bar cord help (only guitar players will be able to answer this)?

Question

hey, I am 16 years old, been playing acoustic guitar for about a year and a half now. Id really like to get better and improve my skills, but I just cant get the hang of bar cords. Does anyone have any advice, tips, drills, cord progressions...anything that might help me with bar cords? any tips are greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I teach guitar, and for many, bar chords can be difficult. Just keep practicing till it hurts...it will come. Also, make sure your thumb is in a vertical position across the back of the neck. This gives you a better angle to do the bar chord.

Answer 2

The most common bar chord is to use your three fingers that you aren't using to bar with to form the chord pattern that you use for and E chord. Bar the first fret and then the 5/3, 4/3, 3/2 strings and you're playing an F. The third fret and you're playing a G. The fifth fret and you're playing an A. If you only hold down the fifth and fourth strings for the barred A you're playing an A minor and the same back down the neck.

It's a good way to build up strength and if you know any songs that use those chords you can practice playing them in the bar position.

Answer 3

hey there....start with diads...two note chords...and work from there. Also try barring the chords further up the neck. Although the neck is thicker...the frets are closer and you won't have to stretch as much. It is a bit less forgiving though as your figers will tend to slip off the note but it will give you a feel...As it becomes easier, move down the neck. Also, get a good chord book and look for open chord progressions at different places on the neck. Sometimes they sound better and are easier than a full barre chord.
Tuning is important too. A guitar which is tuned A440 standard will have different chord and scale signatures than one with say, a dropped tuning...like low E down to D
Also...feel the chord...don't watch it!