Tip Of The Week #7 | Barre/Bar Chords made Easy | Trouble playing bars? |

Too many videos are too long, too many show wrong stuff, too many keep you from playing ;-). I saved you some minutes, so go ahead. Cheers.

[lw]

May I offer some tips ?
- if the action is too high - barre chords will be difficult to impossible
(lower the action, take it to a shop if need be)
- heavy gauge strings make it more difficult, try med-light or light
- Paul mentioned push hard with thumb, you can also pull the guitar toward you at the
same time - think of it as a pinch between thumb and the pull.
- start with a partial barre instead of a full barre
its much easier to bar 2, 3 or 4 strings than all 6
example - start with the F chord - barre strings 1 and 2
then try the D maj 7 - barre strings 1, 2, 3 at 2nd fret
then try the D maj 7 and fret the 4th string at the 2nd also
THEN try the full F chord barre at the 2nd fret


- if you put a capo on at any position you will find it easier to make barre chrods
put a capo at fret 5 and then try your barre chords and see if you find it easier


- you may find barre chords easier on a short scale guitar or 3/4 size etc
- of course its much easier to play barre chords on a nylon string guitar
and easier on an electric than an acoustic steel string
- you may find it easier to place the 1st finger on the bone side rather than the flesh side
- try a little angle on the fingers and see if you find a 'sweet spot'
- experiment with distance from the fret with your barre finger - closer to the fret may work
better for you
- try one of those hand squeezer things to build up your grip strength


Maybe one or more of those ideas will help you

[hungphamviet]

This video is hilarious and helpful in just a week i was able to play bar chords

[mfelep]

This is old. But it’s gold! F chord instantly feeling easier. Thanks Paul. Best 2 mins I’ve ever spent on YouTube

[havyn_music]

Omg I've been playing guitar for 4 years now and I never got it right, even though I watched alot of videos.. I gave up but then this video popped up while I was watching paul davids videos and from the first time I got it right omg.. Thank you for the video paul!

[Michael-pozz]

Wow, you're a magician! I was really struggling with those chords and suddenly they've become quite easy.

[narc]

I had trouble doing barre chords because when I barred I couldn't properly fret the some of the strings (the notes were muted) so what helped me was moving my barre finger up a bit so the tip of my index finger was past the 6th string a bit. Hope this helps someone

[SudsMcWhiskey]

I've always had a bit of a nightmare with barre chords, they've been holding back my playing for a long time and being self-taught I've struggled to identify why. This video has helped me a lot, so thank you!

[axetrac]

Hahaha...that was fantastic...and almost everyone appreciated the satirical humour - Not even a single dislike. :)

[HirYoshima]

I went to a bar.. didn't get any chords.

[filipps]

The best barre chords tutorial on the internet and funny as well! Thanks, Paul!

[matthewyglesias]

It was the keep your finger straight! Thank you so much! (And the practice. The practice is helping too.)

[GlennHallLivingWater]

Wow. This changed everything. In just a few minutes I am playing barre chords much better! Thank you Paul!

[sbman]

Thank you. The thumb tip was all I needed

[ahakent]

You made me laugh with great joy! I will not give up amigo!

[emilhoeft]

thank you for the tip, Paul from the past

[davidanderson]

thanks for the information on bar cords, , being new to guitar and having trouble with bar cords... I used your tipis and was able to do the F barre cord easily... thanks

[agentcharles]

Thanks for making it quick and simple ;)

[astroandyborgloh]

Another tipp: do not start with F major! A Major (5fr), or d minor 7 (5fr) is great to start!

[UncleZeiv]

this was actually pretty useful to me! 😅

[barrychickini]

Thank you! No BS, just the unvarnished truth. I am 71 years old and avoided barre chords until I was forced into them recently. Fortunately my hands are in good shape. So I practice multiple times a day for five or ten minutes.