How to play bar chords on guitar?

As a self taught player, it took me a long time to work out certain chords and then a lot more time to develop the technique of playing major barrés (bar chords). For a long time, I used to cheat by changing the key of the song to avoid the need for chords that were too difficult.

It helps if you accept two things:

1. You do not HAVE to play all the strings at once so you can sometimes use a simplified version of the chord, and

2. There are several ways of playing each chord, using different fingerings and different positions on the guitar neck.

Of course it is best if you practice major barrés and get the technique under your belt - they don't really involve much more stretching than you can already do - but you can often get by without them until you are ready to move on. Let me suggest some simple chord shapes in which the fret number is given for each string starting with bottom E (the fattest string). An 'O' means play the string open, without holding it down anywhere and an 'X' means don't play that string at all.

For F major, you can play XX3211. You use your forefinger to hold down the top E and B strings at the first fret.

For Bb, play XX3331 or else you can slide the fingering for the F chord up the neck and play XX8766

For Gmin, play XX5333, using your forefinger to hold down the G, B and E strings. If you can do this, you'll soon be able to manage the full barrés.

You can buy a training tool to help you develop your grip for barrés though the grip will develop anyway with practice.

If you can master those chords, it will be progress. I wish you success with your playing and hope your guitar brings you as much pleasure as mine have for me.

I'm not an expert, but here's a personal insight. Sometimes I notice that certain notes don't ring out as well as others. It usually has something to do with my index finger. I have noticed that there is a little give at the joints. If I notice that this little area causes a note to be muted or buzz, I try re-positioning the finger. I also make sure all other fingers are where they are supposed to be, and not in contact with other strings.. My professor noted that my whole left hand should exert the minimum pressure needed to make each ring so I won't have fatigue, cramps, etc. I believe it is more precise or strategic placing of the fingers rather than strength.

Barre chords can be a real pain wen starting off

Basically what u do is use ur index finger to barre the string and use the other three fingers to make the shape

Heres an instructional video on how to do them properly

This guy is amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM5Q4jw_fj4&feature...

hope this helps

yea sure excercise your fingers strech em too but what helps me the most to learn a tuff position is to use my right hand to place the fingers .barr chords are not that difficult .you dont practice enough after a year ? come on there is no magic just believe you can do it and dont put the guitar down till you get it

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try http://guitarmanual.typepad.com/ and get the ebook there also are videos on there as lessons, the ebook is 93 pages and 8 chapters covering everything a beginner would need, open chords, barre chords, power chords, chord inversions, major minor and pentatonic scales, how to stay in key, modes, techniques, music theory specific to guitar, and much more, good luck