Barre Chords

glorifytheLord · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:29 am Post subject: Barre Chords

Hello!

I just thought I'd post here since I needed advice regarding barre chords. I've learnt the barre chord shapes recently but am not sure how to use them, do we just play them instead of normal chords in a song? If so, some chords don't match when I play.

I'm stuck at this point of guitar learning and very much need and appreciate your advice.

God bless!

PeaceMaker · Goldfish Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 61

Hi glorifytheLord,

I'm a newb too and just learning bar-chords as well... No expert here but I think you need to know the notes on the 5th and 6th strings and depending on what string your bar-finger starts on determines the note of the bar-chord... For example if your bar-finger starts on the 6th string at the 3rd fret it's a G bar-chord and if your bar-finger starts on the 5th string at the 3rd fret it's a C bar-chord.

But don't take my word for it... I'm sure that you could find better instruction than mine by doing a search for how to do bar chords here at: http://www.google.com .

Take care, and Love You,
PeaceMaker
Romans 5:1 KJV

glorifytheLord · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:40 am Post subject:

HEY Peace Maker! Thanks for the advice. I've been getting better doing Barre chords Very Happy

Can anyone suggest any good christian songs that have mainly barre chords?

God Bless!!

ACfixer · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:54 am Post subject:

Here's the deal... you can use barre chords whenever you want in place of the open chords. The cool thing about them is fast chord changes and a "uniform" sound while using them. Typically speaking I use them whenever I am playing a song with a harder rock sound or when I can't figure out how to make the chord with an open fingering. Also the barre chords are often more complete versions of the open chord like when playing F major. The full barre on the first fret adds the bass note and makes the guitar really powerful especially in rock music.

The other side of the coin is that with slower and/or cleaner songs the barre chords generally aren't as "pretty" as many of the open variants of the same chord. I find that paricularily true with an acoustic guitar and for the most part I only use barres on acoustics when I don't know an open fingering for the chord.

I firmly believe they are an absolutely neccessary tool for anyone that wants to get any better at playing than just the first stages because you can play yourself out of almost any pinch by using them. Will get you by when you don't have a capo too. In fact since I play almost exclusively electric I can't remember the last time I used a capo. As far as the barre chords sounding "different" than the opens, well yes they do but that difference minimizies over time as you get a better feel for them and learn how to play with a cleaner and lighter touch. What racks your hand with pain now will be surprisingly simple a year from now and your hand will learn how to play them cleanly with a minimum of pressure (and pain).

Just my opinion, and it may very well be wrong but it works for me. Smile

PeaceMaker · Goldfish Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 61

glorifytheLord,

Not a problem; glad to hear you're doing better... Not sure of any Christian songs that use bar chords?

ACfixer,

Thanks for chiming in on this one: what You said made alot of sense... I think I just grew a notch. Very Happy

PunkStar · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject:

Agreed completely with AC.

If you want to play some Christian songs with bar chords. I believe the best thing to do is to go buy a hymn book and play some of the songs using bar chords. It helps to play different chords in different positions on the neck because it gives different tonal properties to the piece of music. So I'd recommend experimenting with a good hymn book. Besides, those are the best pieces of Christian music written in my opinion.

glorifytheLord · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:42 pm Post subject:

I agree with Punkstar, old christian hymns are the best pieces of christian music.
Thanks so much for your replies!

God Bless!

ACfixer · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:30 am Post subject:

Old hymns can be adapted for electric guitar... done it! Very Happy