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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your personal classical guitar lesson |
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By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Watch video clip #1. Then, read the instructions below. And yes, I know. The lengths of these
videos add up to more than two minutes. But with the information in the videos, you can play
or teach someone else to play a full bar chord in under two minutes.
Place your 4th finger (little finger) on the 4th string at the 7th fret. Be sure to place the finger
right up against the fret, but not on top of the fret.
Place your 3rd finger (ring finger) on the 5th string at the 7th fret. Push, squeeze, shove it as
close to the 7th fret as you can without displacing the little finger.
Your left-hand thumb should be opposite the 5th or 6th fret in about the middle of the neck.
The tip joint should NOT be bent. The tip joint should be flat or hyper extended. The left side
of the thumb will contact the neck.
Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string at the 6th fret, right behind the fret.
Place the 1st finger across all six strings at the 5th fret. Place it parallel with the fret and
behind the fret, not on top of it.
Strum all six strings with the right-hand thumb.
90% of the time the bar chord (or barre chord) will come out fairly clearly the first try.
The trick, when first learning to play a bar chord on guitar, is to always place the bar last.
Use your arm strength. Don’t try to play bar chords using hand strength alone. Pinching or
squeezing hard between the thumb and bar finger is counterproductive. It results in extreme
muscle fatigue and distortion of the hand and finger positions. The barre chord will fail.
Instead, use your arm strength to hold bar chords. The muscles in your arms are far stronger
than those in the hand and thumb. Pull the guitar against your chest with both arms to provide
the strength to hold the bar chord. If you use your arm strength to maximum advantage, you
can actually hold a bar chord without the thumb even on the neck!
Watch this mesmerizing cinematic masterpiece (video clip #2):
The thumb is a passive participant. It stabilizes the hand and finger positions, and channels
the brute force of the arm muscles into holding the bar chord. For a full discussion of this
important classical guitar technique, see my tech tip: http://douglasniedt.
com/Tech_Tip_Little_Jennifer.html
When I first wrote the classical guitar technique tip about “Little Jennifer”, I received (and
continue to receive) sometimes severe criticism of the concept of using arm strength to hold
bar chords. Some teachers maintain that the weight of the arm alone is enough to hold a bar
chord. Oh yeah? Try that on a Db major full bar chord at the first fret:
Watch how arm weight alone is inadequate to hold many bars (video clip #3)
Using one’s arm strength is a basic technique used by all master guitarists (whether they
realize it or not) when playing anything, not just bar chords. This simple test will prove it: play
the guitar without the guitar resting against your chest. Keep one or two inches of space
between the back of the guitar and your chest. You will notice very quickly how little control
you have and how your left-hand fingers and thumb become fatigued. Most players don’t
realize it, but we are always maintaining a certain amount of arm pull of the guitar into our
chest. You simply can’t play the guitar without it.
Watch me demonstrate this simple test in video clip #4:
Watch this spellbinding video (video clip #5):
First, figure out exactly which string or strings in the bar chord are not sounding clearly. Pluck
each string individually to determine which string is not sounding clearly.
If the 3rd, 4th, or 5th string is not clear, that’s a simple fix. Those strings are held by the 2nd,
3rd, and 4th fingers, so they have nothing to do with the bar. Simply reset the finger on its
string more carefully or press harder.
If the 1st, 2nd, or 6th string is not coming out, the problem is with the bar. The main cause of
bar chord failure is caused by the back joint of the 1st finger (the barring finger) being lower
than the plane of the fingerboard. In other words, that back joint should be raised up so it is
level with the middle joint of the finger. This means the bar finger must be straight or flat along
its length from the tip to the back joint. When that is corrected, the success rate climbs to
about 98%.
If the 6th string is not clear, put more finger pressure onto the fingertip of the bar finger.
If the 1st or 2nd strings are not coming out clearly, they may be under a soft, cushiony part of
the bar finger. Move the bar finger up (towards the ceiling) or down (towards the floor) slightly
so the first two strings are held by a firmer segment of the bar finger.
