Barre Chords

Barre Chords
Denny Straussfogel

For those guitarists that have been stuck playing "easy guitar" versions of songs or not playing certain songs at all I guarantee that learning barre chords will be the single biggest leap you will ever make in playing ability, and it's no where near as difficult as some folks think. (I'm really not overstating this! By learning a few basic forms, you'll be able to play any song in any key. So when you see all those C#m7, you'll think "no problem" rather than "I can't play that.")

The key to playing barre chords is developing the ability to "barre" (fret) all six strings of the guitar with your index finger. Of course, you have to do this "cleanly" and get a good tone out of all six strings. I suggest you start by holding the guitar in the "classical" position with the body of the guitar on the LEFT knee (I'll assume you're playing a right-handed guitar) and the neck held up at a 45 degree angle. This puts your left hand in a much better position for everything. (You'll be amazed at how much more speed and "reach" you'll have and you can always return to playing with the guitar in some old familiar position once you've mastered this technique. ) Since everyone's index finger is shaped a little differently, you may have to experiment a little to get a good tone. Usually contact is made towards the side of the index finger rather than right on the flat part. You have to have your thumb pushing against the back of the neck, not wrapped around it. Just pinch the neck between thumb and index finger, with your finger covering all six strings (at the fret of your choice) and work until you get a passable tone from all the strings. This might not happen all at once; you need to build up alittle strength, and toughness on your finger. (I've never developed a callous there, as on the fingertips, but it has gotten a little tougher. ) Anyway, this is usually the most frustrating part of learning barre chords. Don't give up if it doesn't sound great at first, it will with practice.

Now to the chord forms. The only theory you need to know is that the frets on a guitar are analogous to the keys on a piano. Since you'll be fretting all six strings you can move the entire chord for an F chord up one fret and you'll be playing an F# chord. One more fret and you'll be playing a G chord, one more a G# chord, and so on until you run out of fretboard. So you can see, by learning a single form, you can play as many chords as you have frets. There are two basic forms, and they can be converted into minors and/or sevenths by simply raising a finger. One form requires a finger rearrangement to do the minor, so you could call it a different form. Okay, so there are three forms. By learning these three forms, you can play any, yes ANY major chord, seventh chord, minor chord, or minor seventh chord. (B-flat minor seventh? No problem! ) Major sevenths and major ninths are easy too once you get the barring down. So here are the forms. Let's barre the 3rd fret and look at the form for a G chord there ("I" indicates fretting with index finger, "m" with middle finger, "r" with ring finger, and "p" with pinky. This might be an unusual diagram format, but it's what you see when looking over the top of the neck)

G chord 
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to form a seventh, simply lift your pinky

G7 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to form the minor, put back your pinky, and lift your middle finger (You can use your middle finger to help with the barre until your strength increases. )

Gm chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to get a minor seventh, raise both middle and pinky fingers

Gm7 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

Now remember the utility in this is that if you slide everything up one fret you'll be playing a G#, G#7, G#m, and G#m7, respectively. Slide up another fret and you've got A, A7, Am, and Am7, and so on right up the fret board. In the opposite direction if you slide everything down one fret from the "G" position, you'll have F#, F#7, F#m, and F#m7. One more, fret down and you'll have something that should be somewhat familiar, at least on the four high strings, an F, F7, Fm, and Fm7. Actually, if you slide one more fret down, using the nut of the guitar as your barre, you're back to an E, E7, Em, and Em7, which you probably already know, using different fingers. Okay, now the second form. Again, barre the 3rd fret and a C chord is played as

C chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to get the seventh, raise you ring finger

C7 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

Note: The sixth string (E) is not fretted or played. The fifth string (A) is the root note of the chord.

The minor is the same basic form with the second string dropped a fret, but the fingering needs to be rearranged, hence, a third form which is really an extension of the second. Also, you'll notice this is similar to the "G" form given above, with the fingers all moved up a string.

Cm chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- 
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

and the minor seventh by raising your pinky

Cm7 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

And finally, major seventh, and major ninths played out of this form as

Cmaj7 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Cmaj9 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

As in the first form, by moving the whole thing up or down the fret board you can play as many different chords as you have frets. One last word. Persevere. It may be a little frustrating at first, but if you force yourself to practice and play using the barre chords, your strength will increase, your hand will stop cramping, and you'll be able to play all songs in the book. Good luck.

Denny Straussfogel

Postscript for the adventurous: To play a ninth chord (not a major ninth, just a ninth) you need to barre the three high strings with your RING finger. These chords are found in a lot of mellow jazz pieces. The form for a C9 is

C9 chord
e||---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

The first (bass) string is muted (not played). As usual, move it up or down the fret board and you've got any ninth you want.

