Discussion on Barre Chords

Okay, we're gonna have a little discussion about barre 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 barre chord, it just didn't seem to work for quite a while.

Understanding Barring

There are a few little things I can help you with that might enable your 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 when I go on the third fret and just cover the B and E strings. That's the smallest bar that I could do, two strings, with one finger to play two notes there.

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

Playing G Major as a Barre Chord

We're going to have a 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 barre chord instead.

• It's a slightly different sound, but it's all the same notes, just in a different position.

The Barre

First of all, let's focus on the bar.

1. Place your first finger across all six strings.
2. Important: Before we even add any of the fingers, be able to play the bottom string (the E) and then play the G, B, and E strings.

You want to ensure there are no buzzes. You should be getting quite a nice even amount of pressure from your first finger, it's strengthening over time.

Technique Tips

• It takes a bit of getting used to, but you might find it helps to rotate that first finger ever so slightly.
• Instead of pressing straight down, giving yourself a little bit of an angle can help.

Why Angle Your Finger?

• This angle will mean that the ridges in your fingers won't fall on strings, preventing them from being muted.

As you can see, by having even a slight angle on that first finger, you'll achieve a cleaner bar.

Adding Other Fingers

Now, here's the tricky bit:

You need to maintain that pressure and cleanliness while adding your other fingers to create the full chord.

• What we've done here is form an E major chord.

Practicing E Major in an Unconventional Way

A useful practice technique is to try playing an E major chord with the "wrong fingers."

1. Use your second, third, and fourth fingers to play it.
2. Practice moving this shape up three frets while keeping it the same, and then add your bar at the end if you like.

Arpeggiating Chords

A really strong way of practicing chords is by arpeggiating them with the right hand.

• Whenever you're learning a new chord, whether it's a barre chord, an open chord, or any chord, this method can help ensure that you have an absolutely pristine, clean chord.

Demonstration

If I strum this chord and then pick it, I confirm that all the notes are present.

• When I do it again, if you're not familiar with the sound of these chords, you might think all the notes are there. But upon closer inspection, you may find a few notes that aren't as clean as they should be.

Checking Note Clarity

It's beneficial to pick the strings individually to ensure they're all nice and clean. If they're not, there are usually a few culprits at play:

• Position of your barring finger: If it's not straight with the frets, or at an angle, that can be a problem.
• Pressure from your first finger: You may need to apply more pressure, especially on the top strings.

Applying Pressure Correctly

Imagine an arc of pressure across your barring finger:

• The tip of your finger needs to press down the bass note while the back of your finger handles the higher, thinner strings.

Maintaining Finger Position

Ensure your other fingers are on their fingertips.

• If they are even slightly flat, they can interfere with each other, preventing a clean chord.

You've got a hybrid of placements:

• A flat first finger and your other fingers nicely positioned on their tips.

Relaxation and Stance

• My thumb position is nicely centered, perhaps at the top third of the neck, ensuring my wrist and elbow are relaxed.
• There should be a little gap at the back for optimal hand position.

Caution with Practice

Lastly, be careful about practicing barre chords for prolonged periods.

• If you're new to them, you might initially apply too much pressure with your barring finger, which can become painful.

Recommended Practice Approach

• Practice in short intervals, like five to ten minutes at a time.
• Afterward, give yourself a rest and practice something else that doesn't involve barring.
• Return to the barre technique the next day, and with continued practice, it will improve!

Keep revisiting it, and you'll notice gradual improvement over time.