Bar Chords on Guitar: 4 Essential Shapes (Step by Step)

0:00 Do your barre chords sound like this when you want them to sound more like this? >> [music] >> Today, I want to show you how to play barre chords on guitar with four essential movable major and minor chord shapes. Now, if you haven't yet learned to play barre chords, by the time you finish this video, you still might not be able to play barre chords. Wait. What? >> [music] >> Yep, I said it. Barre chords take time. By way of comparison, if you watched a YouTube video on how to build a guitar, you probably wouldn't expect to build one in 10 minutes, right? So, [music] please keep your expectations realistic.

0:48 I will say that today you will learn what it takes to get clean-sounding barre chords under your fingers step by step. And one important distinction, watching someone play a barre chord is not the same thing as developing the physical ability to play it yourself. That ability comes from small repeated victories over time with your guitar [music] in your hands. I'm not into shortcuts or hacks. I want to help you go the distance. Barre chords are the long game, and they are worth it. And if you're still watching, you probably want the victory that comes from a reasonable amount of effort. Let's get into it. >> [music]

1:33 >> If you can play open guitar chords like G, C, D, [singing] and E minor and switch between them comfortably, you're probably ready to start learning barre chords. If you're not sure about your current level of skill as a guitarist, this video will help you assess right where you're at. >> [music] >> You can play a lot of worship songs with open chords, but sometimes a worship song can't be played in its entirety without bar chords. As someone who leads worship at churches across North America, I use bar chords on a regular basis. I also write and perform music on the guitar. In my original song Dry Bones

2:18 in G, the B flat chord [music] from outside the key really makes the chorus sparkle. In another original song called More in C, the bridge moves through A flat and B flat chords [music] before resolving back to C. Those bar chords are essential to the artistry of that song. As you may know, open chords use at least one open string, E A D [singing and music] G B or E, but an A flat major chord, for example, contains A flat, C, and E flat, [music] none of which are open strings. So, the only way to play A flat is with a movable shape, typically a bar chord.

3:04 Here's a quick look at two pages from our Guitar Success 4U member portal worksheets. They capture all the diatonic chords in sharp keys and also flat keys. All the shaded chords are movable bar chords. That's a lot of bar chords if we want to be able to play in these various keys. Here's something kind of cool that not everyone thinks about. Even if a chord is available as an open chord, a bar chord version of that open chord might make for a better transition, location, or even voicing. These are open >> [music] >> and these are bar chords. So, bar chords are essential for necessity, practicality, and artistry.

3:52 Which of those matters most to you? Let me know in the comments. >> [music] >> I promised to take you step by step. And the word step is actually a great acrostic to help us remember what we need to attain barre chords. We need strength, time, execution, and patience. First, strength. Your fretting hand needs to develop strength, and practicing the guitar is a great place to start. When I'm away from my guitar, I sometimes use this Omnigrip hand strengthener. I'll put a link in the description. Second, time. Think about watering a garden. If I plant a seed in my garden, and I water it only once, I

4:38 probably shouldn't expect a plant to grow from it that day. Now, if I water it daily for a couple weeks, there will be a result, but that plant sprouting up won't be because of that one day that I watered it. Bruce Lee said, "Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity." Better to practice intense guitar work for 15 minutes a day over the course of 16 days than to practice intensely for 4 hours straight. Physical and mental fatigue will happen with that kind of intensity. So, go for consistency, and give your hands a break when they need a break. A little discomfort from learning a new technique can be normal, but sharp pain is not something to push through. Relax, reset, and come back to

5:24 it. I also recommend stretches, which we teach inside the Guitar Success for You membership. Third, execution. It's not just about squeezing the strings harder. The position of your index finger, your thumb, your wrist, and even your strumming arm can make a huge difference. I'll show you how in just a moment. Fourth, patience. I think in In day and age, we expect quick results in a lot of areas of our lives. When I was a kid and I wanted to have something shipped to my house, I was often presented with the phrase, "Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery." Yeah. With Amazon, we actually often get things delivered the next day or even same day. 4 to 6 weeks would take a level of delayed gratification. But

6:10 guess what? That's exactly what we need, especially for developing bar chords. So, we need strength, time, execution, and patience. >> [music] >> Now, before we play, let's talk about your guitar's action, the distance between the strings and the frets. If this isn't addressed, the process of learning to play bar chords could be over even before it begins. I've had students hand me acoustic and electric guitars with action so high, I could almost slide my fingers under the strings. Even strong hands would struggle to play bar chords on a guitar like that. If you can, have a qualified guitar shop evaluate the setup, including the nut, the saddle, and the