TIPS
Don’t try to practice bar chords for more than 30 seconds at a time. The hand and finger
muscles become fatigued very quickly when learning to play bar chords. Once they tire (and
you may not realize they are tired), if you keep trying to play the bar chord, it will get worse
and worse. Stop! Rest for 30-60 seconds, shake it out, and then try again.
Practice bar chords with the bar at the 5th fret as I have instructed. Playing bar chords on
guitar at the first fret for example, is far more difficult because the string tension is higher for
the bar finger at the first fret.
DISCLAIMERS
Yes, there is always some bad news.
These instructions will help you successfully play this particular (and very common) major bar
chord. Other barre chord formations will require a few tweaks and additional muscle
development to play clearly. However, all the same key principles apply to learning to play any
full bar chord.
Difficult full bar chords such as Db, Ab, and Bb in first position (show diagrams) also require
the use of these same key principles. But, they require far more strength which will require
using more of your arm strength as described above:
Partial barre chords (bar chords of fewer than six strings), hinge bars, and cross-fret bars
present different problems and will be topics of future technique tips.
REMEMBER:
1. Place the bar last. (Placing the bar last is for learning purposes. Eventually you will learn
to place the bar with or sometimes before the other fingers.)
2. Keep the back joint of the bar finger raised up.
3. Use your arm strength.
Bar chords on guitar are some of the most useful chord formations available to the guitarist
for any kind of music. Don’t think they are too difficult for you to learn. Don’t think they will take
forever for you to learn. If you do it right, you will probably nail this one in less than two
minutes.
Watch this video summarizing these important points:
Late Night Special:
BAR CHORDS--THE GINSU KNIVES OF GUITAR
PLAYING
Remember those hokey late-night commercials for Ginsu Knives back in the 70’s?
Watch this:
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Watch video clip #1. Then, read the instructions below. And yes, I know. The lengths of these
videos add up to more than two minutes. But with the information in the videos, you can play
or teach someone else to play a full bar chord in under two minutes.
Place your 4th finger (little finger) on the 4th string at the 7th fret. Be sure to place the finger
right up against the fret, but not on top of the fret.
Place your 3rd finger (ring finger) on the 5th string at the 7th fret. Push, squeeze, shove it as
close to the 7th fret as you can without displacing the little finger.
Your left-hand thumb should be opposite the 5th or 6th fret in about the middle of the neck.
The tip joint should NOT be bent. The tip joint should be flat or hyper extended. The left side
of the thumb will contact the neck.
Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string at the 6th fret, right behind the fret.
Place the 1st finger across all six strings at the 5th fret. Place it parallel with the fret and
behind the fret, not on top of it.
Strum all six strings with the right-hand thumb.
90% of the time the bar chord (or barre chord) will come out fairly clearly the first try.
The trick, when first learning to play a bar chord on guitar, is to always place the bar last.
Use your arm strength. Don’t try to play bar chords using hand strength alone. Pinching or
squeezing hard between the thumb and bar finger is counterproductive. It results in extreme
muscle fatigue and distortion of the hand and finger positions. The barre chord will fail.
Instead, use your arm strength to hold bar chords. The muscles in your arms are far stronger
than those in the hand and thumb. Pull the guitar against your chest with both arms to provide
the strength to hold the bar chord. If you use your arm strength to maximum advantage, you
can actually hold a bar chord without the thumb even on the neck!
Watch this mesmerizing cinematic masterpiece (video clip #2):
The thumb is a passive participant. It stabilizes the hand and finger positions, and channels
the brute force of the arm muscles into holding the bar chord. For a full discussion of this
important classical guitar technique, see my tech tip: http://douglasniedt.
com/Tech_Tip_Little_Jennifer.html
When I first wrote the classical guitar technique tip about “Little Jennifer”, I received (and
continue to receive) sometimes severe criticism of the concept of using arm strength to hold
bar chords. Some teachers maintain that the weight of the arm alone is enough to hold a bar
chord. Oh yeah? Try that on a Db major full bar chord at the first fret:
Watch how arm weight alone is inadequate to hold many bars (video clip #3)
Using one’s arm strength is a basic technique used by all master guitarists (whether they
realize it or not) when playing anything, not just bar chords. This simple test will prove it: play
the guitar without the guitar resting against your chest. Keep one or two inches of space
between the back of the guitar and your chest. You will notice very quickly how little control
you have and how your left-hand fingers and thumb become fatigued. Most players don’t
realize it, but we are always maintaining a certain amount of arm pull of the guitar into our
chest. You simply can’t play the guitar without it.
