Nothing Holding Me Back Guitar Chords? Top 50 Best Answers

How to play the B minor guitar chord for beginners

The Bm guitar chord is probably the one my students hate the most! It’s difficult to play and that’s why this is one of our most popular lessons! 🙂

In this free lesson you will learn:

How to play the Bm guitar chord correctly

The best Bm guitar chord for beginners

A super simple 2 finger version of Bm

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How to play the Bm guitar chord correctly

Why is the B minor guitar chord so hard to play? Because a barre is needed to play the chord in its standard form.

(“Using a bar” and “locking a string” simply mean depressing multiple strings with your index finger.)

A standard Bm chord looks like this:

bm

(If you don’t understand the image above, please see our How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds article. It will make everything clear!)

As you can see, it’s a difficult chord to play. You must be an intermediate guitarist to play this chord quickly and accurately.

Beginner guitarists need simpler options. Let’s take a look!

An easier way to play the Bm chord on guitar

Probably the most recommended “beginner Bm” looks like this:

Bm (without bar)

I’m not a fan of this version of Bm. Sure, it’s a B minor guitar chord and easier to play than a barred Bm, but my beginners still find this chord too difficult to play, so I always recommend an even easier version of bm

My favorite easy Bm guitar chord

This beautiful chord is called Bm7. It’s a close variant of Bm that sounds great and is a lot easier to play than a standard B minor guitar chord.

Bm7

Bm7 is still a bit fiddly because it requires 3 fingers, but it’s easier to remember and play because the notes are all on the same fret.

In my experience, most beginner guitarists can learn to play this chord accurately and consistently within a few weeks.

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The super easy 2 finger way to play Bm

There is an even simpler version of Bm you can play that looks like this:

Bm (2-finger version)

This doesn’t sound as good as Bm7 (it’s not as closely related to Bm), but it still has that important Bb root and is a much easier chord to play than a standard Bm.

.

The best easy versions of this chord

NOTE THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE…!

Regardless of which of the above versions you choose, it is very important that you do not play the 6th string. (String numbers are explained here.)

The first note we want to hear in a pure and clean Bm guitar chord is the B note on the 5th string. (The note played by the 1st finger in the chord box above.)

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I need to avoid strumming certain strings? That sounds really tough Mike!

Don’t get too discouraged about skipping the 6th string. It is definitely something you should work towards as a goal, but you will find it very difficult to achieve at first. That’s okay and normal.

Don’t fall into the trap of spending ages trying to get your pick in exactly the right place before you strum the chord. It’s much more important that you just strum the guitar.

Free Guitar Lesson: How to Skip Strings When Strumming

With repetition you will improve very quickly and be able to perfect the chord. But if you wait too long, trying to get everything perfect before playing the chord, you fall into the trap of “analysis paralysis” and learn at a snail’s pace. Don’t make this mistake! 🙂

“I’d rather learn the Bm guitar chord right from the start”

I hear that a lot from new students. I admire your determination!

But look at it this way: in the long run, we want you to be able to strum a Bm guitar chord and skip the 6th string as you go. That’s right. But it’s difficult to do and simply beyond the skill of most beginner guitarists.

Attempting to do this too soon will only slow you down and stunt your progress. Trust me, I’ve seen people try to do this both ways and there’s a clear winner between the two methods.

In the short term, it’s more important that you just dive in and play the guitar a lot. Our first goal is to make you feel comfortable when holding and playing the guitar. As you progress you will find that refining a Bm guitar chord (and other similar ones) becomes exponentially easier.

Are there other types of Bm guitar chords?

Yes, there are many of them, but we won’t go through them here. They’re all too difficult for beginner guitarists to play, so let’s master the easiest one first! 🙂

If you’re still having trouble, just play the super easy Bm chord shape and keep practicing. You’ll crack it after a few hours. Who knows, maybe one day your guitar will be worth $657,000!

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Learn to play this bright, happy-sounding seventh chord.

