Barre made Easy - Jayanth

For those guitarists that have been stuck playing "easy guitar"
versions of songs or not playing certain songs at all I guarantee that
learning barre chords will be the single biggest leap you will ever
make in playing ability, and it's no where near as difficult as some
folks think. (I'm REALLY not overstating this! By learning a few basic
forms, you'll be able to play any song in any key. So when you see all
those C#m7, you'll think "no problem" rather than "I can't play that.")

The key to playing barre chords is developing the ability to "barre"
(fret) all six strings of the guitar with your index finger. Of course,
you have to do this "cleanly" and get a good tone out of all six
strings. I suggest you start by holding the guitar in the "classical"
position with the body of the guitar on the LEFT knee (I'll assume
you're playing a right-handed guitar) and the neck held up at a 45
degree angle. This puts your left hand in a much better position for
everything. (You'll be amazed at how much more speed and "reach" you'll
have and you can always return to playing with the guitar in some old
familiar position once you've mastered this technique.) Since
everyone's index finger is shaped a little differently, you may have
to experiment a little to get a good tone. Usually contact is made
towards the side of the index finger rather than right on the flat
part. You have to have your thumb pushing against the back of the
neck, not wrapped around it. Just pinch the neck between thumb and
index finger, with your finger covering all six strings (at the fret of
your choice) and work until you get a passable tone from all the
strings. This might not happen all at once; you need to build up a
little strength, and toughness on your finger. (I've never developed a
callous there, as on the fingertips, but it has gotten a little
tougher.) Anyway, this is usually the most frustrating part of
learning barre chords. Don't give up if it doesn't sound great at
first, it will with practice.

Now to the chord forms. The only theory you need to know is that the
frets on a guitar are analogous to the keys on a piano. Since you'll be
fretting all six strings you can move the entire chord for an F chord
up one fret and you'll be playing an F# chord. One more fret and you'll
be playing a G chord, one more a G# chord, and so on until you run out
of fretboard. So you can see, by learning a single form, you can play
as many chords as you have frets. There are two basic forms, and they
can be converted into minors and/or sevenths by simply raising a
finger. One form requires a finger rearrangement to do the minor, so
you could call it a different form. Okay, so there are three forms. By
learning these three forms, you can play any, yes ANY major chord,
seventh chord, minor chord, or minor seventh chord. (B-flat minor
seventh? No problem!) Major sevenths and major ninths are easy too once
you get the barring down. So here are the forms. Let's barre the 3rd
fret and look at the form for a G chord there ("i" indicates fretting
with index finger, "m" with middle finger, "r" with ring finger, and
"p" with pinky.This might be an unusual diagram format, but it's what
you see when looking over the top of the neck)

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- G chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to form a seventh, simply lift your pinky

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- G7 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to form the minor, put back your pinky, and lift your middle finger (You
can use your middle finger to help with the barre until your strength
increases.)

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Gm chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to get a minor seventh, raise both middle and pinky fingers

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Gm7 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

Now remember the utility in this is that if you slide everything up one
fret you'll be playing a G#, G#7, G#m, and G#m7, respectively. Slide up
another fret and you've got A, A7, Am, and Am7, and so on right up the
fret board. In the opposite direction if you slide everything down one
fret from the "G" position, you'll have F#, F#7, F#m, and F#m7. One
more,fret down and you'll have something that should be somewhat
familiar, at least on the four high strings, an F, F7, Fm, and Fm7.
Actually, if you slide one more fret down, using the nut of the guitar
as your barre, you're back to an E, E7, Em, and Em7, which you probably
already know, using different fingers.

Okie, now the second form. Again, barre the 3rd fret and a C chord is
played as

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- C chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

to get the seventh, raise you ring finger

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- C7 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

[Ed. Note: The sixth string (E) is not fretted or played. The
fifth string (A) is the root note of the chord.]

The minor is the same basic form with the second string dropped a fret,
but the fingering needs to be rearranged, hence, a third form which is
really an extension of the second. Also, you'll notice this is similar
to the "G" form given above, with the fingers all moved up a string.

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Cm chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

and the minor seventh by raising your pinky

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Cm7 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

And finally, major seventh, and major ninths played out of this form as

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Cmaj7 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

e||---|---|-i-|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- Cmaj9 chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

As in the first form, by moving the whole thing up or down the fret
board you can play as many different chords as you have frets.

It may be a little frustrating at first, but
if you force yourself to practice and play using the barre chords, your
strength will increase, your hand will stop cramping, and you'll be
able to play all songs in the book. Good luck.

