The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Learning Barre Chords

The guitar is a popular instrument for beginner musicians. Playing the guitar doesn’t require you to know how to read music, and you can start by just strumming the strings. To learn how to play along to a song, though, you will need to learn how to play chords. Barre chords are chords that only require you to learn a few different finger positions on the instrument to allow you to play a variety of notes.

Barre chords are a type of chord played on a guitar and are played by using your fingers to hold down the strings in a specific place along the neck of the guitar to change the key of the chord you are playing; therefore, changing the note.

In this guide, we will break down what barre chords really are, which ones you should learn, and how to play them. Barre chords can be tricky to learn, but once you master them, you will be able to switch between chords more easily and sound like a more professional musician.

What Are Barre Chords?

Barre chords are played by strumming all of the strings on the guitar while holding them down at certain locations on the guitar’s neck to change the sound. Barre chords are different from open chords, which are played with at least one string “open” with no fingers holding it down on the guitar’s neck.

Barre chords use one chord configuration to play any note, rather than having to learn how to play each type of chord individually like you would to play open chords. The chord configurations are usually referred to as chord “shapes,” which are the pattern that you put your hand in to hold down the guitar strings.

To learn how to play music with barre chords, you will only need to learn a few chord shapes and understand how the frets on a guitar represent musical half steps. By the time you master these skills, you will be able to play any major or minor chord and most modern songs.

How Do Barre Chords Work?

Barre chords can make musical notes by playing chords while holding down all of the strings with your index finger to manually change the instrument’s key. This technique has the same effect as using a capo, except that you can change the key more often by moving your finger.

Capos are usually used to change the key of an entire song, while barre chords are used to change the key of one chord at a time.

Barre chords allow you to play the chord for one note while producing the music of another by changing the key. Each chord that you can learn to play on a guitar has a unique way of playing it by holding down specific strings in a specific pattern. With barre chords, you can play any chord imaginable with just a few different finger patterns.

You can start by learning how to play one barre chord, then moving your whole hand down the neck of the guitar by one fret, which will change the note that you are playing. Each fret on the neck of the guitar is a one-half step on the musical scale. By moving the barre chords up and down the neck of the guitar, you can play a chord for any note imaginable.

Chord Shapes

To play almost any chord used in a song, you will only need to know four barre chord shapes. Of course, there are complex and unique chords that can come up that go beyond the scope of this basic introduction. However, if you learn just four barre chord shapes, you will be able to play any major or minor chord on the guitar in two different ways.

The most common barre chord shapes are:

E Major
E Minor
A Major
A Minor

All of the barre chords are played by holding your index finger across the first fret. Of course, the “first fret” will change depending on which note you are playing and where your hand is along the neck of the guitar. Once you have your index finger on the correct fret, you will need to place your other fingers on the correct frets and strings.

In a later section of this article, we will go over how to play specific chords with each shape and where to place your hand along the neck of the guitar. First, though, it is important to master the four major barre chord shapes.

Playing the E Major Shape

The E shape barre chord is played in the same position that you would play an open E chord, but with your index finger acting as the barre across all of the strings. To play this chord, place your index finger across the first fret. Your middle finger will go on the fourth string down, also known as the G string. Your ring and pinky fingers will both be on the third fret, holding down the second and third strings, or the A and D strings.

Playing the E Minor Shape

Similar to the E shape, the E minor shape is played in the same position that you would play an open E minor chord. Start by placing your index finger across the first fret. Then, place your ring and pinky fingers on the third fret on the A and D strings. This chord is very similar to the E shape barre chord. It just doesn’t use the middle finger. The missing middle finger on the G string changes this chord from major to minor.

Playing the A Major Shape

The A major shape barre chord is played in the same way that you would play an open A chord, but with the index finger across the strings on the first fret. Place your middle, ring, and pinky fingers on the third fret on the D, G, and B strings to play this chord.

Playing the A Minor Shape

While the E major and minor shapes are very similar, the A major and minor shapes will require a little more practice to learn the difference. Like all other barre chords, the A minor shape starts with laying your index finger across the first fret’s strings.

Next, place your middle finger on the second fret on the B string. Your third and fourth fingers will go on the D and G strings on the third fret. Some experts say that the A minor shape is the easiest barre chord to learn, so beginners should start with it.

Moving Barre Chords

Once you have mastered the four main barre chord shapes, you will be ready to play different notes by moving the shapes up and down the guitar’s neck. Moving the chord shape up or down by one fret will change the note that you are playing by a half step.

For example, imagine that you are playing the E major open chord. By barring the first fret with your index finger, you are moving the key up by a half step. Therefore, you will now be playing an F major chord. If you move the entire chord shape down the neck to the second fret, you will then be playing an F sharp chord.

Understanding the movement of barre chords along the neck of a guitar and how that changes the sound will be much easier if you have some knowledge of how musical scales and steps work.

