Learning barre chords can be a painful process. In fact, it’s even more painful when you don’t know the tricks to playing barre chords.
In today’s episode of Acoustic Tuesday, you’re getting two facts and three tricks to help you learn and play barre chords.
Once you know these two facts and three tricks, you’ll be ready to tackle the fretboard with a new perspective on barre chords!
Additionally, I’m reviewing two pieces of guitar/music gear that you should highly consider. Last but not least, you’ll see why I picked Don Ross as my featured Acoustic Tuesday artist — trust me, you don’t want to miss this episode!
As always, you can watch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
- Acoustic Life YouTube channel
- We Play Every Day Facebook Community
- Get show notes emailed directly to your inbox.
- Listen to audio-only below or in iTunes
This Week on Acoustic Tuesday
2 Facts and 3 Tricks: Barre Chords
I want to make learning bare chords as easy as possible for you. To make this possible, here are two facts and three tricks to help you learn barre chord.
The first fact is that barre chords are moveable. Once you learn one barre chord shape, you’ve learned 12 other chords that work on each fret of your guitar.
Think of the F major chord. If you move it up two frets, you can play a G major chord. Move it up another fret and you have an Ab major chord!
The second fact is that barre chords are easily flexible and shiftable. Typically, you only need to move one finger or 2 fingers to change a minor to a major, a major to a dom7 chord, etc.
To make an F major chord into an F minor chord, all you need to do is lift your middle finger off the fretboard!
Now that you know those two facts, here are three tricks to help you out…
1. Roll Your Index Finger — Instead of playing with the soft, fleshy pads of your index finger, roll it. Try to make contact with the string with the bony, outside part of your index finger.
2. Use Your Picking Hand for Leverage — Place the elbow of your picking hand against the upper-top part of your guitar body. From their lightly press your guitar into your fretting hand as leverage to create the barre chord.
3. Shorten or Condense Chords — Who says you need to always play full six or five-string barre chords? Instead, try playing on the top three strings or the bottom three strings. This is a stepping stone to help you develop the muscle and callouses required to play barre chords.
If you have any other tips for playing barre chords, go ahead and leave them in the comments below!
Soundbrenner Core
In recent years, there has been a big push in wearable technology. As far as musicians go, having a wearable metronome seemed a little gimmicky.
But then I actually tried the Soundbrenner Core metronome watch.
The Soundbrenner Core is super-easy to use. With little effort, you can change the tempo, accents, time signature, and even use it as a tuner for your guitar!
Perhaps one of the most amazing aspects of the Soundbrenner Core is the decibel meter. Even in my daily guitar practice, I was shocked at how loud my guitars were.
Soundbrenner makes two different versions of their watch — the Core is a more robust version, while the Pulse is a little lighter on the features.
In the comments below, let me know if you use a metronome, and whether you think a wearable tool like this would help you!
For more information on the Soundbrenner Core, be sure to visit their website today.
Link: https://www.soundbrenner.com/shop
Earos One: High-Fidelity Hearing Protection
People in the music industry and even those who just enjoy listening to music are exposed to high decibel levels. As a result, many concert-goers or musicians may develop a hearing loss or other ear issues like tinnitus.
Developed and founded by a New York City DJ, Earos is a super-comfortable, super-effective acoustic filter for your ears.
Here’s why you should think about getting a pair…
- Protect your hearing
- Look stylish
- You still want to protect your ears without the muffled sound of earplugs
I absolutely loved using the Earos One acoustic filters. The thing is, most hearing protection tends to muffle the noises around you. As a musician, the last thing I want while listening or playing at a concert is bad sound quality.
Fortunately, Earos Ones filter the noise without sacrificing quality. The Earos Ones offer attenuation up to 25 dB and have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 17 dB.
To learn more about the Earos Ones or to purchase a pair, be sure to visit the Earos website today.
Also, use the promo code TONYAC10 at checkout to receive 10% off your Earos One purchase.
Link: https://earos.co/
Don Ross: Fingerpicker Supreme
First off, I want to thank Dom and Sharron T. for suggesting I cover Don Ross on Acoustic Tuesday.
While I’ve heard of Don Ross, I totally forgot how much of a fingerpicking legend he is.
His melodies are groove-heavy, infectious, and sound seemingly simple. However, once you start watching him play, you begin to realize how complex and masterful his technique is.
When you start watching Don Ross, you begin to realize how efficient his playing is. He’s able to accomplish so much melody, counter melody, and chord melody with exception intention.
Here’s another example of how efficient Don’s fingerpicking is:
By the way he plays, by what plays, you can tell that Don Ross is an extremely technically proficient player.
For one final example of his playing, here’s “August on the Island,” from his self-titled 1990 debut album.
For more information on Don Ross, be sure to visit his website!
