How to play barre chords

Barre chords (pronounced "bar chords") involve using the first finger to fret across all 6 strings with the remaining fingers shaping the chord. This shape can then be moved up and down the fret board, creating whole new chords without having to reposition your fingers much, if at all.
Using barre chords also allows you to create otherwise unattainable chords such as Bb minor or F# major.

Playing major barre chords
Start with a normal open position E major chord but use the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers. Move this shape up and down the fret board using your first finger to fret all strings on the adjacent lower fret to create different chords.(DIAGRAM))


> G major barre chord based on an E major shape played at the 3rd fret. Move this to the 5th fret for A major and to the 7th fret for B major.









Most guitars will have a marker on frets 2,5 and 7. Moving your E major barre to these positions will give you the chords of G, A and B major.

5 tips to improve Barre chord technique
1. Keep your 1st finger straight and in line with the fret.
2. The creases in the joints of your fingers should not coincide with strings.
3. Position your fretting fingers as close to the fretwire as possible.
4. Press down firmly but do not use excessive pressure.
5. Practice, practice, practice.....

In theory, you could use this barre chord shape to play all major chords but in practice you'd be darting up and down the fret board far too much during a song.
Knowing at least 2 shapes for each chord will allow you to play most songs within the space of only a few frets.
The second major shape that can be converted to a barre in the open position is A major. Moving this shape to the 3rd, 5th and 7th frets will give you chords C, D and E.

> C major barre chord based on an A major shape played at the 3rd fret. Move this shape to the 5th fret for D major and the 7th fret for E major.


Playing minor barre chords
E minor and A minor open position chords can all be refingered to allow the 1st finger to barre.

> G minor barre chord based on an E minor shape played at the 3rd fret. Move shape to the 5th fret for A minor and the 7th fret for B minor.


Mixing major and minor chords
Most songs will contain a blend of both major and minor chords. Now you know major and minor chords in both open and barre positions, you can choose the shapes that will mean avoiding large movements along the fret board.