By Dillon Wallace

Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbuuh6QGeyk

The G7 chord is similar to the G major chord in sound and formation, but the addition of the seventh interval gives it a more open feel. While the G chord sounds like a definitive statement, the G7 tilts up with the addition of the seventh note.

It’s a chord that exudes warmth and resonance, bringing a hearty full sound when added to songs. Unlike its minor-key counterpart Gm7, the G7 is a calm and soothing chord.

Let’s take a look at a few different ways to play the G7 chord, as well as some songs that include the chord in their composition.

What notes make up the G7 chord?

The G7 chord is made up of the same three chords that make up the G major chord (G, B and D), plus the addition of a seventh interval – the F note.

When striking a G7, look for these four notes mixed together to form the full chord:

G, B, D and F

Playing the G7 chord

There are a variety of ways to play the G7 chord, but for today’s lesson we’ll only focus on two of the most popular versions: the open position and fourth position. Both versions of the G7 chord are relatively easy to play and you don’t have to worry about rubbing your finger across any strings.

To play an open position version of the G7, start by placing your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string. Next, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. Leaving strings 4, 3, and 2 open, complete the chord by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the high E string. Strum all six strings down from the low E string.

Visualize it here:

– Index finger: 1st fret of the E (1st) string

– Middle finger: 2nd fret of the A(5th) string

– Ring finger: 3rd fret of the low E (6th) string

From the low E string, strum down six strings

To play the G7 in 4th position, omit playing the low E and A strings. Start by sliding your middle finger to the 5th fret of the D string. Next, place your index finger on the 4th fret of the G string and add your pinky finger on the 6th fret of the B string. Leaving the high E string open, strum three strings down from the D string.

– Index finger: 4th fret of the G (3rd) string

– Middle finger: 5th fret of the D(4th) string

– Pinky: 6th fret of the B (2nd) string

Strum three strings down from the D string

Songs using the G7 chord

The warm tone of the G7 chord can be found in every genre from folk to funk. Listen to it in some of these songs and start playing it yourself.

folk songs

Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” uses the G7 chord in its homage to the Big Easy to create an upbeat vibe. With a steady country bass line and gentle piano accompaniment, “City of New Orleans” chugs along delicately, like the train it references in the same track.

Fast-forward to more modern folk and Kaleo’s “All the Pretty Girls” uses the G7 to slow down their trademark rock vibe with a hearty, stripped-back sound.

pop songs

Diana Ross and the Supremes know a thing or two about catchy melodies and perfect harmonies. The G7 is one of many chords used to drive “Baby Love,” making it a shining example of Motown melody and three-part harmony.

While the Supremes may not have much in common with Coldplay on the surface, they do share the use of a G7 chord and rising vocals. Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’, like many of their hits, delivers a beautiful and soothing piano progression – in this case led by G7 – to grab the listener’s ears right from the start and hit you straight.

rock songs

While the G7 chord has a comfortable, almost happy tone, it nevertheless comes prepared to add an unexpected element to rock songs. Case in point: “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. The G7 adds a shimmering effect to this ethereal song, infamously spoofed by Will Ferrell in an SNL sketch. Come for the unforgettable guitar riff and stay for the calm vocals and cowbell.

The genre-bending power of the G7 chord works beautifully on Sublime’s summertime staple “What I Got.” Part rock, part reggae, note the G7 chord in the surprisingly addictive chorus.

Country Songs

A classic country throwback, Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin'”. Written in 1951, that gentle guitar slide and steady acoustic rhythm is as fresh today as it was then. Notice the G7 chord (alongside a pair of D7 and C7 chords).

funk songs

They don’t call him the godfather of the soul for nothing! With his hit “I Got You (I Feel Good)” James Brown delivers an upbeat, energetic dance classic that is untouchable. A bright, lively G7 chord works its way into the groove, creating an unforgettable sound that’s truly timeless.

