Discussion on Bar Chords

Okay, we're gonna have a little discussion about bar chords now. These can be a real challenge when you first look at them. I know a lot of people struggle, myself included. When I first started and was first presented with a bar chord, it just didn't seem to work for quite a while.

Understanding Barring

There are a few little things I can maybe help you with that might enable that confidence to come a bit quicker with this technique.

What is Barring?

Barring is simply when you cover more than one string with one finger.

• A really small bar would be covering the B and E strings on the third fret.
• This is the smallest bar that I could do, using one finger to play two notes.

Full Size Bar Chords

With full-size bar chords, often what's required is that we're covering all six strings with your first finger and then fretting some of the middle strings with other fingers to produce a chord.

We're going to look at playing a chord you're probably familiar with already, which is G Major, but we're going to look at playing it as a bar chord instead.

Playing G Major as a Bar Chord

1. First, the Bar:

   • Place your first finger across all six strings.

2. Check the Sound:

   • Before we even add any of the fingers, it's important to play the bottom string, the E, and then the G, B, and E strings.
   • Listen for buzzes; you want a nice even amount of pressure from this first finger.

3. Adjusting Finger Position:

   • It may help to rotate that first finger ever so slightly.
   • Instead of being straight onto the strings, give yourself a slight angle.

   This adjustment means the ridges in your fingers won't mute the strings.

Maintaining Pressure

Here's the tricky bit: maintain that pressure while adding your other fingers to create the full chord.

• The other fingers will form an E Major chord.
• Practice the E Major chord with the wrong fingers (second, third, and fourth fingers) and then move it up three frets, adding your bar at the end.

Practicing Chords

A really strong way of practicing chords is by arpeggiating them with the right hand. Whenever you're learning any new chord, this is a great method to ensure all the notes are clear.

1. Strum the Chord:

   • If you strum this chord and then pick it, you confirm all the notes are there.

   If you think you've got four or five notes, make sure to check that they're all clear.

2. Identify the Culprits:

   • Look for common issues, like the position of your barring finger or the pressure you're applying.

   • Imagine a seesaw of pressure across your barring finger: you need the tip for the bass note and the back for the thinner strings.

Finger Placement

Make sure that your other fingers are on their fingertips. If they're flat, they'll start cutting each other off, leading to a muddled chord.

1. Maintain a Good Position:
   • Your thumb position should be centered, maybe at the top third of the neck.
   • Keep your wrist and elbow relaxed, with a nice air gap at the back.

Practicing Tips

Lastly, be cautious with practicing barre chords for prolonged periods.

• If you're new to them, you might find that you're applying too much pressure with your barring finger, which can become painful.
• I recommend practicing for 5-10 minutes at a time, then taking a break to practice something else.
• Return to the barre chords the next day to keep revisiting them.

With time, your technique will refine, and you will improve.