6:58 truss rod. The guys at Mike Lull's Guitar Works, a shop I've trusted since the year 2000, who ship guitars all over the world and with whom I was granted an exclusive interview, told me that even expensive guitars coming straight from the factory need a proper setup. And inside Guitar Success for You, one of our five instant bonuses is 10 tips for proper guitar setup. Having your guitar in good working order will make all the difference, especially with bar chords. A bar chord places your hand in a position that typically uses your index finger to press multiple strings at the same fret. This allows for a movable chord shape you can use with various

7:44 voicings in different keys. Now, for 20 points, what is this? Yep, it's a capo. For 50 points, what does a capo imitate? Your index finger and your thumb. The capo presses from both sides of the neck just as your hand does. And when it's positioned just behind the fret with enough pressure, the notes ring cleanly. Not clean. And now, [music] clean, right? Now, we won't use a capo for these shapes, but if your guitar has high action, placing a capo at the fifth fret can sometimes make practice easier temporarily. This is my G7th Performance 3 capo. I link to

8:31 it below. A quick refresher. Guitar strings are numbered 1 2 [music] 3 4 5 and 6. Our fretting hand fingers are numbered 1 2 3 and 4. We're going to learn four essential movable shapes today. Two anchored on string six and two anchored on string five. Let's start with a major chord, which often sounds [music] bright or happy. Here's a beginner guitar tip. Avoid starting out trying to play a barre chord at the first fret. >> [music] >> It requires a lot more strength next to the nut. Instead, start at the fifth fret, where the strings are usually easier to press, and then you can

9:17 gradually move around the neck as you get stronger. Let's just build the barre first on the fifth fret. Place your index on string one, then strings two and one, then strings three, two, and one. Keep adding strings >> [music] >> one at a time. Now, here's where challenges can start to happen. The soft creases of your finger may leave tiny tunnels above a string, which may result in buzzing. So, to prevent this, stay close behind the fret, but roll your index slightly toward the nut so that the firmer bony edge of your finger makes contact. So, try four strings,

10:03 >> [music] >> then five, then six. Now, if something buzzes, go back one step. Only move forward when the notes sound clean. This could take minutes, hours, or days. And that's okay. Listen to each string individually so you can locate [music] any trouble spots. Make small adjustments, then check again. That's much more productive than squeezing harder and hoping for the best. Now, let's talk about execution. Your thumb supports the index from behind the neck, like the capo functions. Keep your fretting arm at a perpendicular angle to the guitar neck. You can also gently pull the guitar body

10:50 toward yourself with your strumming arm for leverage, which pulls the guitar neck toward your fretting hand fingers. Keep your shoulders relaxed and notice whether your fretting wrist is bending awkwardly. If it is, adjust the guitar position and try again. Remember, our goal is to get clear notes with the least amount of unnecessary effort. And of course, don't use all other fretting fingers to push down on your index, right? You need those fingers to complete the chord. Okay, whether you have this part down or not, I want to show you how to create some actual barre chords. Now, if you know the open E major chord, >> [music] >> you already know most of our first shape. With a bar across fret five, I'm going to add [music] fingers three,

11:36 four, and two to create the familiar E major shape >> [music] >> on the frets above my first finger. Now, there are two basic ways to create this chord. I can build it the way I just demonstrated with my index first, then the other fingers, or I can form an open E major chord using everything but my index finger, slide that shape up to frets six and seven, and then add my index behind it at fret five. Here's how I test a chord. I make a fist, release, and then I see how quickly I can form the shape [music] with speed and accuracy. Now, if it takes a while,

12:23 >> [music] >> no problem. That tells me what to practice. Remember, clean comes before fast. Now, our second movable shape based on the sixth string is E minor. Minor chords [music] often sound more reflective. I'll start with the same bar across the fifth fret, and then I'll use fingers three and four for the E minor shape. Or [music] I can form an open E minor chord with fingers three and four, slide them up to fret seven, and add my index behind them. >> [music] >> The only difference between the E major shape and the E minor shape is the second [music] finger. We use the second finger for the major

13:09 shape, and we don't use it for the minor [music] shape. And yes, it's okay to use fingers one and two to hold the bar for the minor shape because [music] finger two isn't needed for this shape. Now, you have two movable six-string major and minor chords at fret five. And of course, we can move these down and up the neck as we [music] get to know them. That's the power of movable barre chords. Notice that the chord name can come from the note under the index on string six. I'll show you how you can learn to leverage this in a color-coded system toward the end of today's video.

13:55 Now, before we continue, if you're getting some value and you appreciate my teaching style, I've got something I think you need to know about. More importantly, if you want to get the momentum needed to get these chords under your fingers over time, you'll want to have consistent exposure not just to my teaching, but also to our very encouraging Christ-honoring community of like-minded guitarists in Guitar Success for You. Here's why. This wise saying really says it all. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I mentioned that barre chords are the long game. Now, it's not likely that you'll have them right away, and it's more likely that you might actually get discouraged before you can get the momentum you need, but not if you have a

14:40 community here to encourage you. So, I invite you to check out our Guitar Success for You experience, where we have video, audio, full-color PDFs, guest expert interviews, and especially weekly Zoom calls, where we share wins and struggles, and remind each other that we are not alone. Lynette, one of our members who's been with us for over seven years, says, "Guitar Success for You provides excellent instruction that is practical, organized, and inspiring with a connection to an encouraging community of like-minded students." This experience is available to you at a fraction of the cost of private guitar lessons, and yes, the worksheets and the discussions, including those about barre chords, go way deeper than I can take you here on YouTube. Learn more at

15:27 guitarsuccessforyou.com. This could be a game-changer for you. Okay, let's continue. Now we're moving to the fifth string for our final two chord shapes. First is the A major shape. You might play open A major with three fingers, which is great for an open [music] voicing, but for this movable version, I recommend a more efficient approach. Place your index on the fifth string at fret five, then lay your ring finger across strings four, three, and two at fret seven. That is the movable major chord shape based on string five that I recommend. Here's the key. Arch or lift that ring

16:13 finger just enough to avoid pressing down on the first string. We're intentionally playing only four strings. And you'll also want to lightly touch string six with your index to mute it. Why not use all four fingers for the full five-string bar chord? I mean, [music] you can, but for many players, it's extra effort without much musical benefit. Watch the difference between the full version and this efficient four-string version. To build it another way, start with the open A shape using your ring finger across strings four, three, and two. Slide that finger to fret seven, then place your index at fret five on string

16:59 five. >> [music] >> Give that one a try. And here's something to notice. Because the index is only fretting the fifth string, you're not asking it to do nearly as much work as it did with a full bar chord. This is not laziness, it's efficiency. I love this voicing. It's musical, [music] practical, and easier to move fluidly between chords. >> [music] >> Our last shape today is the movable A minor shape. This one does use an index bar from strings five through one with the sixth string muted. After barring strings five through one at fret five, add fingers three, four, and two in the familiar A minor shape above your index.

17:44 Now, unlike the previous major shape, you'll need the first string to ring clearly here. Check the strings one by one. And remember to keep that low sixth string silent so the chord sounds intentional and clean. You can also form an open A minor chord using fingers three, four, and two instead of your usual fingering. Slide that shape up to frets six and seven and add your index at fret five. And again, >> [music] >> clean comes before fast. So, now we have four movable shapes. E major shape, >> [music] >> E minor shape, A major shape, and A minor shape. Note that these are shapes, not chords.

18:32 For people who want to know the chords I just played, the chord names are A major, A minor, D major, and D minor. Once you know where the root notes are on strings six and five, you can use these shapes to play major and minor chords in any key. Again, stick with me and I'll point you to my system for how you can do this. >> [music] >> These shapes open up the doors to movable major seventh shapes, minor seventh shapes, >> [music] >> dominant seventh shapes, and more, but it all starts here. Build a strong foundation before you move on.

19:19 And if you need some motivation, choose a song you want to learn that has some bar chords in it. That song will serve as a legit catalyst for learning bar chords that will bring that song to life. If bar chords feel almost impossible for you today, that's not a bad thing. Every guitarist you admire was likely at this point early on and had to develop these skills, but they got there and so will you. Just remember to take this step by step with strength, time, execution, and patience. You still with me? If we reverse the letters in the word step, we have the word pets. Do you have any pets? We recently got a

20:05 puppy and we were surprised to realize she wasn't trained when she was born. I'm kidding, but you get it. Those first weeks of training her were exhausting. She rarely did what we asked, but with repetition and patience, she learned. Your fingers can be a little bit like that. They won't always cooperate at first, but consistent intentional practice will allow you to train your fingers especially for bar chords. >> [music] >> So, after this video, grab your guitar, set a timer for 5 minutes, and practice moving your finger across the strings at the fifth fret. That's your next [music] step. As for what to watch next, I promised you a system for how to place these movable

20:51 bar chords all over the fretboard with color-coded markers. This video is where I unpack that system. Or if your fretting hand needs a break, try one of our strumming workouts right here. This one is the most popular video on our channel right now. Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next video.