Comments

[Jusb]

G chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

Is it possible to play Gmaj7 in this form?

[Rockn_Clay]

good work m8, good 2 see sum1 to ut that much effort in to help us, thank u

[roxgal50]

Thanks for this page, but one question: I taught myself to "play", and i always tend to use my middle finger as the main one (instead of index). It seems stronger. Is that wrong?

[CAL_B]

thanx tonnes mate it was a great lesson!!! and as 4 u roxgal50 if u mean u bar with your middle finger try to get out of that habit. But if u mean u just use it lots thats alright aslong as u know when to use other fingers. After a bit of practice every finger on your left hand will be as strong as the next!!!

[dutchripper]

G chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--
B||---|---|-i-|---|--
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--|---
D||---|---|-i-|--
-|-p-|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|
---|-r-|---|---|---|---|-
--|---|---
E||---|---|-i
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---|---

what I understand of this is that when I slide 2 frets up i'm playing a A chord and when i go another 2 frets up i play a B chord,is that right or not?

I have another question:
When you guys play a barre G chord,and you want to do a A chord after it,are you going to slide 2 frets up or 2 frets down like this below:

e||-i-|---|---|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--|---|---
B||-i-|---|--
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---|---
G||-i-|-m-|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--|---|---|---
D||-i-|--
-|-p-|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---|---|---
A||-i-|
---|-r-|---|---|---|---|-
--|---|---|---|---
E||-i
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---|---|---|---

c
ause it says:Now remember the utility in this is that if you slide everything up one fret you'll be playing a G#, G#7, G#m, and G#m7, respectively. Slide up another fret and you've got A, A7, Am, and Am7, and so on right up the fret board.

But the "All chords achive" says that e||-i-|---|---|---|---|--
-|---|---|---|---|---|---

B||-i-|---|---|---|---|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--
G||-i-|-m-|---|---|--
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---
D||-i-|---|-p-|---|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--|---
A||-i-|---|-r-|--
-|---|---|---|---|---|---
|---|---
E||-i-|---|---|
---|---|---|---|---|---|-
--|---|---
that's a A barre chord,so I don't understand what a A chord is,is it barre at the 1st fret or at the 5th?

[Lickchop_2004]

ok... at first i was like WTF is this shiite??? then i took a second look at it and i was like... WTF i need to slow my @ss down and examine things a bit more closely. i think it will help a great deal.

[td1989]

I was just wondering how do u know when to use barre chords when playin a song?

[SsPunk]

whenever you want

[Najib]

that was great! thanks

[Rassler4SC]

Great lesson only I'm still having trouble putting my damn index finger on the entire fret to get a good tone! Any other suggestions?

[radiantmoon]

and may i just say tht barre chords rock but some songs are made to be played using open chords and sound better

[U.F.O]

COMMENT: most understable lesson ever, easy and good..

Cmaj9 chord
e||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|
---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--
-|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|
---|---|---
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|--
-|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|
---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|--
-|---|---|---|---

This is a Cmaj9(13) chord.

Correction, that chord doesn't even have a 3rd. I don't know what they were trying to do?

[Hellslay]

this was very helpfull thanks!

[ad_wynne]

great it really helped me ..thanx

[ad_wynne]

great help thanx

[R34P3R]

These shit are helpful. thnx

[vanilla gorilla]

thanks man that helps out huge

[sparkle fairy]

it was a great help but if in a song it said play E(octave higher) barre 13 what does that mean? what do you play? if someone could answer this i'd really much appreciate it! ta!

[sparkle fairy]

It really helped thanx. But if a song said play E(octave higher)Barre 13, what would you play? I'm really confused! If anyone could help I would appreciate it! Ta

[ChurchPunk]

Thanks! Great article. After trying to figure out barre chords, I know why people smash their guitars...

[samurai_x1960]

is this a chord?
e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---
b||---|---|-i-
|---|---|---
g||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---
d||---|-
--|-i-|---|-r-|---
a||---|---|-i-|---|-m-|---
e|
|---|---|-i-|---|---|---

[Windmill]

Yes, that is a Gsus / Gsus4.

[masterguitar13]

i cant read your comment chords

[Eddy123456]

not that helpful

[mick405]

dont mind eddy123456 its pretty good. that fella doesn know wha he is talkin about.

[MATTTHEMOP]

hmm dude these 2 forms are basically E and A chords moved up and down the fret board. i get that. but, how come it doesnt work with the other kinds of chord?

[Knux91]

Quite useful indeed. I like how you explained exactly how to place your index finger to achieve a clear tone; something other lessons I've read haven't even mentioned. Thanks!

