Bar Chords in 5 Minutes #1 - (a.k.a. Barre Chords)

This is how I teach my friends how to play bar chords. Toward the end my index finger bends a little on top, but that's because I mostly play the bottom strings. Forgot to say I teach at A in mid neck, because the strings bend easier than say, at F, at the bottom.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• guitar
• bar
• barre
• chords
• chord
• blues

[rhysninetyeightynine]

Whern theres an 'X' in a chord diagram does it mean 1) do not play that string or 2) mute the note ? someone help

[RobertWhiting]

HI - It's better not to play the note at all, but if that's difficult to do you can mute it. With practice you can make the pick come down and avoid those X'd notes.

[RobertWhiting]

I think it's just something you learn by working harder to bend your finger. I'm not great at it myself, so when I play a bar chord I concentrate on the making the top 5 strings sound good. If my ring finger is "bendy" enough that day, I can play the 6th string without dulling the sound. If not, I dull it and try not to strum that string so its as if that string doesn't exist.

[RobertWhiting]

THe F is one of the hardest barre chords to play because your wrist has to bend so much. I would play 5 A barre chords, then slice your hand down and play 5 F barre chords. Then go back up to A and do the whole thing again. The A is the easiest one to play because the strings bend there more. Once youre comfortable there, when you slide down to play the F it should be easier to press down all the strings.

[yinx9]

I started barchords today. Obviously, they're not ringing out clear. If I practise around 30 minutes a day, how long will it take until my fingers gained enough strength to make them ring clear?

Also, what additional finger exercizes can I do to speed up the process?

[RobertWhiting]

I recommend practising on an electric guitar with the thinnest strings possible. Later you can play an acoustic who's strings are harder to play. Practice the A chord (based on the e chord) on the 5th fret, the D chord , based on the A chord - 5th fret, and the E chord, also based on the A chord, 7th fret. These three chords have been combined in hundreds of ways to make great rock songs, like Louie Louie and WIld Thing, and Sympathy for the Devil. They are also mid neck and easily bendable.

[tanman8014]

your fingers grew that much in a month?

[1metallicalinkinpark]

@emoboi951.... ikr... it really hurts

[emoboi951]

hey how do you do the A chord with one finger? kills my finger so much :S

[twisterellafell]

see guitarmanual.typepad.com/blog/ for beginning lessons! or google guitar manual blog and see first result.

[dvdsmlprstylr]

haha, ive been doing barre chords without realizing it!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even know chords!

[liveeviltrypios]

@lifestraight

Technique is very important. And very difficult to change once you learn it one way.

Call me what you want but we'll see how far you'll go if you don't care about it

[lifestraight]

@liveeviltrypios show off!

[liveeviltrypios]

thought I respect the time you put to create this video, I have to say, your technique is not as good as it should be to be teaching.

There is a lot of buzz, cause your index is not properly pressing the fret on the 6th string.

Also when barring barre chords that have their root on the 5th string, you should mute the sixth string with the tip of the index finger,

Otherwise you're left with a 2nd inversion of the chord (a 6/4 as you may call it in classical harmony)

[stzzo]

Thanks for the reply. I get the sense I'm stuck with what I have. I've tried bending that joint backwards intentionally using the other hand, and it just won't go.