The A shape is an extremely effective barre chord shape and one that, once learned, can be incredibly useful.
This shape has given me a fair share of problems and this exercise is one that helped me build confidence in the feel, tone, and overall sound of the A shaped barre chord.
Go slow here and pay very special attention to what pressure is necessary for the chord. Make sure to take breaks when needed and also mental notes on how your hand feels when making a good sounding chord.
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Responses
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After decades of just primarily playing barre chords on my electric guitars, this IS STILL HARD! LOL I now only KINDA suck
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Tough but
Fun
I feel like am graduating from very poor to competently poor
Very excited
In a year can def see where this is going -
I’m not sure if it is ok to do, but i find it easier to barre the 4 frets,using my pinky.
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difficult with clear b string can do a B7 cord
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Well I am having a very hard time with these barre cords. I was curious about what the E and A shapes were all about because I have never heard of them, Worked with the E shape which would were my hand out quick. And the A shape was even worse. So I said, wait a minute. I need to slow down and go back to square one ., So that what I’m doing. Going back to the limbering exercise until I know I’m ready to continue
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That was ring finger torture….
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RING finger can’t take on the challenge
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This chord shape has troubled me for years. The last joint in my ring finger does NOT hyperextend – so it is almost impossible for me to clearly fret the B string and mute the E. They either both ring clear or are muted. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to not strum the high E but that requires pick accuracy as well. I have taken to treating the B shaped chords more as power chords – playing the middle strings as best I can
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Barre chords seem to take a long time and struggle but I want to let those who are struggling that you will eventually get it! Just keep at it, analyze which part is giving you trouble, focus practice on it, but just as important let it go and not get too frustrated. It will come.
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The “A” shape cords are coming along a lot better than the “E” shape cords!
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It ain’t pretty, but it works.
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I worked on this with my in-person teacher last year, and finally got it after 2 weeks of playing it badly. What I still have to work on is when I transition to the Barre B from another usually a Barre Chord (e.g F or G). thanks
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Tough, but necessary. Just need to keep doing and build muscle memory. thanks.
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Killer Bees! This one is gonna take a while to get. After I get these two patterns down…then I have to work on getting the transition to them up to speed…oy!
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you are a great dude and great teacher; this wonderful course!!
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That is a tough one! Practice and more practice to strengthen and stretch those fingers…
-
This is actually kind of easy for me, I use the ring finger not the pinky, as some of you say is easier for you to use the pinky. But my ring finger is stronger, and I can brace it with the middle if needed.
-
My fingers hurt
Badly
-
Ring finger on freting hand not flexible enough to span the d,g, and b strings. Am using all
four fingers to make the A shape barre chord.-
Me too, can use the ring or index finger after moving up a few frets when the distance between frets is smaller, and it isn’t possible to continue using 4 fingers.
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I use my pinky instead of the Ring Finger, more clear barre chord making the A Barre with the B Barre. Good Exercise!
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Again my index finger doesn’t roll to the outside. Can You Help Me with these?
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From what I’m seeing Raymond, the only thing your index finger really needs to do for an A shape is fret the D string. It doesn’t really seem to do anything else for this shape chord.
If you’re just wanting to work on rolling your finger, what helps me to get started is to tip the neck up higher for more of a classical position. That allows me to roll my wrist/finger a little more. You can also try moving your thumb lower on the back of the neck to apply pressure down towards the B & E strings.
Hope these ideas help. They helped me.
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The B string is my nemesis!
-
Still having problems with the palm and finger tips of some fingers dulling other strings. I have notice a good improvement if I lift my guitar neck up at a 45 degree angel I can get me fingers over the strings better and my palm is not as much trouble
-
Tony is it okay to use middle ring and pinky on the bottom part of the chord. For some reason I find it much easier and cleaner.
-
I also use three fingers (middle, ring and pinky) instead of just my ring finger so I can avoid the ring finger cramping up and risking a trigger finger. If I can get all the notes clearly, I’m happy.
-
Thanks Mrfredsporty – i have used your advice as just finding too hard to do the barre on the latter part of the chord!
-
-
Who’d have thunk it? I barre better with my pinkie. If it sounds good, it is good.
-
Holy moly! I’m decades away from getting my ring finger to cover the DGB without muting the high E. I find the 7th fret B chord much easier.
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I use these chords quite often and enjoy playing them you can do a lot of cool stuff with these
-
I second the motion on the strain on the ring finger.
-
Yippee! The A shape B chord is the first Barre chord that I am able to get clear sound with each string! Excited!
#smallwin
This is encouragement for me to continue patiently working on the other Barre chords.
