No-barre chord songs

[FranK_S]

It's frustrating for me to play "minor 7th" barre chords. No matter how I position my index finger on the fretboard, I always end up with a muted note.
I would think after all the years of playing, I would have nipped that in the bud, however I still have problems with it. I don't play many songs
that use those specific chords so I don't "fret" over it too much.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by FranK_S

It's frustrating for me to play "minor 7th" barre chords. No matter how I position my index finger on the fretboard, I always end up with a muted note.
I would think after all the years of playing, I would have nipped that in the bud, however I still have problems with it. I don't play many songs
that use those specific chords so I don't "fret" over it too much.

That would generally be the Am7 chord shape.

That is usually a five string barre (root note on the 5th string) which helps keep the joint crease of your finger off the third string.

You can also double finger barre, similar to photo below.

Compare difficulty of second fret barre with and without capo on first fret. If very much difference then the nut action could be lowered.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by FranK_S

It's frustrating for me to play "minor 7th" barre chords. No matter how I position my index finger on the fretboard, I always end up with a muted note.
I would think after all the years of playing, I would have nipped that in the bud, however I still have problems with it. I don't play many songs
that use those specific chords so I don't "fret" over it too much.

Try this movable shape: Gm7 = 3-X-3-3-3-3. Once one gets the A-string mute down this is a pretty easy chord shape. Index frets low-E, ring barres D through High-E with the tip of the ring muting the A-string.

I discovered this shape while working on Neil Young's Ohio.

[FranK_S]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

Try this movable shape: Gm7 = 3-X-3-3-3-3. Once one gets the A-string mute down this is a pretty easy chord shape. Index frets low-E, ring barres D through High-E with the tip of the ring muting the A-string.

I discovered this shape while working on Neil Young's Ohio.

Thanks Ed. I do actually use that shape except I use my middle finger to fret the low E and my index finger to barre the 4 other strings. My middle finger mutes the A. That fingering I use when playing Bron-y-aur because I have to slide into it.
I also play it using my thumb to fret the low E and index to play the other 4 strings. It just depends on what chord I'm transitioning from.

The problem arises when I need to play the muted note in a fingerpicking tune, but that involves the EM7 shape barred up the neck.
I have no issue with AM7 shapes barred.

[caster]

Originally Posted by Yeah

I can think of

Wish you were here (pink floyd) G C D Am and then G D C Am


everybody hurts (R. E. M.) G D and Em A

Interesting!!! Thank you!

[VJP5]

Southern Cross - CSN (Capo 2 - A, Bm (xxx321), D, G)
Take it Easy - Eagles (Am, C, D, Em, G)
Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles (A, Asus2, B7, E, Esus4, F# (x4420x))
Mrs Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel (A7, Am, C, D7, E7, Em, G, G/B)
American Pie - Don McLean (A, A7, Am, C, D, D7, Em, G)

[JonPR]

Blowing in the Wind (and many more) - Bob Dylan G-C-D (or D-G-A).
Helpless - Neil Young. D-A-G.
Heart of Gold - Neil Young. Em-C-G-D
Keep on Rocking in the Free World - Neil Young. Em-D-C-G
Heroes - David Bowie. D G C Am Em. (Not really a "guitar" song originally of course, but a nice easy strummer.)

BTW, Horse With No Name is not "Dm-Em". It's Em and a weird hybrid D69 chord:
-0-
-0-
-2-
-0-
-0-
-2-

[Jusca]

caster, I like the artists you pick are very different from the usual rock and folky stuff ike estelle and chris brown! keep it up

[Scootch]

A guitarist walked into a barre,

Ouch!

[Yeah]

Feels like I only go backwards- tame impala

Chorus: G D C C

Verse: Em Em D D Em Em A Am

You could playa "Take a walk on the wild side" lou reed

A and D

"para bailar la bamba" -

D G A

[caster]

Originally Posted by VJP5

Southern Cross - CSN (Capo 2 - A, Bm (xxx321), D, G)
Take it Easy - Eagles (Am, C, D, Em, G)
Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles (A, Asus2, B7, E, Esus4, F# (x4420x))
Mrs Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel (A7, Am, C, D7, E7, Em, G, G/B)
American Pie - Don McLean (A, A7, Am, C, D, D7, Em, G)

Hi,
I am not sure that using "easier version" of barre chords as Bm (xxx321) is a good idea.
I know people who plays guitar after 20 years and still plays F as xx3210 just because they got used to play it this way when they started learning and they carry on with it.
In my experience it is better to spend some time to learn to play barre chords in a correct shape and, meanwhile, play easy songs without barre chords so you don't stay stuck until you learn to barre.
What do you think?

[VJP5]

Originally Posted by caster

Hi,

What do you think?

I can only speak for myself, but half the fun of playing guitar is playing songs I know and enjoy. While I practiced the "real" F and Bm barre chords, I was able to enjoy playing songs I liked. Some people may never learn barre chords. And to that, I would say "who cares?". If they are having fun, then that's all that matters.

For me, there are too many songs where the 'easier' barre chord versions just don't sound right. So I practiced and practiced to learn them. But again, it truly only matters to me.

Since you asked, there's my $0.02 on the matter

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by caster

Hi,
I am not sure that using "easier version" of barre chords as Bm (xxx321) is a good idea.

especially as xxx321 is not Bm, it's Bbm...
There is an open version of Bm: x-2-0-4-3-2.

Originally Posted by caster

I know people who plays guitar after 20 years and still plays F as xx3210

which is Fmaj7, not F.
Nice-sounding chord, and might sometimes work when you see an "F" chord symbol, but sounds different, and might well sound wrong.

Originally Posted by caster

In my experience it is better to spend some time to learn to play barre chords in a correct shape and, meanwhile, play easy songs without barre chords so you don't stay stuck until you learn to barre.

I agree.

BTW, another no-barre-chord song not so far mentioned - and doesn't seem to be on the OP's site either - is Hotel California.

VERSE
Em - B7 - D(sus2) - A(9) - C - G - Am - B7
CHORUS
C - G - B7 - Em - C- G- Em - B7

Don Felder wrote it with those chords in open position, and used a capo on fret 7 to suit Don Henley's (high) voice. So you can put a capo where it suits your voice. Open position suits most normal guys' voices.

The A(9) chord, btw, is played on the intro like this x-4-2-0-0-0. Strictly speaking that's C#m7b5 (or Em/C#), but a plain A chord will do for general strumming (or A7, Asus2 or Aadd9).

[Vinceletah]

Arcade Fire- The Suburbs played a capo 2nd fret doesn't require barre chords!

[SFCRetired]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

I get that some want to play songs ... now. But the only way to learn barre chords (or more complex chords of any type) is to use them. Once you understand how they can move around the fretboard you'll open yourself to a whole new dimension of guitar playing. I didn't use barres for many years, but my playing improved exponentially when I caught on. The only legitimate reason for never using barre chords is that one's index finger is missing.

I'm in the same camp as you. I didn't use them for years because there's just so many songs that don't require them. But there are a lot of really great songs that do use them if not just on occasion.

I can make them all, I'm just a tad slow with them. But working on it.