Barre chords looks hard to master but with these easy steps you'll be at it in no time.You may ask, what is a Barre chord. Barre chords (also known as Bar chords) are a type of guitar chord where one or more fingers are used to press down multiple strings across the guitar fingerboard (like a bar pressing down the strings)
Step 1
Know that our first (index) finger is responsible for a lot when playing barre chords. Lay your first finger across all six strings (try the fifth fret for this lesson).
Step 2
Roll the finger back slightly, so that more of the side of the index finger closest to the thumb is in contact with the strings.
Step 3
Apply pressure on the strings. Strum to make sure each string is sounding.
Step 4
Add the following fingers: third (ring) finger to the 5th string, 7th fret. Fourth (pinky) finger to the 4th string, 7th fret. Second (middle) finger to the 3rd string, 6th fret.
Step 5
Using a pick, play each string, one at a time, to make sure each note is ringing clearly. Try and correct those that are not.
Step 6
Listen. You have just played an A major chord ('A' because the type of chord corresponds to the note you play on the sixth string. If you played the chord at the 8th fret, it would be C major.)
Step 7
Play A minor. To play an A minor chord, simply remove your second (middle) finger from the 3rd string. The first finger will now be responsible for fretting the note on the 3rd string also.
Step 8
Try playing the other common set of barre chords. To play a major chord with root on the fifth string, use your first finger to barre the fifth fret on strings five to one.
Step 9
Understand that these chord shapes are the essentials in barre chords. Learn these, and you'll be able to play many of the pop songs you hear on the radio.
