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“E” shape barre chords (root notes on 6th string) Tilt your index finger towards the nut, then press down on the strings. ... Place the other three fingers where they need to go. ... Your thumb should be at the middle of the neck, right about where your index finger is. More items...

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“A” Shape Barre Chords (Root Notes on 5th String)

For barre chords that use the A chord shapes, remember that the root of the chord is on the fifth string. I will use B major to explain the techniques needed for A shape barre chords.

There are two ways to play the B major barre chord:

The first version relies on your ring finger to press down the fourth, third, and second strings. The second version has a separate finger for each string. The first version is my personal preference for a B major chord because it requires only two fingers, which frees up my other fingers to do cool chord licks. However, it does take a little more time than the other version because the technique requires your ring finger to press down on three strings. Notice how you don’t actually have to barre anything with your index finger. It will only be pressing down on the fifth string. Place your ring finger across the fourth fret of strings four, three, and two.

Make sure the first string is muted.

Mute the sixth string by lightly touching it with your index finger. Some people press down on it instead, but I don’t like the sound of that because it makes the chord sound a little muddy, and the root note is no longer the lowest note being played. The technique for a B minor chord is very similar to the F major chord. Even the shape looks similar. Notice its exact same shape as the F major chord, except the root note is now on the fifth string, and the entire shape is moved down one string. As usual, pay attention to where the root note is, which allows you to shift your barre chords up and down the fretboard.

Quick Switching

Once you’ve played around with these four chords, you’ll want to try some chord changes between your barre chords. When you do so, remember to always release pressure off the strings during chord changes. In some situations, you might want to keep the pressure on, but for now, practice taking the pressure off first. Additionally, if the chord you are switching to has the same shape as the chord you are switching from, keep your fingers in that shape as you slide up or down.

Memorizing Your Root Notes

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After you’ve worked on getting your barre chords nice and clean and are able to switch smoothly between them, the only thing that’s left is to memorize all the notes on the fifth and sixth strings. It may sound like quite a bit of work, but it can be done in a day or so. One thing to remember is that you really only have to memorize the notes up to the 12th fret, because the notes onwards are repetitions of those from the open string to the 11th fret. For example, the note on the1st fret is the same note as the note on the 13th fret, except the 13th fret is an octave higher. If your fretboard has inlays for fret markers, they show you where the octave notes are. For example, most guitars have a marker on the 3rd and 15th fret. Those two notes are the same, but an octave apart. The same thing can be said for the 5th and 17th fret. I use a simple exercise to memorize the notes on the fifth and sixth strings. It focuses on where the natural (no sharps and flats) notes are. Ascend up the sixth string and only play the natural notes while saying them out loud. Descend down the sixth string and play only the natural notes while saying them out loud.

Do the exact same thing for the fifth string.

Make sure you’re playing the correct notes while doing this exercise.

Sixth string natural notes:

E on open string

F on 1st

G on 3rd

A on 5th

B on 7th

C on 8th

D on 10th

E on 12th

Fifth string natural notes:

A on open string

B on 2nd

C on 3rd

D on 5th

E on 7th

F on 8th

G on 10th

A on 12th

Easy Alternatives

There are easy alternatives to the F major, F minor, and B minor chords, but you should use them only when you are still learning the barre chords. I can’t stress enough the importance and usefulness of the barre chords. Remember that you’ll be able to play almost any song after you’ve learned your barre chords, so practice them well and aim to master them.

That being said, here are some easy alternatives:

A couple of things to note:

Pay attention to what strings need to be muted throughout all three alternatives. The sixth string can be muted with the tip of your ring finger for F major and F minor chords.

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The F minor alternative still requires you to barre with your index finger, just that it’s now only across three strings. Use the same techniques for regular barre chords. The B minor alternative is actually a B minor7 chord. The tonalities of these two chords are very similar.

Final Word

It will take you some time to master all of your barre chords. Treat this article as three or four different articles. Spend time on the concepts in the first section until you’ve mastered those ideas. Then move on to the second section, and so on. You will want to come back to this article often to remind yourself of what you still have to work on and the technical details. Some of the details that most people forget are to use the side of your index finger for your F major, F minor, and B minor chords and to put pressure on the strings by pulling back with the muscles in your back. Remember that the pressure down on the strings is not accomplished solely by squeezing your thumb and index finger together. You will end up with a sore hand if you do this. Finally, learning and mastering your barre chords is a true test of your patience. A lot of guitar playing techniques do not come easily or quickly, and the barre chords are the first of such techniques. Focus on where you are instead of where you want to be to avoid impatience and frustration. The thing that matters most on the path to playing music is not the obstacles that we face, but how we respond to these obstacles. Master your reaction to them, and you will develop the patience of a monk. In other words, the only obstacle on this path is yourself. Remember that barre chords, once mastered, will open up so many possibilities for your guitar playing.

Check out the video version of this lesson below.

If you’re looking for more, feel free to check out the online guitar courses on Liberty Park Music!

libertyparkmusic.com - Guitar Barre Chords Made Easy For Beginners - Liberty Park Music

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