.

on 3/21/2006 To play the ending of Stairway to Heaven (using barre chords), bar the fifth fret and make an E major position with your other fingers. Strum, a couple times (listen to song for pattern) then move down 2 frets so you should be barring the third fret. Now strum, now move down another 2 frets now you should be barring the first fret. Repeat.

on 11/22/2005 If the chord doesn't sound right, it may be because you aren't applying your index finger with enough force. It really hurts at first, but you'll get the hang of it!