 

easier approach to barre

gud job jay..that was long!
i'd like to add some more...

Start with making smaller barres..like playing the Dmaj chord a little differently..like this

Code:

     (1) (2)
|-----2----------
|-----2--3-------
|-----2----------
|----------------
|----------------
|----------------

the (1) means the index finger n (2) means middle finger...so u r making a barre on the second fret with the index finger (i hope u got me)

Similarly, the Amaj chord..

Code:

     (1)
|---------------
|-----2---------
|-----2---------
|-----2---------
|---------------
|---------------

this mayb a little tougher as u have to make a barre on the second fret of the 2nd,3th n 4th frets without unwantedly muting the first string. but really easy n very usefull.

there r lots more..
n of course while playing a Fmaj chord u already make a barre!

then u can move a little forward by trying the sweet intro for 'sweet child of mine' by Guns n Roses. for more help with this one check out www. guitarprinciples.com

N Then u can finally move to making those tougher barres n u'll find 'em a lot easier.

this is the way i teach barre chrds..hope its sum help.

 

very good article jayanth

 

Thanks Chi and Ijlal.. But one contradiction.. Its a Bad habit to play A Major and D Major chords with one single Finger cause the movement of fingres during chord changes will be affected. .Instead use the Middle , Ring and Pinky.. Thats a better combination..

 

i dun find it bad..once u get to know it all, u have an option to use whichever way suits u. n i was just making a way to barre chrds. in fact, u get to play sum more a added notes with those 'extra fingers' then.

 

The basic idea of not playing that way is to make use of all fingers..

 

n the basic idea of plying like that is making use of all fingers n options available...
neways, ol i'm saying is learn the normal way n then learn other ways n techniques..thers's no harm in knowing more.

 

Its not more its a shortcut to Failure.. Try playing the simplest song Two Steps behind your way..

 

Nice article Jayanth... U should b a great guitarist

 

Not a GReat Guitarist.. Juat another guitarist..

 

if your kid sucks his thumb encourage him to suck his left index finger too :
he will barre better when he grows up..
jokes apart cool post jayant ...

i barre with all fingers for different chords progs..

for eg
i barre using index and ring finger for A position barre chords, use only 2 fingers..
for eg i would play C like

e||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- C/G chord
D||---|---|-i-|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- 3355533
A||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

or use thumb and pinky some times

e||---|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- some G chord
D||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- 330033
A||---|---|-T-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|-T-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

or


e||---|---|---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- D9 -x54555
D||---|---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|---|---|-T-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

the way I actually play the above is even wierder...


e||---|---|---|---|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|---|-i-|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|---|-i-|-r-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- D9 -554555
D||---|---|---|-i-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|---|---|-T-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|---|---|-T-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

this is how i play that :shock:


e||---|---|---|---|---|---|-p-|---|---|---|---|---
B||---|---|---|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
G||---|---|---|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- CM7 chord -xx5557
D||---|---|---|---|-m-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
A||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
E||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---

maybe u guys could try those positions.. again my standard disclaimer.. i havent learnt these from any guitar teacher or teaching guides.. i just play what works for me..

 

Yhea.. The Shortcuts..

 

yea i guess the key also is to have various fingering for same positions..
at least i do.. and based on how i transitioning i use the best fit..

 

^^^
i use similar kind of positions..also use the thumb for some chords tho not these ones u mentioned..like i said b4 its always helpfull to do a few things differently, ur own way.

 

hello friends I am new to this site, just registered. I have also just recently learnt how to read tabs.
can any one give me the tabs for the song "Dil ko tumse pyaar hua " from RHTDM.
Hapy new Year to all

 

This is an exact replica of the article in the cyberfret.com site. If posting such articles, people should ensure they mention the source.

 

search hindi forum fpr the song u will get it. tamil forum song Ondra Renda from movie kaakha kaakha is the same.

 

yes I'll agree with jayant & swami, practice the right way when you start out it will sure make you a good guitarist...... you can hear the ugly sounds when you don't hold your chords correctly.....I've learned that from the beginning I sure most of you guys have....Play on.....

 

@jay

this fmaj has been freakin me out..but it seems..d tips which u've given wud def. help me..nah..they sure will

thx a ton bro!

tahda!!

 

guys,

I play barre chords but only those where the 3 and 4 strings are played by the non-barring fingers.. The reason is that the barring finger cannot pin down the 3 and 4 strings no matter how much pressure I put.. I am suspecting that lowering the bridge would solve my problem.. I am planning to take my guitar(Martin D15E) to a luthier.. Any one knows the bridge height(in mm) I should ask him to set?