Play the Guitar: Lesson 16


   In the previous part we've started to take a look at barre chords. Now we will continue.

   Barre Chords - An Introduction (part II)


   So. What are the barre chords? What do they look like?

   Barre chords are open chords that have been moved up. That's it. As we saw in the previous part, we can make a sound higher by shortening the length of the string. A barre chord does exactly that, by placing the first finger across the fretboard.

The slightly not right F Barre Chord
The (not exactly) F Chord

   This is our first barre chord and... as you can see there are some problems with it. And since there isn't much else to tell, let's head down to the complaints department.

   1. But... but... that's an E, not an F!


   Well, yes and no. It is the open chord E, as we have learned it, but it is moved up. Every single sound of that chord has been moved up by one step.

   2. But... but... I don't have that many fingers!


   Yeah, that's the tricky part. In order to make the barre, we need to place the first finger across the fretboard. Just take the finger and place it over the first fret. Just like that.

   That means, of course, that we will have to use the other fingers to form the E chord. So instead of fingers one-two-three, now we will have to use fingers two-three-four.

   The corrected diagram looks like this:

The corrected F Barre chord
The corrected F Chord

   3. But... but... It hurts!


   Yes, it does. Making this chord requires a bit - OK, lots of - strength in you fingers. You don't have to become a powerlifter overnight but... you will have to practice this chord a little. A little more.

   4. But... but... Do I really have to?


   That's what I said! Apparently we need them, yes. Do we need them now? No, not yet. We've just started and it would be quite a stretch to begin doing barre chords just like that. This discussion is only ment to get us started on barre chords, we will just see what they are, for now, and maybe learn a trick or two, to get ready and prepare for them when they come.

   But more on that, the next time.

   To be continued...

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