Easy Barre Chords For Beginners

👉 Video Chapters
00:00 Lesson Intro
00:50 Why Should I Try Them?
02:08 Before You Explore Barre Chords
02:52 E-Shape Major Barre Chords
05:04 A-Shape Minor Barre Chords
08:04 A-Shape Major Barre Chords
09:22 E-Shape Minor Barre Chords
12:02 Next Steps

💬 Get In Touch!

[ronsargeant]

I have builders hands and strength is not an issue (and having hands "trained" for other working positions can be a drawback). I can use brute strength but it is a) tiring and b) not conducive to altering position easily. This might build up finger strength initially but I've seen another video on barre chords that said to use your fretting hand as a clamp ( a la capo) with the thumb grinding down on the neck is not the best idea, i.e. fatigue and fluidity issues. The offered solution was to let the "weight" of your arm pull your fingers into the fretboard by relaxing your shoulder (in fact, try to keep the arm relaxed as possible). It sounds odd, but having tried it, it definitely made a difference! Another thing that might help: as a beginner you get used to angling the top of the guitar back to see what your hands are doing. Great for line of sight, not so great for fretting, as your fingers have to reach further round the neck to play the EAD strings. So try to keep the guitar more on the vertical plane; I've found this improves my sounding of barre chords as well as more complex open chords.

[SMOGGY-UK]

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, major & minor barre chords suddenly make sense!!
Thanks Justin 🙂

[kalvheps]

I think you get used to the particular E shaped grip eventually but I think it’s when you play a song with barre chords then if you haven’t learned your notes on your top two strings there will inevitably be a pause trying to find where you should be sliding your fingers to play that particular song.The A shaped barre chord is indeed a toughy for some( me).Excellent lesson.

[gunstrucks]

Thank you Justin I’ve been playing for a year but got stuck on strum patterns I know like 21 chords and can play them really clear I’ve learned how to play wish you were here . I watched your video about being stuck in a rut it made me feel so good to know that was normal to feel like that and I’ve been watching your strumming videos just started practicing on those I’ve always wanted to play guitar tried it when I was younger and just thought I didn’t have talent to play . But I am 58 now and I am determined to play and I won’t stop till I learn. You have the best teaching videos believe me I’ve seen everyone’s videos you are definitely the best at teaching. I can’t thank you enough.

[RubbaNoze]

Damn Justin, your enthusiasm is so motivating, it's incredible! Thank you for your great explanations and courses!

[erdoganessat]

great lesson Justin thank you all ways.

[metaledgar]

just came to suscribe, you helped me to learn guitar with your free videos 10 years ago !! TNX !!

[parijatdeb]

I JOINED THE MUSIC THEORY COURSE AND IT'S SO ASWM. EVERYTIME YOUR VIDEO'S NOTIFICATION COMES MY DOPAMINE LEVEL GOES UP♥

[Googlegugle]

Absolutely incredible! Absolutely Phenomenal!
Absolutely Wonderful!! 🔝💯🎵👌👌👌
Thank you, Always for all of your unbelievably immense supports, Justin brother🙏😇
You Are Magnificent❤👌.

[CateB]

Thank you for everything you generously give Justin. 6 weeks into this guitar gig. Bought your app, on grade 2, watch here regularly and chat in the community. Now onto that horrid F. Pftt. My god it’s a cow and no matter how much I try, still cannot get it. Just praying like mad it’s not going to beat me

[wernercolyn]

Been playing for 20years and I love the A shape and find it easy and great to try out different strumming patterns while muting and so on. The E shape has always been my problem as I find it almost impossible to move my horribe pinky back to Dstring and it's always late. Tried anything thru the years and it has always held me back from being decent to a really good guitarist. No problems with major and minor 7s too.

I don't know of anything that has frustrated me more thru my life than my fcuking pinky. Not many guitarists understand this problem as I don't think it's all that common.

[johnwall]

I m glad you said that about the bar finger only playing the e strings or a and e strings I've been convinced for ages that I was playing them wrong with the bar finger I could hear the chord covering the 6th and 1st string with the bar finger and saying to my self no that's wrong your meant to bar all the strings and the chord did not play good at all when it turns out I have been playing bar chords correct for some time and not using them because I thought they was wrong quite a dumb moment I think and frustration that I could have gone further with my playing and the only thing that stopped me was me breath start again

[I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

Ha! Well, this explains your IG post this morning. 😃

[spencerfristad]

Hey Justin I love watching your videos man can you do a lesson on Jeff becks let me love you baby I really wanna learn it thanks man cheers

[joesegretto]

I enjoy your shows using a capo should you tune before or can you tune with your capo on thanks

[derekthompson]

Hi Justin. Thanks. I keep practicing F Barre chord every day, but, I can only get up to A. The neck gets wider and the frets narrower.

[deepsterblue]

I am curious to know your opinion on the actual setup of the acoustic guitar and its impact on barre chords. I believe most acoustics are sold with high action (say, 5mm at the 12th fret), which should probably be lowered (to say, approximately 2.5mm), therefore allowing beginners to play barre chords on higher frets without having to press down so much. Of course, lowering the action also has the effect of possibly introducing a fret-buzz, so it should be done judiciously by a good luthier.

[bayushitai]

Hello Justin, could you please do a video showing how to play "Here comes the Weekend" by Roxette on acoustic guitar??

[lukasnikulla]

Hey Justin, could you please do a tutorial for Calm Down by Rema? I would really appreciate it!
Cheers, Lukas.

[NightOwlGames]

who ever invented the F chord? i need 5 minutes with them.... it sure lives up to its name.