Three Ways To Master Bar Chords

Three Ways To Master Bar Chords

Mark Wilkes

Bar chords can be tricky! Stretching your hands to reach the positions and maintaining the even pressure required to produce a good sound can be hard to master, especially if you have smaller hands or a large guitar. Many people avoid them at first and focus on learning open chords. While it is possible to learn many of your favourite songs with only open chords, mastering bar chords is an important skill in increasing your guitar playing ability and repertoire, especially if you wish to learn harder rock or metal.

Here some tips to help you push through the tough first stages and get you playing bar chords like a pro.

  1. Finger placements. Everyones’ hands are different. People with smaller hands usually find it easiest pushing down on the sixth string with the tip of their finger, with the rest of the finger holding down the other strings below. People with larger hands may find it easier to let their finger tip sit over the top of the sixth string. This allows the rest of the finger to sit flatter and stronger, exerting even pressure on all strings and may improve the sound of the bar chords. Take a while to try out different techniques and see what works best for you.

  1. Start with these chord shapes first. B Minor (Bm) and F Sharp (F#). 

Diagram of Bm and F# bar chords. For Bm bar the second fret with first finger, second finger on second string third fret, third finger on fourth string fourth fret, fourth finger or pinkie on third string fourth fret. For F# move second, third and fourth fingers up one string each.

Moving between these two shapes is a good way to get used to bar chords as they are easier to reach when starting out, and they work well together. They form the beginning of Hotel California by The Eagles.


Another easy way is to learn bar chords of the same shape at different points up and down the neck. Try out Am, G and F. These three chords respectively form the final heavy part of Stairway to Heaven.

Diagram of Am, G and F bar chords. For Am bar the fifth fret, third finger on the fifth string seventh fret, fourth finger on the fourth string seventh fret. For G bar the third fret, second finger on the third string fourth fret, third finger on the fifth string fifth fret, fourth finger on the fourth string fifth fret. For F bar the first fret, second finger on the third string second fret, third finger on the fifth string third fret, fourth finger on the fourth string third fret.

3. The third way to make learning bar chords easier is to practise switching between open chords into bar chords. Try switching between a standard D chord and a Bm bar chord. They are in the same key and often appear together in songs. 

Diagram of D and Bm chords. For D place first finger on the third string second fret, second finger on the first string second fret, third finger on the second string third fret. For Bm bar the second fret with first finger, second finger on second string third fret, third finger on fourth string fourth fret, fourth finger or pinkie on third string fourth fret.

Start by barring the second fret then adding the rest of the chord. With some practice the two elements should start coming together quicker, allowing you to switch between chords and play them smoothly. A and F#m also appear together regularly so it’s good to practise switching between these two until the process becomes smoother.

Diagram of A and F#m chords. For A place first finger on fourth string second fret, second finger on third string second fret, third finger on second string second fret. For F#m bar the second fret, third finger on fifth string fourth fret, fourth finger on fourth string fourth fret.

On bar chords that use an Em shape, you will have your middle finger spare and you can use this to support the pointer finger and add pressure to the bar when starting out if it helps.

Using these three tips will ease your journey into learning bar chords. The most important part of the process is repetition. Once you work out the finger placement that works for you, moving back and forth between shapes will get your hands and fingers used to forming the chords and applying the required pressure. Before you know it you’ll be playing more of your favourite songs, or even writing your own!

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