(32mb)Bar/Barre Chords
What Are they ?
Bar/Barre chords use the 1st finger as a "Bar" usually over all the strings
This means you have control of all the strings and so you can then "move" the same shape up or down to get a different chord, this what I call "movable"
Do I have to do them ? No!
but there are some chords that you just can't do as what we call "Open" Chords,
"Open" Chords, using some strings "Open"(with no fingers on)
and some "Fretted" usually in the first 1-3 frets
Is there an easier way around it ? Yes!
read this here (easy Barre chords "workarounds!")
How do I do them properly ?
Lay your first finger across the neck of the guitar make sure it is lying flat over all the strings the secret is to get your thumb in the middle of the back of the neck and your wrist bent as far as it will go.
If you don't get this "posture" correct you will not be able to do them at all !
Watch the video below
(32mb)
"E" and "A" shaped Bar Chords
I refer to the main bar chords as "E" and "A" shapes but there are others.
I used the terms E/A Shape when I learnt them because it made perfect sense to me at the time and when I started teaching I needed a "name" for those shapes and so I continued with it.
when I started playing the guitar we had just left the Ark as the waters receded and, as we had no electricity, I learnt using an Acoustic guitar!
Consequently we learnt all the "open" (not Barre ) chords first,I learnt E and A (and others) Major/minor/7th/minor7th etc
Eventually I needed a Chord that wasn't as an open chord and so I had to learn bar chords.
If you have a good grasp of the E & A open chords then you will find the Bar Chord positions very similar you just use a different fingering, because you use the 1st (index ) finger for the "Bar"
In this example The E(major) has become the F (major)by playing what I call;
"The E Major shape"
with the bar in the 1st fret.
This then gives me, what I call the "E Major Shape"
but it is F Major as written (below) because we start with the bar in the 1st fret
and F is the note on the 1st fret of the E string
We can then look to the E(6th) string to give us the Root note/name of every chord/fret
In this case it is the F note on the E string but
It would be F# or Gb starting in the 2nd fret G starting in the 3rd fret and so on
F C F A C F
Theory: The Major chord consists of the 1st +3rd +5th notes of it's Major scale
You can work it out to prove it to yourself if you like
but F major consists of the notes F + A + C
I have written the appropriate notes under the relevant string for you
Because you have control of all the strings, this shape is moveable and you can play it anywhere so you have learnt to play every major chord with that one shape !
Take this a stage further
You can do the same with "Em" turn it into "Fm"
having added the bar and moved the shape up one fret as below
This then gives me what I call the "E minor" shape
but it is F minor as written (below) because we start with the bar in the 1st fret
We can then look to the E(6th) string to give us the Root note/name of every chord/fret
In this case it is the F note on the E string
It would be F#m or Gbm starting in the 2nd fret Gm starting in the 3rd fret etc.
F C F G#C F
Theory: The minor chord consists of the 1st +b3rd +5th notes of it's Major scale
b3rd means Flattened 3rd (1 fret lower)so F minor consists of F + G# + C
I have written the appropriate notes under the relevant string for you
Because you have control of all the strings, this shape is moveable and you can play it anywhere so you have learnt to play every minor chord with that one shape !
My mate Charlie aged (nearly) 9 understands this so should you !
If you understand this concept then you can do the same with the E7 and Em7 shapes to give you these bar chords below
In this example The A(major) has become the A# or Bb (major)
by playing what I call "The A Major shape" with the bar in the 1st fret!
This then gives me, what I call the "A Major Shape"
but it is A#/Bb Major as written (below) as we start with the bar in the 1st fret
and A#/Bb is the note on the 1st fret of the A string
We can then look to the A(5th) string to give us the Root note/name of every chord/fret
In this case it is the A#/Bb note on the A string but
It would be B starting in the 2nd fret C starting in the 3rd fret etc.
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Don't be confused by A# or Bb # = "Sharp" b= "Flat"
they are just names and there are 2 names for that note/chord
it depends what key you are playing in whether you call it A# or Bb but they are exactly the same
As "Guitarists" we tend not to get too involved in theory and unless you have been classically trained it shouldn't present too much of a challenge to you.
Call it what you like it is the same thing but if your "Classical" friends came round for tea they would probably faint if you said A# when it should have been Bb! :-)
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Take this a stage further
You can do the same with "Am" turn it into "A#m"
having added the bar and moved the shape up one fret as below
This then gives me what I call the "A minor" shape
but it is A#/Bb) minor as written (below) because we start the bar is in the 1st fret
We can then look to the A(5th) string to give us the Root note/name of every chord/fret
In this case it is the A# note on the A string
The Chord would be Bm starting in the 2nd fret or Cm starting in the 3rd fret etc.
If you understand this concept then you can do the same with the A7 and Am7 shapes to give you these bar chord shapes below