Link: https://donrossonline.com/
As always, let me know what you think of Don Ross or anything else I featured on this episode of Acoustic Tuesday. See you next week!
A new guitar will help you make more money as you will be more enthused to make or talk music.
Guitarists don’t get much exercise, by forgoing the plough you will get more exercise manually shoveling
Tony, a snowblower works really well and would still leave guitar money.
But wear your ear plugs while you use it!!!
I was taught to give equal consideration to the non-barre fingers when forming barre chords. Plant the non barre fingers first and then drop the barre finger down (slightly canted as you pointed out). I found that I was obsessing too much on the barre finger to the detriment of the rest of the chord.
Metronome or not.
I don’t use a metronome as is but I do use one of the rhythms on my keyboard because I find it more inspiring.
🙄
I vote for the 4-wheeler with the plow. You will get done way faster leaving more time to play your guitars. As well, you will still have enough energy left to actually pick up the guitar. Besides, 4-wheelers are fun and Whitney might take over the plowing.🙄
I have to agree. I own 16 guitars, a bass, a mandolin, and a uke (an uke?). I don’t own time. It owns me.
This was an Ah Ha moment for me. I have been using the “small” F with just the first two strings barred and never realized I could use it up the fretboard to open up many other barre cords. WOW! It is amazing to me how we don’t make the leap until someone such as yourself points it out. A real slap the forehead moment. Thank you
Tony, I have been playing for only 1.5 years. I use the shortened or “cheating” bar chord. Your tip on rolling your index finger and pressing on the guitar with right elbow is helpful. Also, I find it easier for me to use my pinkie instead of ring finger on the third fret. I don’t have to stretch my finger and I get a clearer sound.
Thanks for again featuring a product to protect our hearing! 😀 Some other situations that can cause varying degrees of hearing loss, but are seldom thought about, are sources of wind noise. It’s not just the volume, it’s the frequency of noise, that can result in damage. Driving with the window(s) down in your vehicle is one such risk, as is riding motorcycles/ATV’s etc, even with a helmet that covers the ears. The motorcycle industry started addressing that years ago, and recommended quality in-ear plugs/filters even inside a helmet. I found that to be very useful, as noise ALSO causes fatigue! After using hearing protection, I found that I was much less tired after a long ride, as well as being able to hear subtle sounds better! 😀 Riding to concerts and music festivals is a favorite activity for many motorcyclists, so that’s a major win-win! 😀
You could possibly use a contractor/snow removal service on a pay per clear basis which would save your back, save the money from the quad/plow purchase, and allow you to continue saving or purchase the new guitar!
Loved the Don Ross tunes! If you haven’t checked him out, you should give a listen to Phil Keaggy. He can rock with the best on electric, but his acoustic tunes and styles have always blown me away. The Master and the Musician , Beyond Nature, Lights of Madrid, Phantasmagorical, The Wind and the Wheat are among his many acoustic masterpieces.
So, Tony, uh, well, I think of it this way. 1. acquire a boy toy deluxe (4-wheeler with plow), at the significant suggestion of a loving wife, and far less shoveling yourself (you do live in Montana after all), or 2. acquire with the hard saved funds another guitar (and yours are mostly in the $5K and up range lately according to my calculation🤩⁉️, have a significant resistance from a loving wife who is more reserved now, and you will have 7 months a year of shoveling. You decide, but that would be a no-brainer for me. There are lots of potential guitars in my future, but only one loving wife.
Of course, you could always sell one (sacrilege, I know) and maybe afford both. #smallwin for you, for Whitlney and for whoever gets your amazing “surplus” guitar🥰😍😘
Thanks for including a segment on Don Ross in the Acoustic Tuesday show. For anyone interested in learning Travis picking, Don has an excellent beginner-level YouTube on the subject.
GET THE PLOW. HURT YOUR BACK OR ANY INJURY, MAYBE NO PLAYING GUITAR.
SAFETY FIRST. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF GUITARS NOW.
Hey Tony
Love the show.
I wanted to weigh in on the snowplow/ATV versus the guitar fund. I lived in Canada for 15 years and have plenty of experience with snow removal. My experience with the ATV is that they are poor at moving snow, and expensive to buy and outfit with the blade/chains/etc.
The best and most cost effective solution is buy a decent snowblower and keep the guitar fund healthy.
It is easy to move a good bit of snow and a good machine is under $1k. Good luck, and stay watm with the bourbon!
Jacques
Westlake Louisiana
Sure Tony, go ahead and buy the plow, save your body, score familial points and make money for the sweet geet plowing the other drives or parking lots aroond and aboot there just south of Canuck land!!
