If you’re barre chords aren’t sounding right or you’re slow at changing to them then rest assured this is extremely common.
Barre chords are the introduction to being an intermediate player. They require a new level of patience, persistence and practice.
You’re fretting hand needs to strengthen new muscles and this takes time.
You CAN’T avoid barre chords forever. JUST GET STARTED!
The only way to improve is to accept that your barre chords will sound bad for a while, but just play them anyway. It’s this ethos that separates the successful barre chord students from the unsuccessful ones. If you accept that they will sound bad for a while then there should be no issues with playing them in songs.
So pick one or two songs that have barre chords in. The song lessons below have just 1 or 2 barre chords in and are perfect for getting started.
Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
Placing barre chords into a song is more motivating for most students than doing exercises.
10 to 20 minutes a day playing songs that have barre chords in is the key to improvements and succeeding with barre chords.
Barre chords are 20% technique and 80% deliberate practice.
BARRE CHORD TECHNIQUE TIPS:
- Check Your Thumb Position (6.30 in the video) – Use the bone in your thumb! Apply diagonal pressure through the neck!
- Your index finger can be close and snug to the fret marker. (8.20)
- If possible keep your index finger straight while you fret the barre chords.
- Don’t lock your finger joints. (10.00)
- Pull the strings down using the weight of your forearm to help press the strings down. (13.15)