5 Ways Bar Chords Improve Your Playing

Sometimes bar chords get a bad rap.

Amateur players diss them and say they are boring or lame.

But I completely disagree. Below I want to share with you 5 ways bar chords can improve your playing and turn you into the total package as a guitarist. Starting with…

1) Cleaner sound

When you unlock effortless bar chords on guitar, everything you play can sound way better. Even single notes and open chords improve with the proper technique.

2) Play more songs

Many songs require a good bar technique. This could be in a solo or a strumming part. If a player lacks the fundamental skills, there will be millions of songs they can never play.

3) Change keys easier

When you have a strong command of bar chords, changing keys is much easier. Imagine a singer coming into rehearsal and saying, “My voice feels a little scratchy today… can you lower the key?” If you know your bar chords, this can be a cinch. Players who don't often whine, cry and throw a fit about this.

4) Better control and precision

Playing clean bar chords demands precise finger placement and proper technique. Simply practicing this improves your overall fretboard accuracy, helping you nail both chords and solos without buzz or muted strings.

5) Fretboard freedom

Many guitarists don’t understand the theory behind bar chords. When you do, you can unlock the entire guitar neck. This is something I dive deep into in my program Essential CAGED Guitar System. But instead of being stuck with only (campfire) chords. Bar chords let you navigate the whole fretboard, and play whatever you want.

Anyhoo, those are just 5 cool ways bar chords can improve your playing.

If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you’ve haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly yet, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/7mistakes