barre chords are the dreaded nightmare for beginner guitarists who have just started to learn playing the guitar. But luckily, there are a few techniques that will assist in holding the barre chords better to get a clean sound from them. So here are a few barre chords tips you should try implementing. They could be of great help to you.
There is also a video explaining the barre chords tips at the end of this article.
Place the thumb behind the index finger
Barre chords tips – Thumb behind index
When holding a barre chord, place your thumb on the guitar neck behind the index finger (or atleast close to behind the index finger). This way you can put direct opposite pressure with your thumb to the force of your index finger. This will allow you to put more pressure on the guitar strings and produce cleaner sound.
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Bar with slight corners of your index finger
Barre chords tips – Bar strings with corners of index finger
When barring the chords, turn your index finger slightly and bar the strings with the slight corners of your index finger.
The center of the fingers are fleshy and softer. So they can make it harder for you to put proper pressure on the strings. Which can cause buzzing sound. On the other hand, the slight corners of the fingers are a bit harder and will help you to put better pressure on the strings leading to cleaner sound from your barre chords.
Press near the ending fret wire
Barre chords tips – index finger placement
Place your barring index finger close to the fret wire at the end of the fret. This will cause direct pressure on the strings against the fretwire and cause cleaner sound. Remember not to place your finger on top of the fret wire. Place it just close to the fret wire. Your index finger, since they are fat, could look like they are on top of the fret wire. But you should actually be barring with the slight corners of your index finger. So, though the index finger looks like covering the fret wire, the slight corners of the index finger should actually be pressing just close to the fret wire and not exactly on top of the fret wire.
On the other hand when you place your index finger on the center of the fret or at the beginning side of a fret, the distance of your fingers pressure point is farther from the fret wire and dilutes the amount of pressure. Which can cause buzzing sound.
Adjust your index finger height
Barre chords tips – index finger height
People have different fingers. So you should adjust the height of your fingers at different positions and find the one that best suits you. Also, the lines at the joints of the fingers could cause a problem when barring chords. When the strings come under these lines, you could have problem putting sufficient pressure on the strings. So you should try and find the best position for your index finger.
Apply these barre chords tips in your practice and soon you will get into the habit without even thinking. And you will be making cleaner sounds with your barre chords that you and your audience can enjoy. And then you can bid goodbye to barre chords nightmares.
Have fun.
You might also want to check out the major and minor barre chords chart.
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