[Tremelo]

Jolly Good Show

[Count Mordheim]

ouch my hand..... ;P

[bjacob#7]

Thank u so much, u have no idea how much this page helped me!

[patar]

thanks for the help. i've learned so much in just 30 mins.

[patar]

thanks for the help. i've learned so much in just 30 mins. by the way. u have to pay for my broken hand. :P just kidding!

[airlinemusic]

For those who like charts, some chords for
various keys:
Key of E Key of C Key of G
#: CDFG #:F
E EG#B EGB Em Em EGB
F#m F#AC# FAC F F#dim F#AC
G#m G#BD# GBD G G GBD
A AC#E ACE Am Am ACE
B BD#F# BDF Bdim Bm BDF#
C#m C#EG# CEG C C CEG
D#dim D#F#A DFA Dm D DF#A

Key of D Key of A Key of B
#: FC #: FCG #:FCGDA
Em EGB E EG#B E EG#B
F#m F#AC# F#m F#AC# F# F#A#C#
G GBD G#dim G#BD G#m G#BD#
A AC#E A AC#E A#dim A#C#E
Bm BDF# Bm BDF# B BD#F#
C#dim C#EG C#m C#EG# C#m C#EG#
D DF#A D DF#A D#m D#F#A#

It all has to do with the chord formula:

KEYS: I ii iii IV V vi vii viii
C Dm Em F G Am Bdim C
D Em F#m G A Bm C#dim D
Note widths are Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half
for these major scales. A half note separates EF and BC.
The notes: 12345678
CDEFGABC
The chords: C(CEG), Dm(DFA)....
Cma7 (CEGB)
If a song used E5 A5 and B5 the key is E (I IV V).
If the Whole(W) and Half(H or 1/2) pattern is not WWHWWWH
the the chord is a minor (a half note in wrong place) or
diminished (two half notes in the pattern).

C (CEG): C W W E H W G W W B H C
Dm (DFA): D W H F W W A
Em (EGB): E H W G W W B
F (FAC): F W W A W H C
G (GBD): G W W B H W D
Am (ACE): A W H C W W E
Bdim(BDF): B H W D W H F

All guitar frets are 1/2 note separations, piano black
keys are 1/2 above note at left ( called a sharp (#) )
or 1/2 below note at right ( called flat (b) ).

Chord notes are counted as root(1), 3rd and 5th thus CEG and the rest.
Which came first I don't know but Pythagoras put down many keys after
finding tube chimes or strings sound the same if cut in half but give
a different sound with a 2/3 length. The rest is history.

[Punk as atticus]

..';....




































pplp[.lp[;p[.

[Bozza]

thats cool man
i can see me getting a bit of ues out of this
good stuff

[joseph_khalkho]

tell me if i will use my pinky fingure only in chord c like this C chord
e||---|---|-i-|---
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
---|---
B||---|---|-i-|-
--|-p-|---|---|---|---|--
-|---|---
G||---|---|-i-
|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|
---|---|---
D||---|---|-
i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|--
-|---|---|---
A||---|---
|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|
---|---|---|---
E||---|-
--|-x-|---|---|---|---|--
-|---|---|---|--- is it true or not ?

[sethnuva]

what about chords like G# and other sharp chords how would you do that

[benr12]

That was gr8 i can play loads of sobgs now whhhooooow

[btk]

i need one of those pipe over the finger thingy's due to being such a wuss! lol great lesson tho, how many times i've looked at chords, even as simple as Fmaj and thought a.) i don't have enough fingers and b.) that must be a typo! fantastic to know it's achievable. Pass the bandaids.

[bandgeek10]

I was wondering, is it considered wrong to play Bb, B, C, etc. bar chords like this:

eI-35-I
BI-35-I
GI-35
-I
DI-35-I
AI-35-I
EI-
---I Where this is a C bar chord and you are puting your index finger to bar on the 3rd fret, and your ring finger to bar on the 5th fret...That's how I play them, at least on my electric guitar, and I've seen a lot of other people play them like this too. Though it is somewhat frustrating playing them like this on an acoustic guitar.

[guitar98765432]

This is the best lesson on the site
Ive ben having trouble wit bar chords for a while and now i can finally do it
cheers

[Lenn0n]

I've been trying barre chords for a long time now and still cant fret the A string. Can somebody please help? Are there any tips for me please. I have tried every finger position and if I fret the A then another string wont fret.

[Lenn0n]

ive been tring barre chords for ages now and still cannot fret every string. it is really starting to get annoying. can somebody out there PLEASE help.

