It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:10 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Barre Chords
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:29 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:50 pm
Posts: 54
Location: Canada
i feel kind of stupid with all the good guitar players here :oops:

i was reading a Chapter on Barre Chords, and i couldn't get how you named the chords by. it said something about the names coming from the notes along the low E chord.

but then there was another figure that told me if i put an E form on the 3rd Fret it, it would become G.

it confused the heck out of me. :roll:

_________________
"we loved you ya ya ya... we loved you ya ya ya"


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:52 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:37 pm
Posts: 178
Location: NC, USA
Your finger placed behind the 3rd fret essentially moves the nut up to that point. You are using your finger across the strings as a capo. This allows us to play in different keys.

The strings move over the 'nut' at the end of the neck, and when chords are played without your barre or capo, are played in the Key of E. What you read is exactly right... that is, when we barre at the 3rd fret, we play in the Key of G. At the 5th fret...A, at the 7th, B etc. When you get up to the 12th fret you are back at E, and have just travelled a full octave. This applies to the top and bottom strings on your guitar, named E strings.

So, if you see that a song is played in the Key of G, you play all your chords as if your nut was at the 3rd fret, by barre-ing them off at the 3rd with your finger.

I hope this is correctly put, and not more confusing than it needs to be. Perhaps someone can more eloquently explain this. You should find a good diagram of a guitar neck with all the notes/keys and it will make a lot more sense. This might help...

http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa092600b.htm

n.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:01 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
An exerpt from wiki -

"Fretting a barre chord is the same as retuning the guitar a number of half-steps higher, playing the original open chord, and then tuning the guitar back down. Its primary purpose is to shift any of the open string chords an arbitrary number of half steps up the neck of the guitar, similar to the use of a Capo. For example, playing the E major chord with a bar across the fifth fret is equivalent to playing an A major chord, five half steps higher than E."

Hope that helps!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:18 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:11 am
Posts: 928
Location: South Georgia
I hate barre chords. I always try to find a way around them if possible. But sometimes you gotta stick with'em.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:27 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:48 pm
Posts: 336
Location: Houston
I used to hate them but they've sort of grown on me over the years. Now I'll preferentially play them when I want to add a little bit different sound. Sometimes the proper sound requires a barre. I'll have to admit, they're a lot easier on the electrics than the acoustics tho.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:28 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:34 pm
Posts: 377
Location: The Rocky Mountains
after a while of practice, they just start to feel natural. If you really just cant get them, you can cheat and just play the top two or three strings of the chord without having to barre

_________________
Formally known here as The Metalhead Punk
Gear:
Standard Stratocaster HSS w/ SD SH-6 Distortion in the bridge
Ernie Ball Strings
Monster Cables
Dunlop Picks
Peavey 5150 II 120watt Head
Vader 2x12 Cab 240watt


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:46 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:02 pm
Posts: 718
Noley explained exactly right!

Bar chords are great. You can't get the right blues sound without them. They're easier than open chords and much faster for smooth playing. Remembering them is easy! If I can remember after tons of chemo chemicals and a lot of years, anyone can.

The number is where your finger bars the chord.

open is e

1 is f

3 is g

5 is a

7 is b

8 is c

10 is d

12 is e

13 is f

15 is g

17 is a

19 is b

20 is c

22 is d

The flats are one fret behind, so b flat is 6. The sharps are on fret ahead - so b sharp is c.

Bar chords are very important. Here's what's crucial. When playing the blues, the key of the blues is where you pick individual notes through blues scales. This is also true for rock. If BB King is playing blues in d, he will solo from blues scales in d anchoring on the 10th fret.

I have to go back and play the open chords to make sure I still remember. Transitioning from one open chord to another can be more easy to make an error too and get the fingers on the wrong strings.

Bar chords don't take a bunch of strength to do. First, like Clapton talks about in his book, get a guitar with low action. Doesn't matter if it's acoustic or electric. Next, when you bar a chord consider that your index finger that's barring is like a piece of wood and keep it straight and stiff, but not tense. Then, put your finger against the fret, not mashing the strings on the fret board real hard, but just firmly without strain pressing the strings against the corner where the fret board and fret meet.

Consider Blues in A, which is the basis for classics like "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now." The chords are a7, d7, e7. So that's 5, 10, open. You don't even chance the position of your middle and ring finger, but just slide them. It's fun.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:38 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:56 pm
Posts: 875
Location: Oregon
It's all about the Root 5 & 6 E & A Form Chords!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Mr. Nylon, PaulLF and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: