Guitar Bar Chords

Bar chords are the next step up from the basic beginner chords. Sometimes they are called a 'barre' chord.

The 1st finger is 'barred' accross 5 or 6 strings to form the bar for a chord. The bar basically does the same job as a  capo.. which is like replacing the nut on a guitar. It basically makes the open chords you have learned into 'moveable' chord forms that you can move up and down the guitar neck.

While with the open chords you are limited to what keys you can play in, using bar chords means you can now play in all 12 major and minor keys.

There are generally two bar chord forms.

• FORM 1 is based on the open E chord - root on the 6th string.
• FORM 2 is based on the open A chord - root on the 5th string.

How To Master The Bar Chord

It can take some time to master these bar chords, so please be patient. Because everyone's hands are different, there are no hard and fast rules for learning to play them.

The best way to practice them is to play them up and down the fret board to the 12th fret and back down. (You may not be able to do this on some guitars. In this case, just go as far as you can. Say, to the 10th fret.) And remember, repeat the name of the chord out loud as you play it. You'll have to do this over and over so you can remember what they are named and on what fret they are played.

Use sharps going up and flats coming down.

• Going up - F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E
• Coming down - E, Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F

Remember, these bar chords are based on the open E (Form 1) and open A (Form 2) chords.

NEXT: Drop 2 Guitar Chords - give your fingers a rest from 'bar' duties and learn these drop 2 voicings.