Difference between revisions of "Barre Chords"
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{{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|5}} | {{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|5}} | ||
| − | A | + | A <u>barre chord</u> uses a flattened index finger to fret most or all of the strings, with the index finger usually playing the bass and/or root note of the chord. This technique allows for a few common shapes to play different chords simply by changing position. |
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| + | We've already encountered a barre chord when discussing the [[F Major Chord]], but here we will apply it to a larger variety of chords and learn the technique for future chord shapes. | ||
== PreReqs == | == PreReqs == | ||
| + | * [[F Major Chord]] | ||
* [[E Minor, D Minor, and A Minor Chords]] | * [[E Minor, D Minor, and A Minor Chords]] | ||
* [[Other Open String Chords]] | * [[Other Open String Chords]] | ||
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== Common Shapes == | == Common Shapes == | ||
===6 String=== | ===6 String=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | These shapes resemble the open position E major and minor chords, but instead of using the open strings, we use our barre. The minor shape above most clearly illustrates the power of a barre - it is like being able to move the nut wherever you want on the fretboard. | ||
{| | {| | ||
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| − | + | {{top}} | |
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| + | ===5 String=== | ||
| − | + | These barre chord resemble the shape of open position A major and minor. Notice for the major shape, we have to barre both the index and ring fingers, making this chord more difficult than first appears to master. It may be possible to use middle, ring, and pinky instead; but this can be especially difficult. On the lower frets, stretching the middle finger far enough to get a clean fretting is tough, while on the higher frets, it is difficult to align the fingers above each other and fit inside the smaller fret space. | |
| − | |||
{| | {| | ||
! Major !! Minor !! | ! Major !! Minor !! | ||
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|} | |} | ||
| − | + | {{top}} | |
| − | + | ===4 String=== | |
| + | |||
| + | These resemble the open position D major/minor chords. Notice that the index finger only plays one note here, and we don't actually need the barre at all. It's best to learn it anyway, as other chords closely resemble this shape but make use of the barre. | ||
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{| | {| | ||
! Major !! Minor !! | ! Major !! Minor !! | ||
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''' ''' |-|-|-|-| | ''' ''' |-|-|-|-| | ||
|} | |} | ||
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| − | + | {{top}} | |
== Example == | == Example == | ||
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I - IV - V - I consists of all major chords. Let's simply apply the shapes above to our root notes: | I - IV - V - I consists of all major chords. Let's simply apply the shapes above to our root notes: | ||
| − | Ab Db Eb Ab | + | Ab Db Eb Ab |
| − | E--4--4--6--4-- | + | E--4----4----6----4-- |
| − | B--4--6--8--4-- | + | B--4----6----8----4-- |
| − | G--5--6--8--5-- | + | G--5----6----8----5-- |
| − | D--6--6--8--6-- | + | D--6----6----8----6-- |
| − | A--6--4--6--6-- | + | A--6----4----6----6-- |
| − | E--4--------4-- | + | E--4--------------4-- |
Now let's say we want to change the key to B{{f}} major. We know that B{{f}} is one whole step above A{{f}}, so we can move the entire progression above two frets higher, and that's all there is to it: | Now let's say we want to change the key to B{{f}} major. We know that B{{f}} is one whole step above A{{f}}, so we can move the entire progression above two frets higher, and that's all there is to it: | ||
| − | Bb Eb F | + | Bb Eb F Bb |
| − | E--6--6--8--6-- | + | E--6----6----8----6-- |
| − | B--6--8--10-6-- | + | B--6----8----10---6-- |
| − | G--7--8--10-7-- | + | G--7----8----10---7-- |
| − | D--8--8--10-8-- | + | D--8----8----10---8-- |
| − | A--8--6--8--8-- | + | A--8----6----8----8-- |
| − | E--6--------6-- | + | E--6--------------6-- |
Are you beginning to see why guitar is such a popular instrument? | Are you beginning to see why guitar is such a popular instrument? | ||
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Just because guitar can simplify the way you play this or that progression doesn't mean you should get intellectually lazy. It's easy to perform the above and call it a day. It's nice that we can reduce a progression to a few root notes and some chord shapes, but you should really try to learn all the notes for the key you are playing in and what notes are contained in each chord and how those notes translate to the fretboard. | Just because guitar can simplify the way you play this or that progression doesn't mean you should get intellectually lazy. It's easy to perform the above and call it a day. It's nice that we can reduce a progression to a few root notes and some chord shapes, but you should really try to learn all the notes for the key you are playing in and what notes are contained in each chord and how those notes translate to the fretboard. | ||
| − | + | {{top}} | |
== Homework == | == Homework == | ||
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* [[F Major Chord]] | * [[F Major Chord]] | ||
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| − | + | {{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|6}} | |
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[[Category:Guitar]] | [[Category:Guitar]] | ||
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[[Category:Harmony]] | [[Category:Harmony]] | ||
[[Category:Chords]] | [[Category:Chords]] | ||
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Revision as of 23:18, 2 March 2015
A barre chord uses a flattened index finger to fret most or all of the strings, with the index finger usually playing the bass and/or root note of the chord. This technique allows for a few common shapes to play different chords simply by changing position.
