WEBVTT 00:00:11.195 --> 00:00:12.577 Hello my friends. 00:00:12.577 --> 00:00:14.966 Hope this finds you well and happy. 00:00:14.966 --> 00:00:19.461 Welcome to Master Your Barre Chords Part 3, 00:00:19.461 --> 00:00:22.140 where we're going to be talking about A shaped barre chords. 00:00:22.908 --> 00:00:25.780 I'm a little gutted because I just filmed four lessons 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:29.418 with my new little lapel microphone to increase the sound quality, 00:00:29.418 --> 00:00:33.058 and I forgot to turn it on, so now I have to do them all again, don't you just love that? 00:00:33.058 --> 00:00:37.378 Anyway, so, before we get into doing these A shaped barre chords, 00:00:38.284 --> 00:00:42.548 it's really important that you mastered properly your E shaped barre chords. 00:00:42.548 --> 00:00:46.195 The most important reason is the fact that this muscle here, 00:00:46.195 --> 00:00:49.846 in between your first finger and your thumb, needs to get nice and strong. 00:00:49.846 --> 00:00:51.866 So, make sure you do a little bit of work 00:00:51.866 --> 00:00:55.752 with some songs using those E shaped and A shaped barre chords. 00:00:55.752 --> 00:01:01.615 The other songs that I will have to do again now, are Times Like These by Jack Johnson, 00:01:01.615 --> 00:01:05.076 which uses E shape barre chords, 00:01:05.076 --> 00:01:08.741 as well as a really funky rhythm guitar pattern with this click thing. 00:01:08.741 --> 00:01:10.873 And also Day Tripper by The Beatles. 00:01:10.873 --> 00:01:13.892 I'll redo those lessons as soon as I can, but I'm not sure if I'll have time 00:01:13.892 --> 00:01:15.467 to do them in this session now. 00:01:16.236 --> 00:01:19.623 So, but I figured the A-shaped barre chord is kind of more important. 00:01:19.623 --> 00:01:25.406 So, let's get straight into checking out our A shaped barre chords. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:29.299 But you've either learnt to play your A chord like this, 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:31.372 with all three fingers in a line like that, 00:01:31.372 --> 00:01:34.023 or the other method that I talk about on my website, 00:01:34.023 --> 00:01:38.632 where you'd swap 1st and 2nd finger over, and get this little grouping here. 00:01:38.632 --> 00:01:40.947 Either one of those is fine for playing the A chord. 00:01:40.947 --> 00:01:43.710 But neither of them work for a barre chord. 00:01:43.710 --> 00:01:47.348 Now in order to show you this, I'm going to make sure that, 00:01:47.348 --> 00:01:50.862 I'm going to use first this three in a line shape here. 00:01:50.862 --> 00:01:55.383 Now if we were to play a barre chord, of course we can't use our first finger, 00:01:55.383 --> 00:01:56.791 so we take first finger off. 00:01:56.791 --> 00:01:59.833 Second finger moves to where first finger was before, 00:01:59.833 --> 00:02:01.795 third finger moves over again, 00:02:01.795 --> 00:02:04.194 Little finger comes in to where the 3rd finger used to be. 00:02:04.194 --> 00:02:07.591 And there you can see, you have them in a line. 00:02:07.591 --> 00:02:10.309 This is quite a common way for me to play A chord anyway, 00:02:10.309 --> 00:02:14.211 because my fingers are a little bit too fat to fit in the frets there properly. 00:02:14.211 --> 00:02:16.202 So you might want to check this out as another 00:02:16.202 --> 00:02:19.249 alternative way of playing your regular A chord as well. 00:02:19.249 --> 00:02:21.136 Now when we go for a barre chord for that, 00:02:21.136 --> 00:02:25.973 of course the chord shape would then move up, I'll just move it up one fret. 00:02:25.973 --> 00:02:28.437 And then the 1st finger would go down in a barre, 00:02:28.437 --> 00:02:32.452 remembering that it's kind of slightly on the side, which is ok. 00:02:32.452 --> 00:02:33.693 . . . 00:02:33.693 --> 00:02:34.875 In fact it's good. 00:02:34.875 --> 00:02:37.310 Now the most important thing that you can learn just from this so far, 00:02:37.310 --> 00:02:39.508 now this isn't the way that we're going to finish playing the barre chord, 00:02:39.508 --> 00:02:41.687 so don't rush to learn this way just yet. 00:02:41.687 --> 00:02:43.827 But make sure that the tip of your 1st finger here, 00:02:43.827 --> 00:02:45.855 is muting that 6th string. 