A bar chord is normally an open chord shape, but fretted with slightly different fingers, and using your first finger on your left hand to “bar” right across a whole fret. This changes the tones of the “open” strings and allows you to easily play any chord by using one of the few simple basic shapes.
For instance, try playing an E chord, but instead of using your first three fingers, use fingers 2, 3 and 4. Then slide that whole shape up one fret and use your available index finger to bar across the entire first fret. This requires a certain amount of strength which needs to be built up over time and with practice. Once your in position, this is no longer an E chord, but an F.
Slide up one more fret and you have an F# / Gb. Slide up two more frets and you have an A, etc……….
For working out the names of chords and notes on the guitar, see the upcoming article on the major scale.
Stages of Mastering the Guitar
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