Barre Chord Basics – Master This Powerful Chord Shape!
Barre chords are an essential tool for any guitarist. They are the gateway to becoming an intermediate player, as they will unlock the fretboard and allow you to play any chord, in any key, anywhere on the fretboard. They are also the basis of all fretboard knowledge for both rhythm & lead playing. Learning how to play barre chords on guitar is essential!
While it’s fine to try playing barre chords right away, I have developed a simpler approach that has a 100% success rate with my students. Instead of starting out with full barre chords, we start with their foundation: the power chord!
Why You Should Learn Power Chords First
The power chord is a simple 2 note shape – it’s literally the bottom 2 notes of a barre chord. Learning this shape first will train your hand to make the adjustments necessary for playing barre chords comfortably.
Power Chord Practice
Now that we’re acquainted with the power chord, the next step is to get REALLY used to it. Many students complain that “barre chords hurt!” and think it has something to do with their strength – False!
99% of the time, barre chord pain comes from poor technique. Becoming comfortable with the power chord will ENSURE that your technique is there, so when you try full barre chords you won’t run into any wrist pain or other issues.
I have put together several song lessons that exclusively use power chords. These are a great tool for getting used to the shape AND you get to learn full songs while you’re at it! Win win!
We’re ALMOST Ready For Barre Chords…
This intermediate step is often skipped… we need to transition from the power chord to the barre chord.
The following lesson uses a classic 90’s chord progression to clearly demonstrate 3 levels of rhythm:
- Power Chords
- 90’s Chords (halfway between power chords and barre chords)
- Barre Chords
Understanding Barre Chords on Guitar
Now we’re ready for the real deal! These lessons will show you how to play all the most useful barre chord shapes on guitar, and my biggest tip for making barre chords easier.
More Barre Chord Tips & Tricks
This 3-part series will tell you everything you need to know about barre chords: how they work, how to use them and some tips and tricks to make them a lot more comfortable.
Switching Between Barre Chords & Basic Chords
This is the final piece of the puzzle. We need to learn switching from open to barre chords. This will allow you to confidently add these new shapes to your existing chord vocabulary and unlock the ability to play virtually any song on guitar.
Songs To Practice Barre Chords
Here’s a list of songs that use just 1 barre chord, mixed in with the usual basic chord shapes. I have chosen songs with fairly simple chord progressions, so you can focus on the shape itself and not worry too much about the song.