Building on the funky (brick) house James Brown helped build, Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star” brings the funk and doesn’t hold back. Those horns beating right on time and that constant guitar riff layering the verses make “Shining Star” a funk classic for the history books. The G7 is just one building block in a series of unusual chords that help create the full funk of this track.

blues songs

As one of the blues greats of all time, B.B. King weighs every bluesy and jazz-inspired guitar note in his hit “Lucille”. Named after his beloved guitar, this G7 chord claims some of the honors as part of this unmistakable B.B. King.

If you want to learn how to play even more chords, check out Fender Play’s chord library. And if you’re not already a member, sign up for a free trial of Fender Play.

Beginner Guitar: F has a reputation for being a tricky guitar chord, and that’s because there’s no way to play it as an “open” chord. An open chord is a chord that contains at least one open string and is usually fretted on the first four frets of the guitar.

Unfortunately, there is no F string on the guitar in standard tuning, so learning the F chord becomes a bit more complicated. But don’t worry, we’ve got some easy solutions if you’re just starting out, as well as some full barre chords if you’re up for a challenge.

First, let’s start with some easy ways to play the F chord on guitar.

How to Play the F Chord on Guitar: Easy F Chords

F major D form

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Here’s the easiest way we can think of to play the F chord on guitar: Play an open D major chord, then shift it up three frets. Now you should have your first finger on fret 5 of the G string, second finger on fret 5 of the high E string, and third finger on fret 6 of the high E string.

The bad news is that you can only strum those three strings. If you pluck the open D string, the harmony will sound like D minor 7 instead. This can sound nice, but not if you’re aiming for F major.

F major easy

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Try this other simple F: Play your third finger on the D string, fret 3. The second finger goes on the G string, fret 2, and your third finger goes on the B string, fret 1. The was it. Again, however, you can just strum those three strings (although you might get away with the open A string, which produces an F/A or first inversion chord).

However, you’ll probably find that the bottom of your index finger naturally smothers the high E string, so it doesn’t matter if you catch it strumming.

How to Play the F Chord on Guitar: Intermediate F Chords

F major four-string partial barre

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The next step from our previous plain F is to turn it into a partial barre chord. To do this, press the palm of your index finger across the B and E strings on the first fret so that you’re playing both notes with one finger. If you’ve never done this before, try doing the bar on your own with no other fingers.

When that’s comfortable, add your second finger (G string, second fret) and third finger (D string, third fret) back in. The challenge is holding the bar in place with those other fingers. Getting your thumb in the right spot makes a big difference in how hard it is. Try keeping your thumb vertically at the center of your neck, or alternatively resting near the top of your back and pointing at the guitar’s nut. Experiment until you find what’s easiest for you.

Divisible bar with five strings in F major

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You can take this four-string partial barre and turn it into a five-string version. Move your ring finger from the D string to the A string, third fret. Then place your fourth finger on the D string, third fret. You’re now five-sixths of the way to a full-fat F major chord!

How to Play the F Chord on Guitar: F Major Barre Chords

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The full F major barre chord in E form is played on the first fret. If you’ve never played a full barre chord, we recommend starting by trying the same form higher up the neck. The closer you are to the saddle, the more pressure you’ll need to fret the notes, so try F once you’re more comfortable with basic technique.

It’s called an E form barre chord because you’re using the form you would use to play an open E major chord. You’ll need your first finger for the barre, though, so fret the chord shape with your second, third, and fourth fingers.

To play F major, sweep your index finger across all six strings at the first fret. Then add your second finger to the G string, second fret. The third finger goes on the A string, third fret, and the fourth finger goes on the D string, third fret.

If you’re struggling with the full bar, then don’t worry: almost everyone finds it difficult at first. Try angling your locking finger slightly so that you are using the bony side of your finger and not the softer underside of the finger.

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The F major barre chord in A form is played on the 8th fret. Bar the 8th fret with your first finger, then fret the 10th fret on the D, G, and B strings. You can use a separate finger for each string, or bar again with your third finger (see our fret boxes and photos).