We've already encountered a barre chord when discussing the F Major Chord, but here we will apply it to a larger variety of chords and learn the technique for future chord shapes.
Contents
PreReqs
Common Shapes
6 String
These shapes resemble the open position E major and minor chords, but instead of using the open strings, we use our barre. The minor shape above most clearly illustrates the power of a barre - it is like being able to move the nut wherever you want on the fretboard.
| Major | Minor | |
|---|---|---|
R |i|-|-| 5 |i|-|-| 3 |)|m|-| R |)|-|p| 5 |)|-|r| R |i|-|-| |
R |i|-|-| 5 |i|-|-| 3 |i|-|-| R |)|-|p| 5 |)|-|r| R |i|-|-| |
5 String
These barre chord resemble the shape of open position A major and minor. Notice for the major shape, we have to barre both the index and ring fingers, making this chord more difficult than first appears to master. It may be possible to use middle, ring, and pinky instead; but this can be especially difficult. On the lower frets, stretching the middle finger far enough to get a clean fretting is tough, while on the higher frets, it is difficult to align the fingers above each other and fit inside the smaller fret space.
| Major | Minor | |
|---|---|---|
5 |i|-|-| 3 |)|-|r| R |)|-|r| 5 |)|-|r| R |i|-|-| |-|-|-| |
5 |i|-|-| 3 |)|m|-| R |)|-|p| 5 |)|-|r| R |i|-|-| |-|-|-| |
4 String
These resemble the open position D major/minor chords. Notice that the index finger only plays one note here, and we don't actually need the barre at all. It's best to learn it anyway, as other chords closely resemble this shape but make use of the barre.
| Major | Minor | |
|---|---|---|
3 |)|-|r|-| R |)|-|-|p| 5 |)|-|m|-| R |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |
3 |)|m|-|-| R |)|-|-|p| 5 |)|-|r|-| R |i|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |
Example
Let's say our goal is to play a I - IV - V - I progression in A♭ Major. On other instruments, it may be necessary to know what the 4th and 5th of A♭ is, and to know what notes compose each of the chords involved. On guitar, we only need to know where to find those root notes on the fretboard and which shapes to play.
E-------------- B-------------- G-------------- D-------------- A-----4--6----- E--4--------4-- Ab Db Eb Ab
Here are the root notes. We can figure out where these notes occur quickly:
- We know that the open A string pitch is equal to the 5th fret of the low E string. A♭ is just one half-step or fret below.
- We know that the guitar is tuned to 4ths on all but the G and B strings. Thus, the note a P4 interval above our current note is simply the same fret on the next higher-pitched string. The root of the IV chord is A string, 4th fret D♭.
- We know that the 5th is just a whole step, or two frets, above the 4th. The root of the V chord is A string, 6th fret E♭.
I - IV - V - I consists of all major chords. Let's simply apply the shapes above to our root notes:
Ab Db Eb Ab E--4----4----6----4-- B--4----6----8----4-- G--5----6----8----5-- D--6----6----8----6-- A--6----4----6----6-- E--4--------------4--
Now let's say we want to change the key to B♭ major. We know that B♭ is one whole step above A♭, so we can move the entire progression above two frets higher, and that's all there is to it:
Bb Eb F Bb E--6----6----8----6-- B--6----8----10---6-- G--7----8----10---7-- D--8----8----10---8-- A--8----6----8----8-- E--6--------------6--
Are you beginning to see why guitar is such a popular instrument?
Don't Get Lazy
Just because guitar can simplify the way you play this or that progression doesn't mean you should get intellectually lazy. It's easy to perform the above and call it a day. It's nice that we can reduce a progression to a few root notes and some chord shapes, but you should really try to learn all the notes for the key you are playing in and what notes are contained in each chord and how those notes translate to the fretboard.