Chords to Play with the E Major Shape

While playing the E major shape, you can play any major chord by moving the shape and the barre up and down the guitar’s neck.

The following table shows which chords will be played by barring certain frets while playing the E major shape:

Chord Played	Which Fret to Barre
F Major	1
F# / Gb Major	2
G Major	3
Ab / G# Major	4
A Major	5
Bb / A# Major	6
B Major	7
C Major	8
Db /C# Major	9
D Major	10
Eb / D# Major	11
E Major	12 (or no barre, open chord with the same shape)

Chords to Play with the E Minor Shape

Just as with the E major shape, while playing the E minor shape, you can play any minor chord by moving the shape and the barre up and down the neck of the guitar. The following table shows which chords will be played by barring certain frets while playing the E minor shape.

Chord Played	Which Fret to Barre
F Minor	1
F# / Gb Minor	2
G Minor	3
Ab / G# Minor	4
A Minor	5
Bb / A# Minor	6
B Minor	7
C Minor	8
Db /C# Minor	9
D Minor	10
Eb / D# Minor	11
E Minor	12 (or no barre, open chord with the same shape)

Chords to Play with the A Major Shape

While playing the A major shape, you can play any major chord by moving the shape and the barre up and down the neck of the guitar, just like with the E Major shape. The difference between using the A shape and the E shape is that the fret positions will play different chords.

The following table shows which chords will be played by barring certain frets while playing the A major shape:

Chord Played	Which Fret to Barre
Bb / A# Major	1
B Major	2
C Major	3
Db /C# Major	4
D Major	5
Eb / D# Major	6
E Major	7
F Major	8
F# / Gb Major	9
G Major	10
Ab / G# Major	11
A Major	12 (or no barre, open chord with the same shape)

Chords to Play with the A Minor Shape

Just as with the A major shape, while playing the A minor shape, you can play any minor chord by moving the shape and the barre up and down the neck of the guitar.

The following table shows which chords will be played by barring certain frets while playing the A minor shape:

Chord Played	Which Fret to Barre
Bb / A# Minor	1
B Minor	2
C Minor	3
Db /C# Minor	4
D Minor	5
Eb / D# Minor	6
E Minor	7
F Minor	8
F# / Gb Minor	9
G Minor	10
Ab / G# Minor	11
A Minor	12 (or no barre, open chord with the same shape)

Common Chord Progressions

Once you have mastered barre chords, you will be ready to string them together to play a song. Chord progressions are basically the patterns in which notes are played in a song. It’s not something that everyone realizes, but chord progressions are used in every song. Some are more common than others.

The following chord progressions are some of the most common ones used in music today. Once you master how to play barre chords, you will easily be able to play any song once you know the progression and key. If you are already familiar with musical keys and the musical scale, you will be able to pick up chord progressions very easily.

The I – V – vi – IV Chord Progression

This is the most popular chord progression in modern music. Most pop songs and country music follow this chord progression.

Once you know the key that you are playing in, you will be able to figure out the rest of the notes in the progression. Popular songs with this chord progression include:

“Any Way You Want It” by Journey
“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

This chord progression starts with a base chord, which is played in a major key. This is the “I” chord in the progression. The next note is “V” and is five steps above the base “I” chord. If the base chord is C, then the second chord is G. The next chord in the progression is “vi.” This chord is six steps above the base chord.

Since the roman numeral symbol in the progression is lowercase, the chord should be played in a minor key. In our example, this chord would be an A minor. The final note in the progression is four steps above the base chord and is represented by “IV.” In our example, this chord would be an F.

From there, the song can be played by repeating the chord progression over and over throughout the song.

The I – IV – V Chord Progression

Another popular chord progression is the “I – IV – V” progression. This progression is played with all major chords and was most popular in the 1960s and 70s rock music. It is similar to the first progression but is simpler since it doesn’t have a minor chord. Starting with the base chord as a C, the other chords in the progression would be F and G, respectively.

To play through a song with this chord progression, you would play C, F, and G chords repeatedly and in rhythm with the song. Popular songs that use this progression include:

“La Bamba” by Richie Valens
“Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry
“All You Need is Love” by The Beatles

The I – vi – IV – V Chord Progression

This chord progression was most popular in the 1950s. It utilizes the same chords as in the first and most popular progression that we went over, but in a different order. Starting with a C chord again, this progression is played by playing C, A minor, F, and G in progression throughout the song.

Popular songs in this genre include:

“Baby” by Justin Bieber
“Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles
“Every Breath You Take” by the Police

While many chord progressions are most popular in certain musical genres or decades, the examples shown here indicate that all of these chord progressions can be found throughout musical history and across genres. From pop to country to rock, chord progressions are the basis of making music.

Tips and Advice for Playing Barre Chords

Barre chords can be difficult to learn and master, but once you do, you will be able to play more complex and faster songs while changing chords more often. You will also be able to switch between chords more easily and play with different sound quality by playing with barre chords.