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How to play the F chord on guitar: F major 7th

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If you don’t like playing barre chords, F major 7 might be for you! It’s the same as the second of our simple F shapes above, but you leave the high E string open. So you play the D string on the third fret with your ring finger; G string, second fret with index finger and B string, first fret with index finger.

Be careful not to accidentally touch the open E string, and strum down from the D string. You may find this easier than any standard F major chord and sometimes works as a substitute.

F major 7 barre chords

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You can also play an F major 7 with the A-shape barre. As before, lock the eighth fret with your index finger. Place your third finger on the D string, fret 10, your second finger on the G string, fret 9, and your fourth finger on the B string, fret 10.

How to play the F chord on guitar: F7

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To turn the full F major barre in E form into F7, take your fourth finger off the D string. Optionally, you can add your fourth finger on the B string at the fourth fret instead. That’s a big track, but it sounds cool.

You should now lock the first fret with your first finger. The second finger is on fret 2 of the G string, the third finger is on fret 3 of the A string, and the fourth finger is on fret 4 of the B string. Like all full wands, this one is movable. For example, move it up two frets for G7 or up four frets for A7.

Gear up with our guitar guides for beginners

The Bm chord is difficult, especially for beginners. It’s one of the most difficult guitar chords to play for beginners, so I’ll break it down for you.

Now there are no shortcuts, patent solutions or tricks to getting your hands on this chord. However, I will show you how I learned the Bm chord.

This lesson includes…

How to Play the Bm Chord Efficiently.

The easiest Bm chord you can get your hands on.

A simple exercise to help you remember the Bm chord.

If you’re stuck in a practice rut, struggling to get better, or just need more direction for your guitar practice, I’ve got something for you.

It’s my guitar reboot workshop. This 90-minute free workshop is designed to give you the framework you need to have fun practicing acoustic guitar.

So if you’re tired of making slow, unsteady progress on the guitar, I’d love to see you at my workshop. Otherwise, keep scrolling to learn how to play the Bm chord!

How to play the Bm chord

The Bm chord, also written as B minor, baffles many of my students. The hardest part of the Bm chord is getting the “barre” across the fretboard.

“But Tony, what the hell is a pole?”

With a rod, you grab several strings on the guitar with your index finger. Think of your first finger like a capo: crossing all the strings while you use other fingers to form the rest of the chord.

(If the image above confuses you, check out my lesson on reading chord charts here. I promise it makes chord charts more meaningful!)

So if we look at the Bm chord, you’ll see that all of your fret fingers are needed.

Start by running your index finger across the A, D, G, B, and E strings. Don’t worry about the low E string – you mute it for the Bm chord. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Then place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the D string. Finally, use your pinky to fret the 4th fret of the G string.

Once your fingers are in the correct position, play the Bm chord. If it sounds muddy, notice some muted notes, make sure your fingers have a nice arc in it.

If you have a bow in your fingers (that is, making sure the joints of your fingers are bent), you can play on your fingertips. When you play with your fingertips, you’re less likely to accidentally mute another string.

Also, make sure your fingers fret just behind the fret – not at the top and not in the middle of two frets.

It takes a lot of finger strength to play this chord. As you learn this chord, you can take breaks as needed.

Remember, learning to play guitar is a journey, not a race. Take your time getting used to locking the strings and don’t hurt yourself trying to learn the chord in a day!

Many beginning guitarists forget to control their tension while playing. Try to relax as much as possible, and if you need more guidance, check out my Tension Management Lesson here.

Bm Chord Exercise [Memorize It!]

Before I show you alternative fingerings for the Bm chord, I want you to try this super simple exercise called the Quick Draw exercise.

B minor is a hard chord to get your hands on, and even harder to remember. That’s why the quick draw exercise is super helpful.

To get started with the quick draw exercise, you’ll need your guitar and ideally a stopwatch or watch (I always use the one from my phone).