Watch me demonstrate this simple test in video clip #4:
Watch this spellbinding video (video clip #5):
First, figure out exactly which string or strings in the bar chord are not sounding clearly. Pluck
each string individually to determine which string is not sounding clearly.
If the 3rd, 4th, or 5th string is not clear, that’s a simple fix. Those strings are held by the 2nd,
3rd, and 4th fingers, so they have nothing to do with the bar. Simply reset the finger on its
string more carefully or press harder.
If the 1st, 2nd, or 6th string is not coming out, the problem is with the bar. The main cause of
bar chord failure is caused by the back joint of the 1st finger (the barring finger) being lower
than the plane of the fingerboard. In other words, that back joint should be raised up so it is
level with the middle joint of the finger. This means the bar finger must be straight or flat along
its length from the tip to the back joint. When that is corrected, the success rate climbs to
about 98%.
If the 6th string is not clear, put more finger pressure onto the fingertip of the bar finger.
If the 1st or 2nd strings are not coming out clearly, they may be under a soft, cushiony part of
the bar finger. Move the bar finger up (towards the ceiling) or down (towards the floor) slightly
so the first two strings are held by a firmer segment of the bar finger.
TIPS
Don’t try to practice bar chords for more than 30 seconds at a time. The hand and finger
muscles become fatigued very quickly when learning to play bar chords. Once they tire (and
you may not realize they are tired), if you keep trying to play the bar chord, it will get worse
and worse. Stop! Rest for 30-60 seconds, shake it out, and then try again.
Practice bar chords with the bar at the 5th fret as I have instructed. Playing bar chords on
guitar at the first fret for example, is far more difficult because the string tension is higher for
the bar finger at the first fret.
DISCLAIMERS
Yes, there is always some bad news.
These instructions will help you successfully play this particular (and very common) major bar
chord. Other barre chord formations will require a few tweaks and additional muscle
development to play clearly. However, all the same key principles apply to learning to play any
full bar chord.
Difficult full bar chords such as Db, Ab, and Bb in first position (show diagrams) also require
the use of these same key principles. But, they require far more strength which will require
using more of your arm strength as described above:
Partial barre chords (bar chords of fewer than six strings), hinge bars, and cross-fret bars
present different problems and will be topics of future technique tips.
REMEMBER:
1. Place the bar last. (Placing the bar last is for learning purposes. Eventually you will learn
to place the bar with or sometimes before the other fingers.)
2. Keep the back joint of the bar finger raised up.
3. Use your arm strength.
Bar chords on guitar are some of the most useful chord formations available to the guitarist
for any kind of music. Don’t think they are too difficult for you to learn. Don’t think they will take
forever for you to learn. If you do it right, you will probably nail this one in less than two
minutes.
Watch this video summarizing these important points:
Late Night Special:
BAR CHORDS--THE GINSU KNIVES OF GUITAR
PLAYING
Remember those hokey late-night commercials for Ginsu Knives back in the 70’s?
Watch this:
HOW TO LEARN TO PLAY A BAR CHORD |
Plus, remember those hokey late-night commercials for Ginsu Knives back in the 70's? Watch my spoof video: Bar Chords—the Ginsu Knives of Guitar Playing! |
This is how to play a bar chord in under two minutes:
SPECIAL TIP ON PLAYING BAR CHORDS
Barre chord didn't work? Every string is not clear?
This is how to fix it:
| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
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Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on
the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written
tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and
the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on
the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written
tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and
the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.