00:02:47.131 --> 00:02:50.834 It's really like, it's literally the strings sitting on the tip of the finger. 00:02:50.834 --> 00:02:53.477 So this finger's not pressing down on the string, 00:02:53.477 --> 00:02:56.726 it's just touching, it's almost like pushing the string up just a little bit. 00:02:56.726 --> 00:02:59.373 Just enough to make sure it's muted. It's really important, 00:02:59.373 --> 00:03:02.531 because the Root note is the note here on the 5th string. 00:03:02.531 --> 00:03:05.061 So it's really important that we can hear this note, 00:03:05.061 --> 00:03:07.333 that note has got to be one of the clearest in the chord, 00:03:07.333 --> 00:03:12.488 and also remember that wherever we put that note will become the name of our chord. 00:03:13.488 --> 00:03:18.954 So, now, to get this chord shape down properly, 00:03:18.954 --> 00:03:23.393 with these three fingers in a line like that and have the barre going, is quite difficult. 00:03:23.393 --> 00:03:25.003 Also, the barre has to remember, 00:03:25.003 --> 00:03:28.363 would have to touch, would play that note there on the thinnest string as well. 00:03:28.363 --> 00:03:35.005 So little finger would have to be nice and round to keep the thinnest string clear. 00:03:35.575 --> 00:03:39.435 Now, what's actually a lot more common when we play this barre chord shape, 00:03:39.435 --> 00:03:40.972 is to play it like this. 00:03:41.834 --> 00:03:44.961 This 2nd finger here, I'm going to tuck it under there, 00:03:44.961 --> 00:03:46.898 just to make it nice and clear for you to see what I'm doing. 00:03:46.898 --> 00:03:49.421 But of course normally when you're playing it you would leave it out. 00:03:49.421 --> 00:03:51.306 You wouldn't tuck it behind like this. 00:03:51.783 --> 00:03:54.953 So, the 1st finger is not going to change from that other variation that we had, 00:03:54.953 --> 00:03:58.637 which was, it's muting the 6th string, it's playing firmly this note. 00:03:58.637 --> 00:04:01.637 But what's different is now we're using a 3rd finger barre, 00:04:01.637 --> 00:04:04.384 and 1st finger doesn't even actually have to barre. 00:04:04.384 --> 00:04:08.117 Because with our 3rd finger we're playing the note on the 4th string, 00:04:08.117 --> 00:04:11.223 the note on the 3rd string, the note on the 2nd string, 00:04:11.223 --> 00:04:14.369 and then we're kind of lifting our finger away from the fingerboard, 00:04:14.369 --> 00:04:16.902 so that this top string, the thinnest E string, 00:04:16.902 --> 00:04:21.075 is actually muted again, so that both the outside E strings are muted 00:04:21.075 --> 00:04:23.743 for this type of barre chord shape. 00:04:23.743 --> 00:04:25.594 Very, very important. 00:04:25.594 --> 00:04:31.126 So, what's important, what's important? There's lots of things that are important. 00:04:31.126 --> 00:04:33.916 The way that you perform this barre, is making sure that the, 00:04:33.916 --> 00:04:38.275 first of all that the tip of the 3rd finger is not touching the 5th string. 00:04:38.275 --> 00:04:41.427 So it's, if the 3rd finger is even just slightly too high like that, 00:04:41.427 --> 00:04:43.614 it'll end up muting the 5th string. 00:04:43.614 --> 00:04:46.981 And you want that note, that's the most important one. 00:04:46.981 --> 00:04:49.474 That's the Root note, so make sure that the tip of that finger 00:04:49.474 --> 00:04:51.309 is not touching the 5th string. 00:04:51.309 --> 00:04:53.561 Now, try and, when you're pressing the barre, 00:04:53.561 --> 00:04:55.758 just as I mentioned for the first finger before, 00:04:55.758 --> 00:04:57.702 try and imagine that your energy is pushing, 00:04:57.702 --> 00:05:01.487 energy, I'm sounding like a hippy again, but watch how, the middle of, 00:05:01.487 --> 00:05:03.704 the energy that you're using to press this finger down, 00:05:03.704 --> 00:05:08.355 is the centre of your finger, don't let it be just the tip or the underneath. 00:05:08.355 --> 00:05:10.798 But try and kind of press it down from the middle, 00:05:10.798 --> 00:05:12.748 almost like you're trying to press the G string, 00:05:12.748 --> 00:05:14.710 or the 3rd string down harder than the others, 00:05:14.710 --> 00:05:16.675 it's a really good way to think of getting your, 00:05:16.675 --> 00:05:19.090 that barre chord shape really solid. 