Start with your gripping hand on your thigh. Make sure you can see the watch’s second hand or that a stopwatch is running. Within five seconds you form the Bm chord with your gripping hand. Make sure to play the chord once your five seconds are up!

You don’t have to do the quick draw exercise every five seconds. Instead, pause and allow a few seconds to pass before attempting the express move again.

This exercise is great for developing the muscle memory and recall skills needed to play a chord.

How to play the Bm chord without bars

Okay, I know I said there are no tricks to playing the Bm chord, but this one might be!

If you’re struggling with the barring aspect of the Bm chord, you can play the chord without having to strum the strings.

As you can see in the chord diagram, this version of the Bm chord already seems easier – because you don’t have to run your index finger across five strings!

Begin by placing your index finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Your ring finger grabs the 4th fret of the D string. Finally, use your pinky to fret the 4th fret of the G string.

This Bm chord is perfect when you’re having trouble bowing over the 2nd fret.

Although this version isn’t a true Bm chord (it includes the second scale degree), it works if you’re unable to fret fingering.

Many students still find this version of the Bm chord too difficult. Luckily there is another way to play it.

Simplest Bm chord [Bm7]

I’m cheating on this one a bit because technically it’s not a true Bm chord. Rather, the simplest Bm chord is a variation of Bm: Bm7.

I won’t go into the details of this chord, but you’ll find that it has a different tonal quality than the first Bm chord I showed you. This is because in this chord you will be adding the 7th scale degree.

To play this variation of the Bm chord you only need to use three fingers.

Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. Leave the D string open. Eat the second fret of the G string with your middle finger. Leave the B string open. Finally, place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string.

When you strum this version of the Bm chord, make sure you…

Hold the bow in your fingers.

Play with your fingertips.

This Bm7 will sound different than the other chords I’ve shown you precisely because it has the minor 7th scale degree in the chord.

You can replace this chord with a regular Bm chord, but be aware that this could change the tonal quality of the song you are trying to play.

Which version should YOU learn?

I’ll be frank and honest with you: you should learn the Bm chord with the bar above the second fret.

I know it’s a challenging chord, but I believe in you. I’m not going to tell you that the Bm chord is “simply beyond the ability of most beginner guitarists”.

Practice the Bm chord in small pieces

The reality is that playing the Bm chord takes practice. Playing the guitar generally takes practice. They may not come in a day or a week or a couple of weeks – and that’s totally fine. I’d rather see you work on the Bm chord for 10 minutes each day than strain your hand trying to perfect it in an hour.

I’m serious about this 10 minute a day business (if you want to learn why 10 minutes a day is so important, read this article here).

Even if you only want to practice the Bm chord for three minutes (which can feel like a long time, trust me), use that other seven minutes to play some easier chords or a simple song!

I don’t want you to feel down because you can’t play the Bm chord right away. Instead, make sure you practice it consistently and use the quick pull exercise to remind yourself.

Who knows, maybe after a few weeks of daily practice, you’ll be playing the Bm chord in small chunks like it’s nobody’s business!

Learn how to play the guitar properly

Earlier I shared with you my ultimate guide to learning guitar. This is a completely free course filled with tons of video lessons to teach you the basics of playing guitar.

Although I don’t cover the Bm chord in the Ultimate Guide, I do cover how to play chords correctly, how to play your first solo, and more. You can download the course guide and tabs by clicking here.

If you would like even more guidance and support in your guitar journey, I would like to share my comprehensive teaching platform called Tony’s Acoustic Challenge.

Filled with daily practices, lessons on a variety of topics (including those minor 7th chords), and a robust community of thousands of guitarists, Tony’s Acoustic Challenge is just the first step to becoming better at acoustic guitar.

When you’re ready to request an invite, click here to sign up and learn how Tony’s Acoustic Challenge has helped thousands of guitarists on their musical journey.

BY KATE KING

This article is free to read, but not free to produce! Make a pledge to support the site (and receive special perks in return). LEARN MORE…

Welcome to the latest installment of Chord by Chord, a series designed to expand your understanding of harmony and the fretboard. In the last lesson I taught you the C#m chord, and this time I’ll show you another new minor type, Bm.