To help you master the barre chord technique, we have put together some tips and advice for new barre chord players.

Your Barre Chords Will Sound Bad At First

While you are learning barre chord techniques and getting used to playing them, your music may and probably will sound bad. This is no reason to give up on practicing.

It is common for new barre chord players’ chords to sound bad. It can be difficult to barre the strings correctly, resulting in dull or muddy sounds. With proper training and practice, you will be able to create clearer music with barre chords.

Practice Every Day

To master barre chords, it is important to practice playing them every day. Barre chords require a lot of hand strength. It may be painful at first, and your hand may cramp up, but with regular practice, you will get used to playing them, and your hand strength will develop.

Practicing the different barre chord shapes and the open chords will help you become more flexible when changing chords, and your hand won’t get tired as easily. This will help you become a better musician and play for longer amounts of time in the long run.

Nearly all musicians have what is called muscle memory when it comes to their instrument. This allows them to play notes and chords without even really thinking about it. With regular practice, your muscle memory will develop so that you can play barre chords with no problems.

What To Do If You Have Thumb Pain

One of the most common complaints when learning barre chords is “pain in the thumb.” This is common while you are still developing the hand strength needed to play barre chords. Pain is usually due to the thumb bending in strange ways to compensate for the cramped hand position to play barre chords.

To prevent this, make sure to keep your thumb on the back of the guitar neck in a strong position. With regular practice, your entire hand will become stronger and will get used to being in the position to play barre chords

Barre The Strings With The Side Of Your Finger

New barre chord players might try to use the bottom of the index finger to barre the strings. However, this part of the finger is often too soft and requires a lot more pressure to hold the strings down properly. By using the side of your finger, you are using skin that is a little bit harder, making it easier to have good technique.

Using the side of the index finger to barre the chord also helps you have good posture and position while playing. This finger placement will force your elbow closer to your side, which should be more comfortable and help prevent wrist injuries.

Pluck Out the Chord

When learning barre chords, pluck each string individually to check if the notes sound right instead of strumming all of the strings. If you are having trouble placing one of your fingers, this method will help you identify where you need to improve your grip and placement to create a better sound.

This will also help your chords be more in tune, as you will hear each note in the chord separately. Rather than just listening for sound quality when plucking the strings, listen to make sure the notes sound right together. Play around with moving your barre and other fingers around on the fret to see how the sound changes.

Barre Chords Will Be Easier On An Electric Guitar

If you are able, try to learn barre chords on an electric guitar. Many experts say that barre chords are much easier to play on an electric guitar because the tension on the strings is lower, and therefore you don’t have to hold down the strings with as much force.

If you only have access to an acoustic guitar, you will still be able to learn and master barre chords. You might find that if you ever get the chance to play an electric guitar, you will find it easier, and you might sound better.

Start With The A Minor Shape

It is no secret that barre chords are hard to learn and play. Many guitar experts recommend starting with learning the A minor shape. This is one of the common shapes that we went over and is easy to learn.

Once you learn how to play one barre chord, like A minor, you will be able to practice moving the chord up and down the neck of the guitar to change the chord. The techniques that you learn on one chord can be applied to all barre chords that you learn.

Don’t Start With an F Barre Chord

Many players who are learning barre chords jump in by playing an F barre chord using the E major shape since it is logically one of the first that is taught when explaining the concept. This should not be the first chord that you try to learn. We have already recommended that you start with the A minor shape, but you may be tempted to try the F barre chord since it comes up a lot in popular songs.

Experts say not to start with this chord because it requires barring the fret closest to the nut or the top of the guitar neck. This is the part of the guitar with the tightest strings, so it is really difficult to get a clear sound when playing this high up. We recommend that you practice barre chord techniques and gain strength in your hand before attempting the F barre chord.

Why Play Barre Chords?

Unlike open chords, Barre chords make it easier to play different chords in succession, like in a song. Theoretically, an entire song can be played using just a few barre chord shapes, moving them up and down the guitar’s neck.

When playing a song, it can be hard to switch from open chord to open chord in quick succession. By sneaking a barre chord or two in during a song, you save yourself time and, therefore, can have better technique.

Some experts say that barre chords can sound muffled and are best used for playing certain musical genres. If you are just learning how to play the guitar, though, these considerations aren’t as important.

Learning to play barre chords is an important part of becoming a well-rounded guitar player and can help you become a better musician. Mastering the theory behind barre chords and changing keys will also help you become a better and more intuitive guitar player, improving your ability to play any song.

Wrapping Things Up

Barre chords can certainly be more difficult to play than open chords. However, once you have mastered the technique, barre chords will open you up to many different ways to play the same chord as a musician.

Using the barre chord shapes taught in this article, you can play one major or minor chord in three different ways. This kind of musical versatility opens the door for playing more complex songs and chord progressions.

By learning and practicing the four barre chord shapes discussed in this article, you will be playing guitar like a professional in no time.