Barre Chords Technique

There are a few points about technique that are worth considering when playing barre chords. Barre chords often prove to be a stumbling block between the beginning and intermediate levels of playing guitar. When you can play barre chords accurately and cleanly, that will be a clear sign that you are moving into the intermediate level of guitar playing.

If you're having trouble playing barre chords correctly, or want to improve them, read on.

Barre chords are much easier to play on some guitars than others. Why? A higher quality guitar, set up correctly, is simply easier to play. This difference is especially noticeable when attempting to push down all 6 strings at once.

Barre Chord Basic Technique

One Finger Barre

Practice playing barre chords first with a single finger. Barre all of the strings across fret five, and play each with your picking hand. The goal is to be able to play each string clearly.

Two Finger Barre

In some cases, you may have another finger available to use. In these cases, you can add that finger on top of the first finger for extra support. This leaves only two fingers for fretting any other necessary chord notes.

Thumb Support

Be sure to enlist the support of the thumb of the fretting hand behind the neck of the guitar. Push it firmly into the back of the guitar neck, using as much surface area of the thumb as possible to transfer energy to the barre.

Hand Strength

As your hands get stronger, playing the barre chords will be easier. What was once impossible will become nearly effortless. For this reason, any hand-strengthening practice you do on the guitar may contribute to you learning the barre chords faster.

Barre Chord Tip #1: Hold the Guitar Correctly

Many players don't realize the importance of holding the guitar properly. It is possible to hold the guitar in a way that adds a great deal of support to the fretting hand, by pivoting the instrument off of the sternum and applying leverage that pushes the neck of the guitar into the fretting hand. Rather than pushing your finger into the fretboard, you're pushing the fretboard into your fingers!

Barre Chord Tip #2: Prioritize the Strings that Need to Ring

Example Barre Chord

Let's consider this dominant chord shape. The index finger barre is needed to play multiple notes. The index finger can easily push the frets on the 1st and 2nd strings because they are small and light. And it's easy on the last string because that's the end of the barre. It's the middle note on the "D" string that is most difficult. That's because this note has to be played by the barre, and it's right in the center where the strength of the barre finger is at its lowest.

The notes on the "A" and "G" strings are going to be pressed down by other fingers. So the main job of the barre is to play that note on the "D" string. In a way, that means any additional strength added to the finger barre should be focused on the point above the D string.

Be sure that the string is not passing underneath the crease of the finger underneath the knuckle joint; this would mean you'd have to push even harder to barre successfully.

Barre Chord Tip #3: Play Lots and Lots of Power Chords

In some ways, power chords are the precursor to barre chord technique as they start to demand a higher level of wrist strength. Before you bother playing barre chords, you should be pretty comfortable playing constant power chords for 5 or even 10 minutes at a time.

This works both for 2-string power chord shapes as well as 3-string shapes.

Barre Chord Tip #4: Get a Better Guitar

If your guitar is crap, you can probably play some open chords, some scales, some basic songs. But if it isn't any good, you're really going to start feeling that as soon as you try to tackle harder chords like barre chords.

The feeling of a nice guitar in your hands is partially subjective, but you can be sure that more money will get you a guitar that plays better—to a point. (About $1000 for electric guitars and $1750 for acoustic guitars is where that point usually ends, by the way)

This is not to discourage learners from playing on whatever instrument that they have available, but a reminder that if you really want to learn, get the best guitar you can. Even if you have to take out a loan to buy a good instrument.

Barre Chord Tip #5: Lower Your Action

Some guitars really aren't easy to play a barre chord on. If you haven't had your guitar set up before, or recently, it's a good idea to do this.

During a setup, you can make sure the action is as low as it will go. This will make playing barre chords much easier. This is done by adjusting the height of the saddle and also the depth of the slots carved into the nut.

Barre Chord Tip #6: Get Lighter Strings

If you're still having problems, consider getting lighter strings: Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic Coated Strings (Light)^[?] These are easier to push down, so they're easier to barre. It's that simple.

Barre Chord Tip #7: Detune Your Guitar

A quick (and cheap) trick to make your guitar easier to play is to detune the strings. This will lower the tension on the strings and make them easier to push down. You can tune down a half-step, but the effect is not dramatic. Tuning down a full whole step will work on most guitars, and chords will get much easier.

Barre Chord Tip #8: Start Practice at Fret X

The guitar string tension is lowest in the middle of the string, around Fret X, than it is at the end of the string, at Fret I. So start practicing your barre chord shapes in the middle of the neck, and progressively move them back towards Fret I. They will get noticeably more difficult as you approach the Ist fret.

Coda

Barre chords are a stumbling block for many learners. If this problem is affecting you, don't get discouraged! Go around. Find some other area that you can work on. Gradually, you'll be able to build your strength to the point where you can play barre chords easily.