The work

As I explained in previous lessons, a minor triad has three notes—the root, the minor third, and the fifth. The notes in a B minor chord are B, D, and F# as shown in Example 1. Like C#m and F#m, Bm is typically played as a barre chord. Example 2a shows the lowest on the fretboard in second position, and Example 2b is a three-part intonation derived from it. These chords are moveable — for example, shift each of them up two frets to get a C#m chord.

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Example 3a shows a B minor barre chord in seventh position. Keep in mind that if you wish, you can play this voicing with just the top or bottom four strings. As shown in Example 3b, you can also use a different fingering where your thumb grabs the lowest note and eliminates the 5th string. Example 4 shows voicing four notes up the stem, with the minor third (D) as the lowest note. Since it is impractical on most acoustic guitars to play barre chords around the 14th fret, Example 5 shows three-note intonation in this position.

The result

Now you should know different ways to play Bm on the fretboard. A song that uses this chord is “Collapse the Light Into Earth” by Porcupine Tree. Practice this and the previous few minor chords until the next lesson, when the focus returns to the chord progressions.

If you’re having trouble getting your barre chords to sound right, 9 out of 10 times harder pressing and pushing isn’t the solution. It’s usually a matter of adjusting your technique to get your chord sounding right. So here are eight tech tips that might solve your problem.

Barre chords are one of those subjects that’s a little different for everyone. Everyone has different fingers, hands, and arms, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution for playing barre chords. So this section is all about giving you things to experiment with and helping you find the approach that works for you.

1. Lower your thumb and place it about halfway up the neck

Some of these tips fall under the “See if this solves your problem” column, but thumb placement isn’t one of them. Be sure to put your thumb on the nape of the neck, about halfway up, maybe even lower. If your thumb is too high or if you have it wrapped around your neck, it will be impossible to play a barre chord. You either want to line up your thumb with your index finger, or between your index and ring fingers (i.e. first and second fingers).

Lowering your thumb will automatically bring your wrist closer to the ground, which is what we want. (More on wrist position in technique tip 5 below).

2. Use the edge of your index finger

Using the flat side of your index finger can mess up your barre chord for two reasons:

The flat face is quite soft and meaty, making it harder to apply pressure and get a clean sounding chord. Strings can catch in the grooved areas of the finger joints. This makes it difficult to depress them properly, which mutes the strings.

The edge of your index finger is bonier and harder, meaning you don’t have to apply as much pressure. To take advantage of the edge, place your barre on the fretboard, but instead of pushing it down, try pushing it away, towards the headstock of your guitar. As you do this, you may notice that your elbow position changes as well, which brings us to tip #3:

3. Keep your elbow tucked in

In order to roll your index finger to the side and push “away” toward the headstock, you need to keep your elbow close to your body. Pushing away is next to impossible when your elbow is hovering in the air, away from your body like a chicken wing. Simply hanging your arm alongside your body will make this easier and should also feel more comfortable.

4. Place your index finger close to the fret

At the point closest to the fret, you need to apply the least amount of pressure to get a clean sound. Combining this with tip #3, you can place your finger on the flat-side fret and then roll it onto its edge.

This should put the edge of your index finger in just the right position. Not on the waistband, but very close. Part of your index finger might cover the fret, but don’t put any pressure on it.

Also, make sure your index finger is placed parallel to the fret and not diagonally, where it’s farther from the fret on the high strings than it is on the low E string.

5. Keep your index finger straight

Sometimes you will hear some of the locked strings, but some will be muted as well. If you can’t hear the G or D string, your index finger is probably not quite straight, but slightly cupped. This puts pressure on the outer strings (high E string, B string, and low E string) but not the middle strings. Try to keep your finger completely flat and straight to avoid this.

