# Learn Guitar — Barre chords

> Interactive page: [`barre.html`](barre.html)

Required in v1 — not on day one. A barre is the index finger standing in for a capo: one finger, many strings. Beginners preview F and Bm. Intermediate and advanced players move both shapes around the neck and change them on the click.

Keep the thumb behind the neck, not over the top. Roll the index slightly onto its bony edge. Buzz is normal for weeks.

**Sources:** Hal Leonard Book 1 (F as first barre) · Berklee movable E- and A-shapes.

## E-shape — F major

Take open **E**, slide it up one fret, and barre fret 1. That is **F**. The same shape at fret 3 is G; at fret 5, A.

Shape (low E → high e): **1 3 3 2 1 1**

## A-shape — B minor

Take open **Am**, slide it up two frets, barre fret 2 from the A string. That is **Bm** — the missing chord in many G-major songs.

Shape: **x 2 4 4 3 2**

## Movable map

The index is the capo. Slide the whole shape; the letter follows the root on the low E (E-shape) or the A string (A-shape).

| Barre at fret | E-shape major | E-shape minor | A-shape major | A-shape minor |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| 1 | F | Fm | B♭ | B♭m |
| 2 | F♯ / G♭ | F♯m | B | Bm |
| 3 | G | Gm | C | Cm |
| 5 | A | Am | D | Dm |
| 7 | B | Bm | E | Em |

Beginners only need to own F and Bm. Intermediate players add the matching minor and major of each shape. Advanced players use the map as I–IV–V in any key — not as a CAGED course.

## Three tracks

- **Beginner** — index-only barre on fret 1. Then F. Four clean downs. Preview Bm.
- **Intermediate** — slide F to fret 3 (G) and 5 (A). Change F → Bm on the click. Play Am–F–C–G without stopping the right hand.
- **Advanced** — I–IV–V all barre in G: E-shape at 3, A-shape major at 3 and 5. Eight bars, no shake-out. Then the same loop in A.

## How to practise it

- **Index first.** Barre fret 1 with no other fingers. Fix buzz before you add the E-shape.
- **Then the other three.** Add middle, ring, pinky on F. Compare to open E — same grip, one fret higher.
- **Short bursts.** Four clean strums, shake the hand out. Hal Leonard treats F as a week, not an afternoon.
- **Common misses.** Thumb creeping over the top; index flat on the pad instead of the bony edge; barre sitting on the fretwire instead of just behind it.

Continue: [Chord dictionary](dictionary.md)