OK Tony, I’m a TAC member and listen to all your programming, but have never commented directly to you. As a service to you and your marriage, that changes today. You owe it to yourself to buy an ATV with snowplow!!! I live in Western Kentucky where we usually only have 3 or 4 snows per winter and I wouldn’t be caught dead without my utv/plow. Justify it by all the extra practice and work time you’ll free up. Besides, it’s fun. Save your back, save your heart, keep the ice out of your beard! Besides, you have one of the best plow suppliers in the country in Great Falls. I bought mine at Montana Jack’s. Any guy that lives the silo lifestyle needs a plow. BTW, I love the TAC program!
Move to Maui, forget the snow.
Tony.
I live in Canada and sow we have a lot of it. Do not purchase a plow get some contractor to do it for you it is cheaper and no maintenance on the 4 x 4. It gets very expensive to repair. Most contractor will charge you by inch of snow fall For my large and long driveway the cost per visit is under $200. it takes a lot of snow to justify not to do this money is better spent on a new guitar. The resale value if ever you need it there is no lost on a guitar. The resale value on a 4 x 4 with a plow is next to nothing after 2 years.
Thank you for letting me hear Don Ross. Just absolutely…beautiful!
Hi Tony,thanks for your show,I love it .I love the eroes ear plugs alot.yeah very important .love your artist Don Ross.love your bushwa guitar, beautiful.but my opinion,if you need a snow plow,get it.you can always get more guitars later on.i know a couple isn’t enough.you are a guitar geek.but it will help you with the stupid snow . thanks see you and hear you next week.👍😁🎸🎤🎸🥨🍺🤑🎉
Wow, Tony! Barre chords (I’ve been playing (at) the guitar for ~60 years – and using all your tricks – and barre chords are *still* a PITA), hearing loss (in the Navy I flew A7’s and worked the carrier flight deck), Don Ross, (one of my favorites for decades)… but most importantly, Marriage Economics. I want you to approach this four wheeler/guitar question from a “pay-forward” vs “pay-back” matrix analysis. Here’s how it works… when you buy something for your wife that she wants, there is no penalty. Indeed, you accumulate “pay-forward” credit that can later be applied to something you want (guitar). The “pay-forward” rate can be as high as 85%. That is, buy a $10K four wheeler for your wife and you’ve put up to $8500 in a future penalty-free guitar purchase. On the other hand, if you go for the guitar first, you’ve stepped squarely into a “pay-back” situation, and the acceptable rate is a minimum of 200%! Just do the math, and you’ll know what to do:)
Great show.
Hey Tony!
On 4X+plow vs. really nice guitar. It has to be the guitar. The 4x has so many ongoing costs (license fees, registration, tires, maintenance…) where as the guitar only stings the one time and provides endless years of enjoyment. Also hand shoveling the snow will keep you young strong and healthy. Besides, what if you move somewhere without snow? Which investment do you think will appreciate? You will always be better off with the guitar.
Keep up the great Acoustic Tuesday show, we all love it!
Tony, I think you can hire, or rent the plow. Great show as usual, Thanks.
I”m a TAC member and I have done the better barre chords lessons. This is what I found: I incorporated the first lesson into my daily warmup routine. Basically, I just put my index finger over all six strings and plucked them one at a time. I did this on each fret up and down the neck one time. It takes about two minutes. After about a month, I could play almost all of the barre chords that I tried. I still have some difficulty around the ninth fret, but I can manage it. In fact, It’s easier for me to do a full F barre chord than the short version. Thanks for the great tips on artists. I love Phoebe Bridges, Lil Smokies and Cary Morin. Good stuff. I still miss Noah.
On the F chord, for instance, the index finger its only “playing” the 1st, 2nd and 6th strings. Why not arch the index finger and not try to double fret the other 3 strings?
OK, I thought it was just me that was challenged by barre chords. My finger’s are kind of short and pudgy and that’s been . my excuse. Using the side of my finger made a major improvement on the first try. I’ve got hope again.
i,m assuming you mean a snow plough? If so then yep that would be very handy where you live, not so much for me i live in Queensland austarlia and its soooo damn hot at present, but that another story.
I know you probably dont NEED another guitar but need doesnt come into it its desire when it comes to guitars,
i reckon buy the geetar and keep shovelling its good exercise.
Great show mate i hav,nt watched for awhile but those 2 products are awesome especially those ear plugs iam amazed at how many musos i know who are going deaf and dont seem to care, i use to attend a guitar club jam with about15 guitaists mainly to play drums and i stopped because my ears were ringing now i call it the ear bleed club.
I can see myself buying those plugs for sure, and the watch metronome is interesting too, though i,m not a big watch person. … Thanks mate great as usual keep up the good work. i enjoyed your 5 day blues challenge too, i have a 3 piece acoustic bad here in Austarlia 2 guitars one bass 1 harmonica and vocals.