If you can’t hear the B string or the high E string, the problem is a little different. You may keep your two smallest phalanges straight (the parts of your finger farthest from your palm), but slightly bend the joint between your largest and second largest phalanges. Lowering the back joint of your index finger and keeping your entire finger straight will likely solve the problem. This video provides a great demonstration:

It generally helps to think that the center is where you press hardest (thanks to Justin Sandercoe for that tip!). This might seem a bit odd because you want to push all the strings down. But I think this works because it’s impossible to press with the middle of the finger without holding it straight.

6. Move your index finger up or down

Sometimes a string can be precisely aligned and muted with a crease in your finger. Move your index finger up or down a little to fix this. If you can’t hear a top string, experiment with how far your index finger sticks off the fretboard. Sometimes a string can be precisely aligned and muted with a crease in your finger. Move your index finger up or down a little to fix this. If you can’t hear a top string, experiment with how far your index finger sticks off the fretboard.

Sometimes a string can be precisely aligned and muted with a crease in your finger. Move your index finger up or down a little to fix this. If you can’t hear a top string, experiment with how far your index finger sticks off the fretboard. Sometimes a string can be precisely aligned and muted with a crease in your finger. Move your index finger up or down a little to fix this. If you can’t hear a top string, experiment with how far your index finger sticks off the fretboard.

7. Keep your wrist low and bend as little as possible

Pressing your palm against the neck makes it impossible to play a barre chord. Instead, your thumb should be in the middle or on the lower half of the bridge of the neck (see technique tip 1 above) and keep your palm directly under the guitar neck. There should be some space between your palm and the guitar neck:

As you can see you need to hold the guitar neck like a hamburger. Or rather: like half a hamburger, because there is space between the palm of the hand and the neck.

You may also have noticed that your wrist is also lower than the guitar neck. In the image above, the player’s arm goes up to the neck. How Classical Guitarists Play: They have the guitar on their lap between their legs (instead of on their right leg) and the neck is pointing upwards. One of the advantages of playing this way is that you don’t have to bend your wrist as much to play barre chords and even more challenging fingerings.

Most non-classical guitar players (myself included) prefer to play with the guitar body resting on their leg. This makes barre chords a bit more challenging, mainly because of your wrist. You need to bend it to play barre chords, but you don’t want to bend it too much for two reasons:

If you bend your wrist too much, it can hurt after a while because you’re putting a lot of pressure on what’s called the “carpal tunnel”: the connection between your fingers and the muscles in your forearm that control your fingers. As you put pressure on the carpal tunnel, it becomes more difficult to use the muscles in your hand. Try this by keeping your wrist straight and making a fist, and then bending your wrist and making a fist. Feels uncomfortable doesn’t it?

In order not to overload your wrist, you should therefore pay attention to a few things:

Keep your shoulders down and your elbows low. This allows your arm to point slightly up (green example) instead of being completely horizontal (red example) or even having to reach down towards the guitar neck.

Don’t move your wrist too far forward. If your wrist is directly under the guitar neck (as in the red example), you have stretched it too far forward.

Make sure not only to bend your wrist, but also to bend your hand.

This all becomes a little easier if you tilt your guitar up a bit so that the angle you have to make is less sharp. (This is also why classical guitarists point their necks up.)

When you’re standing and your guitar hangs fairly low, it becomes more difficult to play barre chords without bending your wrist too much. Because of this, many guitarists sometimes prefer to play many of these chords the way Jimi Hendrix used to do. Click here to scroll down and read more about Hendrix-style thumb-over chords!

8. Use some arm strength

If you find your left hand (and thumb) tiring easily, you might want to make it work a little less hard by applying some arm strength.

As you hold your barre chord, pull back with your left arm while “hugging” the body of your guitar between your right arm and chest. You should be able to apply enough pressure to the strings with this technique alone. So, as a test, try if you can get a clear sounding barre without a thumb. Here’s an example of a classical guitarist (Douglas Niedt) doing just that:

(If you want to see Douglas’ excellent explanation of arm strength, skip to 1:00!)