Bar Chords

by Jamey Mann
Catoctin School of Music 

One of the most difficult techniques new guitar students face is the dreaded bar chord.  A bar is when a guitarist uses one finger to hold down 2 or more strings. Unfortunately, this technique is often made more difficult than it has to be. If a student is not made aware of body mechanics, how a guitar is supposed to be set up, or just avoids learning how to do it will be something that constantly plagues the student’s development.

Before starting the process of learning guitar, it is important to make sure that the instrument is set up properly. A guitar’s neck should be set a certain curvature to maintain the proper distance from the string to the frets, this is called the proper action or relief. If a guitar neck has too much relief (or bowed) the strings are too high from the frets making it overly difficult to push the strings against the fret. Overall, the guitar will be difficult to play, especially for the bar technique. Conversely, if a neck does not have enough relief (back bow) the strings will be too close making it easier to play. However, the guitar might be very buzzy, and some notes may not sound at all until the neck is adjusted. There are other factors that will make a guitar too difficult to play. If possible, you should consult a professional guitar instructor or luthier before making a purchase.

If the guitar is in good condition and a student is still having difficulty it is time to focus on technique and body mechanics to make the bars happen. The following is a list of tips to help master this technique.

1. It’s not all about the hand – The first mistake people make is trying to make the bar happen simply by squeezing hard with the left hand. Although you do need to apply pressure with the left hand this is not your only tool. You want help from larger muscle groups, such as the left arm and back muscles. You want to think about pulling back with your hole arm and back muscles. I ask students to think about using gravity to aid; using the weight of the arm to help. The right arm should brace the guitar’s body. In a way we are using the student’s body as a fulcrum to bend the guitar against. (don’t go crazy we are not trying to break the guitar). If done correctly and with practice you do not need your left-hand thumb or hand to produce a six-string bar chord. (This is not generally done while performing, but in demonstration to show you do not need to squeeze with just your left hand)
2. Use correct part of the finger – Although bars can be done with any finger it is most common to use the index finger. Instead of using the fleshy middle part of the finger, you want to use the left oblique (palm facing) edge of the finger. This surface is much harder than the center of the finger so that it will require less pressure.
3. Focus energy- Lots of energy is wasted by not understanding what notes of a chord need the bar. Even though you might be laying your finger across all six strings, this does not mean all six strings need pressure. In the case of a six string major bar chord, you only need pressure on the 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th the other strings are being held down by rest of the left-hand fingers.
4. Do not avoid it – Through my years of teaching I have witnessed students going to creative lengths to avoid barring. All of them are a waste of time. Avoiding the bar will lead to stagnation and frustration. Even with the tips I offer, barring is still a difficult technique to master. However, with time the bar is one of the most useful techniques we have and opens a door to repertoire, styles of music, and accelerates a student’s skill of the instrument.