Dean.
If you can’t spring for the Soundbrenner Core (somewhere around $330) don’t overlook the pulse. It can be found on Ebay for around $80-90. It doesn’t have all the bellsand whistles, but is a great metronome.
Thanks for the bar chord tips. As for the snow plow issue how many guitars do you already have and how many 4×4 with a plow do you have?
Thought Crumbs
Great show as always. You bring guitar life to Tuesday. thanks.
#ASK MATT
Taylor has started using “Urban Forest” for a few of their guitars following up with their work with the West Coast Arborists to discover an untapped resource for guitars. My question for Matt is has he tried any of these guitars and what is his opinion of the tonewoods?
Sure miss the ASK MATT sessions.
Hire out the snow removal and buy the guitar.
I missed Fantastic Tuesday’s lesson on the FMajor bare chord and just finished watching it. WOW! Rolling the index finger made a huge difference and now I’m not reluctant to practice them!
Thanks Tony!
Buy ear protection. I’ve stood in front of Marshall and Fender amps for years. I started using Sonic IIs in the 80s. I haven’t tried the Earos, but the key is to have ear protection that attenuates the decibels but lets you enjoy the music. I think I spent around $40 on my last pair of Sonic IIs. Well worth the money to save your hearing. It’s a very important part of your musical life. Styrofoam ear plugs are not the solution.
Tony! Screw the plow, Remember the rule: the number of guitars one should own is n+1, n being the number of guitars you already own. Besides, shoveling is a great workout- especially for goalies.
Tony, just watched this program (#130) and it was so packed with good stuff! I don’t often get the time to see your Acoustic Tuesday episodes but every time I do I am blown away, inspired and generally feel warm and fuzzy. I will try to tune into them more often. Really. About the hearing thing–I have spent my life abusing my hearing (college I did headsets when playing records–I became a private pilot, hanging around loud airplanes—I’m a target shooter and I wear ear plugs and head set protection). So I am always interested in ways to mitigate the down side of all the things I love to do. And listening to great music and your lessons I count among those things. Thanks mucho, Tony and your ace staff for the things you do for us guitar geeks!
Mike B. Illinois
Tony…howdy from the Nevada high desert east of Reno! I hope this isn’t too late regarding a quad/plow combination. Please hear me out. I have used a quad/plow combo, a garden tractor with front loader and a REALLY good powerful walk-behind snow blower. Trust me when I say the quad/plow option is very limiting. The blades are generally weak and even at 800 lbs & 4wd you will get slip pretty easy. Even more important you have no ability to move the snow off the road unless the side of the road is near the top or side of a hill. A garden tractor with front loader moves more snow quickly, but again your reach off the driveway is limited to the length of the loader arms unless you want to make multiple trips off of the side and back. Without a doubt your best bet is a really good, electric start, self propelled, high power walk behind snow blower will yield the biggest dividends. It will throw snow up and over the driveway sides and built up snow burm and a good one will throw it 20-35 feet depending on how wet the snow is. The initial investment will around $1,000-2,000 compared to 7k-10k for the quad combo or 20k for a garden tractor and front loader. Oh yea the on-going maintenance cost is peanuts compared to the other options as well. So even if you just want a quad or tractor…good go ahead and get them and use them for what they are designed for. So think highway department (but on a small scale..).what do they use? (Ok, if you have a 1/2 mile of driveway you might think plow for the front of your pick up…you do have a pick up right?😅). Buy the snow blower and then jump on a plane to Ireland and get that Lowden!
Cheers,
Jim Renfree
ps. Call me any time
Love the tips and tricks – how true. Been following you since about #10 and enjoy what you’re doing. I began playing in ’09 and have progressed to where I play twice a week at our church. We have personal in-ear monitors but I still get outside noises from the brass and drums which are right next to me. Long story short, I often been in the middle of a song and find the volume has increased as the songs progress. Hence, I am now a victim of tinnitus. So… I’m ordered a set of the Earos; I see what they do. My wife comments all the time at how loud I practice, I guess because of my hearing loss. I find I turn up the volume to hear the song I’m playing along with. Thanks again & God Bless.
4-wheeler with plow. Buy it! When you are done clearing the driveway, it’s ALMOST as satisfying as changing the strings on your guitar. Almost.
Tony if you buy the fourwheeler with plow; you will have to shovel less hours which will enable you to spend more time on creating lessons to make more money to be able to buy more guitars!!! I know it is not want you wanted to hear but it is another slant on the problem with snow shovelling isn’t it????
Thanks for the tips on how to do bar chords. It has long been something I wanted to do but could never seem to accomplish them. With practice I now believe I will be successful. Thanks a lot
I love EAROS! Thanks for featuring that product. We all need to protect our hearing.