swiftlessons

swiftlessons

How to Really Play Bar Chords - A Beginner Tutorial

Added 2018-09-22 19:14:51 +0000 UTC

Hello friends,

Great news - My video on "how to really play bar chords" just reached 1 million views! I'm very proud to have created a lesson that has helped so many aspiring players conquer one of the guitars most intimidating hurdles. If you're still struggling with bar chord shapes, these tips just might do the trick!

Suggested Lessons:

Links:

How to Really Play Bar Chords - A Beginner Tutorial

How to Really Play Bar Chords - A Beginner Tutorial

Comments

Nice tip, I'm all about visual aids. Actually the fret markers on my guitar are stickers, before that I was using tape. For some reason faith guitars doesn't do inlay on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th frets, only the octave.

2019-09-30 12:54:51 +0000 UTC

'One other thing...stacking the fingers on the A configuration... My fingers are to fat...to stack.. No problem using my ring finger to bar 2nd 3rd 4th strings get a clean C & D with non interference on the E string. Yeah just like I play A on the second fret. Learning the Bar Chords is like wearing big boy pants.. "It's cool but on my acoustic with ballads will stick with the G or C on the first 3 frets...Maybe an Electric, as an accompliment might be different..."Care to comment"

2019-09-30 09:15:08 +0000 UTC

I put 3 pieces of white sport tape on the neck next to the 3rd 5th and 7th. frets.. where the frets are barred...wrote 3 5 7 Quite an aid in positioning.. tape easily comes off.. just a little water and a jiffy sponge the green gritty side to due away with a little excess adhesive...I'm pretty good at it.. The tape gave me a psychological boost..at end of day playing them clean with all strings ringing out. In the 1 4 5 progression songs a bit funky..a D instead of a D 7th

2019-09-30 08:59:43 +0000 UTC

My pleasure, glad you’ve enjoyed it!

2019-06-03 13:00:07 +0000 UTC

Hey Colin, I’m so glad this lesson did the trick. Bar chords are difficult for virtually all players, and so I get a lot of satisfaction out of sharing these tips. Keep up the great practice!

2019-06-03 12:57:46 +0000 UTC

Another essential lesson, I had gotten sloppy with my bar chords but the thumb placement tip helped correct that, I was compensating with different arm and hand positions which made it worse, on track now and practicing correct thumb and arm positions and it has cleaned up the chords ten fold. Thank you your instruction is very good.

2019-06-03 12:48:38 +0000 UTC

Rob, where may I find the Beginner Fast-track eBook, please. I'm attempting to relearn the guitar, but better this time. I played some (not very well) when I was in the military in the early 70's. I'm really appreciating your lessons, but unfortunately the songs that I want to play are beyond my skill level at this time. But i'm working on it. My biggest issues right now are chord changes, finger stretching/strength, and strumming patterns. Thank you for what you are doing.

2018-09-24 20:01:02 +0000 UTC

Thanks for this great lesson. As a beginner I have been practicing bar chords without much luck. I've just changed the strings on my guitar from .012 to .011 and after trying bar chords again it seems a bit easier now. I'm not sure if such a tiny difference can make a lot of difference but it seems easier.

2018-09-24 15:36:54 +0000 UTC

Thanks for the thoughtful comment and positive feedback Danny, it's amazing how one small tip can be, as you said, a game changer. I also prefer to bar my A shape chords with the ring finger, but certain tunes call for suspended changes, so it's important to have both down. Congrats on your progress! -Rob

2018-09-23 13:09:48 +0000 UTC

Hey Melanie, congrats on the progress! A lot of teachers tend to let small technical errors slide, as they don't want to discourage their students or over-complicate things. Unfortunately, thumb position will make or break your bar chords. For mastering the A shape bar, I recommend practicing with a capo, this way you can enjoy lower action and the shorter fret scale length. Once you've mastered this bar shape there, progressively move the capo closer to the nut until you can nix it all together. Have fun!

2018-09-23 12:51:17 +0000 UTC

Hey Kelly, thanks, glad you find these tips to be worthwhile. Certainly thumb position is the most useful of the bunch. Enjoy your teaching!

2018-09-23 12:43:53 +0000 UTC

As a guitar teacher, you impress me my man. I've been struggling helping kids with these... and you made it easier!

2018-09-23 09:36:12 +0000 UTC

Rob - I particularly liked your tip on placing the thumb a bit below the halfway point on the back of the neck. That helped me arch my fingers just a bit more to get a clean sound. That one tip is a game-changer for me. For the A shaped barre chord I find it easier to place the pad of my ring finger across the DG&B strings (barring 3 strings with that finger) and then using my pointer finger to barre the rest. The physiology of my hand makes that technique easier for me to get a clean sound. Thanks again for the great instruction.

2018-09-22 19:39:29 +0000 UTC

More Creators

hairjobheaven

hairjobheaven

patreon

しおの

しおの

fanbox

るふなぁ

るふなぁ

fantia

therod_r

therod_r

patreon

Jero

Jero

fanbox

taffybat

taffybat

gumroad

answerinprogress

answerinprogress

patreon

メガオ3rd

メガオ3rd

fanbox

arhneu

arhneu

patreon

TheRealJL

TheRealJL

patreon

sevenstar

sevenstar

fanbox

Obiosis

Obiosis

patreon

相良ましろ

相良ましろ

fantia

yukitochronicle

yukitochronicle

fanbox

Salaise Figurine Studio

Salaise Figurine Studio

patreon

niiiito-box

niiiito-box

fanbox

tuotuo

tuotuo

fanbox

mundodonghua

mundodonghua

patreon

Madvocate

Madvocate

patreon

Scumbrella Studios

Scumbrella Studios

gumroad

airoid1111

airoid1111

patreon

patrickbrown

patrickbrown

patreon

syuntyu-katze

syuntyu-katze

fanbox

FXLS

FXLS

patreon

剑轩辕7

剑轩辕7

fanbox

Ce Ce Mods

Ce Ce Mods

patreon

Karizma

Karizma

gumroad

IceLee

IceLee

fanbox

Kou

Kou

fanbox

OYG

OYG

gumroad

f2feeirm

f2feeirm

fanbox

Chicken0chips

Chicken0chips

fanbox

meineko

meineko

patreon

urykij

urykij

patreon

ながしま

ながしま

fanbox

Sims But High

Sims But High

patreon

musclefan

musclefan

patreon

A-Bomb Radio

A-Bomb Radio

patreon

しぃら@お仕事募集中

しぃら@お仕事募集中

fanbox

viloteve

viloteve

patreon