[ihatethischord]

Lenn0n wrote:

ive been tring barre chords for ages now and still cannot fret every string. it is really starting to get annoying. can somebody out there PLEASE help.

you have to have a stronger wrinst for barre chords




i finally got used to them

[Brad204]

wow, great lesson. before i read this i just played the chords that they showed on the tab...and now i know thier names! huzzah anyway good lesson

[ginger balls]

im gonna bar chord me back doors of 2 moz now yooooouth!

[sjoerdje]

Thanks for this great lesson, it really helped me out on the barre chords!

[muse77]

I was hoping I could find this lesson somewhere!!! I almost felt too stupid to ask... now my hand really hurts but at least I can play a decent tune. Which is good coz all my favourite songs want me to play ones with my fingers everywhere, and that just annoyed me.

[toomuchair1989]

I'd just like to say that I used to HATE barre chords, but now thanks to this lesson, I got much better at them. Thanks a lot!

[justwannasay]

i got a question:

how to play a barre chord with 2 strings?

i always hit a other string with my finger

please help

nice tut anyways

[Supadude]

Great lesson!
When I was forced to learn F i thought OMG im never gonna be able to play nice songs!
But after you struggled with it you'll learn all you noobs!!

[iggy pop]

nice

[DezFoxtoN]

Great Chords!

[Missino]

Brilliant lesson! Thanks!

[<CJ>]

i own a guitar and it is electric

[joe_metallica_in]

nice lessson man....

[Love_Buzz]

Em chord Barre is?

[kyle_sgfreak]

its good way to teach barre chords. thanks.

[Lotrean]

wait, what's the difference between C and Cmaj ??? I thought thats the same.. help?

[chasingAdream]

thanks dude

[adamdg89]

thanx i used to have trouble barreing now i can do it yeeah go me!great lesson

[SRV16]

awesomeness, people you like u are a great benefit to us self taught players

[-bat-parade-]

Did anyone else notice C#m7 isn't a barre chord?
It's
E|-4-
B|-0-
G|-4-
D|-2-
A|-4-
E|-x-
That's C#m7

[lorenzobgn]

I have problem going to a major bare chord. Letssay ima playing a E major chord and I want to go to a A barre chord. Is there an a way to do it or should i slid my fingers to position then barre the 5 frt

[bluesubno6]

Thanks for the theory behind barre chords. I've been able to form them, but this really helped explain how to use them. Good lesson.

[Hawkatex]

now that was great! not to talk that I'm a great noob (2nd month of fooling around with the guitar).
Couldn't do really all, but this lesson is so nice structured and comprehensible, thanks a lot!

[Linus Satriani]

Great lesson! Simple, well explained and no bullshit. Good work!

[JustinMalvo]

One the more helpful lessons I have ever used. Thankyou.

[guitarPlyrAdan]

thanks for the lesson. what about cminor9 though? does that slide down the fretboard to make other chords too? its 865333 right? thanks

[supea]

if you can't make nice sound of barre try put your finger differently. You know? Just try...

[[Pure]]

roxgal50 wrote:

Thanks for this page, but one question: I taught myself to "play", and i always tend to use my middle finger as the main one (instead of index). It seems
stronger. Is that wrong?

If you do that you won't be able to play any Major,Major ninths or Major seventh Barre Chords.
These all require 3 fingers infront of the barring finger, and since you only got 2 after ur middle . .

[dylennon]

When doing a G barre chord, what is it called when you lift your middle and ring finger, leaving your pinky in its original position?

[3 days grace14]

Thanks man helped alot {still hard to do on my acoustic due to a thicker neck}

[chevysilverado]

thanks it helped, but how to a play E on the nut?

[emily forsberg]

alright so ive only been playing about a month, and
im learning really proficiently, but i cant seem to get barre chords or anything. and right now im learning this great song that requires F, is there any easy way to play it besides the barre chord way?

[deluxe_punk]

very useful for me, thanks

[30_2_mars]

k kool that was great thanx!!!

[smoky_2_]

-bat-parade- wrote:

Did anyone else notice C#m7 isn't a barre chord?
It's
E|-4-
B|-0-
G|-4-
D|-2-
A|-4-
E|-x-
That 's C#m7

thats the open form.. you can barre it by changing those fret positions..

[jamessims]

for those who don't like the way the publisher of the lesson has explained barre chords is it better to learn them like this the basic tablature version of the A# barre chord.....
E|-5-
G|-5-
B|-6-
D|-8-
A|-7-
E|-5-

[joseda]

GREAT!!!

[Shaggadellicfuz]

Once you master this, you're officially better than Kurt Cobain. And Billie Joe Armstong.