Thanks, Tony! -
This is the first time I was able to get clear tone on all the strings and feel like I have good confidence in using this chord. Having gone through a number of barre chord tutorials, I now feel like I can make the chord with clear sound. Next step is being able to make the chord changes quickly enough to play in a song. #smallwin
-
That is definitely a killer on the ring finger on the fretting hand
Really have to watch the hand positioning
Congratulations, !
Challenge complete
Come back tomorrow for your next challenge
After decades of just primarily playing barre chords on my electric guitars, this IS STILL HARD! LOL I now only KINDA suck
Tough but
Fun
I feel like am graduating from very poor to competently poor
Very excited
In a year can def see where this is going
I’m not sure if it is ok to do, but i find it easier to barre the 4 frets,using my pinky.
difficult with clear b string can do a B7 cord
Well I am having a very hard time with these barre cords. I was curious about what the E and A shapes were all about because I have never heard of them, Worked with the E shape which would were my hand out quick. And the A shape was even worse. So I said, wait a minute. I need to slow down and go back to square one ., So that what I’m doing. Going back to the limbering exercise until I know I’m ready to continue
That was ring finger torture….
RING finger can’t take on the challenge
This chord shape has troubled me for years. The last joint in my ring finger does NOT hyperextend – so it is almost impossible for me to clearly fret the B string and mute the E. They either both ring clear or are muted. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to not strum the high E but that requires pick accuracy as well. I have taken to treating the B shaped chords more as power chords – playing the middle strings as best I can
Barre chords seem to take a long time and struggle but I want to let those who are struggling that you will eventually get it! Just keep at it, analyze which part is giving you trouble, focus practice on it, but just as important let it go and not get too frustrated. It will come.
The “A” shape cords are coming along a lot better than the “E” shape cords!
It ain’t pretty, but it works.
I worked on this with my in-person teacher last year, and finally got it after 2 weeks of playing it badly. What I still have to work on is when I transition to the Barre B from another usually a Barre Chord (e.g F or G). thanks
Tough, but necessary. Just need to keep doing and build muscle memory. thanks.
Killer Bees! This one is gonna take a while to get. After I get these two patterns down…then I have to work on getting the transition to them up to speed…oy!
you are a great dude and great teacher; this wonderful course!!
That is a tough one! Practice and more practice to strengthen and stretch those fingers…
This is actually kind of easy for me, I use the ring finger not the pinky, as some of you say is easier for you to use the pinky. But my ring finger is stronger, and I can brace it with the middle if needed.
My fingers hurt
Badly
Ring finger on freting hand not flexible enough to span the d,g, and b strings. Am using all
four fingers to make the A shape barre chord.
Me too, can use the ring or index finger after moving up a few frets when the distance between frets is smaller, and it isn’t possible to continue using 4 fingers.
I use my pinky instead of the Ring Finger, more clear barre chord making the A Barre with the B Barre. Good Exercise!
Again my index finger doesn’t roll to the outside. Can You Help Me with these?
From what I’m seeing Raymond, the only thing your index finger really needs to do for an A shape is fret the D string. It doesn’t really seem to do anything else for this shape chord.
If you’re just wanting to work on rolling your finger, what helps me to get started is to tip the neck up higher for more of a classical position. That allows me to roll my wrist/finger a little more. You can also try moving your thumb lower on the back of the neck to apply pressure down towards the B & E strings.
Hope these ideas help. They helped me.
The B string is my nemesis!
Still having problems with the palm and finger tips of some fingers dulling other strings. I have notice a good improvement if I lift my guitar neck up at a 45 degree angel I can get me fingers over the strings better and my palm is not as much trouble
Tony is it okay to use middle ring and pinky on the bottom part of the chord. For some reason I find it much easier and cleaner.
I also use three fingers (middle, ring and pinky) instead of just my ring finger so I can avoid the ring finger cramping up and risking a trigger finger. If I can get all the notes clearly, I’m happy.
Thanks Mrfredsporty – i have used your advice as just finding too hard to do the barre on the latter part of the chord!
Who’d have thunk it? I barre better with my pinkie. If it sounds good, it is good.
Holy moly! I’m decades away from getting my ring finger to cover the DGB without muting the high E. I find the 7th fret B chord much easier.
I use these chords quite often and enjoy playing them you can do a lot of cool stuff with these
I second the motion on the strain on the ring finger.
Yippee! The A shape B chord is the first Barre chord that I am able to get clear sound with each string! Excited!
#smallwin
This is encouragement for me to continue patiently working on the other Barre chords.
Thanks, Tony!
This is the first time I was able to get clear tone on all the strings and feel like I have good confidence in using this chord. Having gone through a number of barre chord tutorials, I now feel like I can make the chord with clear sound. Next step is being able to make the chord changes quickly enough to play in a song. #smallwin
That is definitely a killer on the ring finger on the fretting hand
Really have to watch the hand positioning