[the5thlibertine]

Thanks my friend, i'll just practice with the side of my finger instead of attempting the impossible by using the base! Thanks a lot. And to be honest Shaggadellicfuz, you cannot amount yourself to seminal genius such as Kurt, simply because you have mastered the barre chords.

[Clandestine1]

Once you master this, you're officially better than Kurt Cobain. And Billie Joe Armstong.

so learning barre chords immediately imbues you with more songwriting talent than them? :O

anyway, nice lesson.

[M-ilos]

I have a question. It's kind of hard to explain but what I want to know is if you are able to play a C or G chord as if you were playing with a capo on third fret (G). I've been trying to move up the C barre chord to all kinds of positions but I can get the sound I want.
The reason I want to know is because, if this is possible you wont, technicaly, need a capo to play the songs who should be played with a Capo.

So if anyone knows if it's possible or how to do it please respond

Btw. Nice lesson I think this lesson can help many guys out there

[Creve]

far out dude!!! u have no idea how much this is gonna help me...

[allright]

thank you

[Dirtmerchant]

dude, i can barre now! thanx

oh, and lol @ Shaggadellicfuz. just bc u can play a certain type of chord, doesnt mean that u can write songs anywhere NEAR the level of Nirvana

[dan0615]

nice lesson

[bigandy]

awesome lesson - looked at it ages ago but still got one problem; thumb cramp. i play a fair bit but i still/always get cramp after half a song on barre's. anyone else get that?

[Trit]

Awesome lesson, thank you very much! My next goal with guitar is to really start using Barre chords frequently, and you've made me happy, because they aren't as hard as I had thought!

[Prog_Metal_Head]

Good lesson. I'm trying to get into Barre Chords and stuff and this helped a great deal! One problem I have is that to get my index finger across the whole fretboard I really need to bend my wrist outwards which hurts after a few minutes. Any ideas?

[irishstang_87]

Great leasson, helped a lot. Thanks, mate.

[chriswest]

The clearest explanation of barre chords I have read. Helped me start playing the basic forms in 20 mins also liked the explanation of progressing from F->F#->G etc.Better than the instructional DVD's i've bought.Thanks.

[jigpop]

i acsually didnt have a hard time. all these people saying it was hard makes me think im probly doing it wronge. but it sounds good im just not sure about playing barre chords down a string...so anyone got advice please let me know

[lady facekick]

ahhhh thank you so much. this was really detailed, i appreciated the effort you put into it since i'm guessing once you've learned to do it it seems stupid to go into such detail. but it helped so much.

[Tonzza]

I have read few of these lessons but this was the best! thanks guyz!

[isaacm2012]

dude this lesson helped me so much i just have to get my hand used to it god it hurts starting out on those types of barre chords
but thanks man

[iggster14]

does anyone know the name of this one?:
e|-|i|-|-|-|-|
B|-|i|m|-|-|-|
G|-|i|-|p|-|-|
D|-|i |-|r|-|-|
A|-|i|-|-|-|-|
E|-|i|-|-|-|-|

[iggster14]

originally posted by:Shaggadellicfuz :

Once you master this, you're officially better than Kurt Cobain. And Billie Joe Armstong.
POSTED: 01/28/2008 - 09:37 pm

as far as i know billie can only play pwrs and some "normal" stuff... he can be beaten, but man, he swithes fast between chords:O

[hdsfer]

thanks I got it now

[SpellItWrong]

Thsi leasson really really helped me. Ive been putting it of but i picked this up really fast. Now i can do barre chords, i think i can finally call myself a guitarist.
Amazing how much you can learn when someone puts it down in plain english. Well done mate.

[GuitarGod1925]

Hey this an awesome lesson but if you could write to me somehow explaining how to get the F# right i would greatly appreciate it because im trying to learn hotel california by the eagles and cant do it because i cant get F# and Bm right.thank you

[lumpydaks]

If I super glue one side of my capo to my index finger,it makes barre chords so much easier.Other than that I find it difficult as I have knuckles like acorns!Are there any specific excercises to toughen up the index finger for playing barre chords?

[lumpydaks]

I discussed this lesson with a musician friend after reading this lesson.He also has the problem of large knuckles and had trouble covering all six strings.His solution was simple.He wound band-aid strips around his index finger to take up the gaps being careful not to cover the knuckle and hinder flexibility of the finger.Over time,using this method,his wrist and fingers strengthened allowing him to remove the band-aid strips.He also found holding a squash ball with his fingertips and squeezing with his thumb helped to strengthen his thumb against cramp.I'm going to try this method and I hope it helps others.

[Funky Dory]

I'm just starting to learn barre chords at the moment, so this was a great help. Cheers!