00:05:19.090 --> 00:05:25.038 Now the other important part I need to show you is the position of the 3rd finger. 00:05:25.038 --> 00:05:29.632 OK here we are for our new angle for the 3rd finger. 00:05:29.632 --> 00:05:32.144 Now what I want you to make sure that you're aware of, 00:05:32.144 --> 00:05:35.155 is that, oh, if I can do this, it is kind of weird. 00:05:35.155 --> 00:05:41.090 This knuckle here, is further forward, than this part of my finger. 00:05:41.090 --> 00:05:43.691 So, it's kind of, it's moving away, like that, 00:05:43.691 --> 00:05:47.826 so when I'm pressing down, I'm able to press from here, 00:05:47.826 --> 00:05:50.682 down with that whole section of my finger there. 00:05:50.682 --> 00:05:53.952 If it's too flat, like this, like a lot of people try and do it like this, 00:05:53.952 --> 00:05:56.332 with their, you know I talked about how bad it is before, 00:05:56.332 --> 00:05:58.499 to have your wrist like this, but if you try and play it like this, 00:05:58.499 --> 00:06:01.284 with the 3rd finger here straight, 00:06:01.284 --> 00:06:03.778 you can't really press down properly in the middle. 00:06:03.778 --> 00:06:07.557 You'll end up either pressing all of them, and getting a 6th chord, 00:06:07.557 --> 00:06:10.206 which isn't what you want really. 00:06:10.206 --> 00:06:12.503 And, or, you'll just really damage your wrist, 00:06:12.503 --> 00:06:14.803 if I just, I might even be able to pan out here. 00:06:14.803 --> 00:06:17.613 If I, yay, look at this, don't you love remote controls? 00:06:17.613 --> 00:06:21.127 See, you can see how badly positioned my wrist is there, 00:06:21.127 --> 00:06:25.159 to have this huge big bend there, is really gonna be uncomfortable, 00:06:25.159 --> 00:06:27.454 and that's caused by having my third finger straight, 00:06:27.454 --> 00:06:31.340 whereas if I'd, if I do that, I'll do that as a close-up if I can. 00:06:31.340 --> 00:06:34.335 Yes, sneaking in, look at this, I love technology. 00:06:34.335 --> 00:06:40.140 If I bend my 3rd finger in like this, now you can see that's correct, 00:06:40.140 --> 00:06:42.760 and the angle, well it's still got an angle, 00:06:42.760 --> 00:06:45.271 but it's nowhere near as bad as when it was like that. 00:06:45.271 --> 00:06:48.692 So there is still a bit of an angle there, but it's not terrible. 00:06:48.692 --> 00:06:51.836 OK, so, oh, a little bit too close there. 00:06:51.836 --> 00:06:55.155 So, just really make sure then that this part of it, 00:06:55.155 --> 00:06:58.209 this knuckle is further forward than that part of your hand. 00:06:58.209 --> 00:07:00.910 So, and your pressing down that, and also it's laying down, 00:07:00.910 --> 00:07:04.780 and it's lifting up, so I'm actually able to get this note here, 00:07:04.780 --> 00:07:06.644 the 2nd string and mute the 1st string. 00:07:06.644 --> 00:07:11.010 So this note here is ringing, and the thinnest string is not ringing. 00:07:11.010 --> 00:07:12.390 It's really important. 00:07:12.390 --> 00:07:17.450 Make sure again you do your strum, pick-out, and strum again. 00:07:17.450 --> 00:07:18.569 Make sure that you got all those notes. 00:07:18.569 --> 00:07:22.144 And also check that the two outside strings are muted as well. 00:07:22.144 --> 00:07:24.843 To the Master Your Barre Chords Part 4, 00:07:24.843 --> 00:07:27.594 where we're going to look at the variations of that barre chord shape. 00:07:27.594 --> 00:07:30.257 Make sure you spend a little bit of time with it again. 00:07:30.257 --> 00:07:32.555 Try and get one chord shape down at a time, 00:07:32.555 --> 00:07:34.460 and be really happy with the way you play it. 00:07:34.460 --> 00:07:36.386 There's no point in knowing lots and lots of chords 00:07:36.386 --> 00:07:38.066 that you can't play and that you can't remember. 00:07:38.066 --> 00:07:41.630 So, it's definitely, definitely worth writing these things down, 00:07:41.630 --> 00:07:43.759 you know, print off some chord paper from my website, 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.291 write down all the chords that you know so you've created your own chord book. 00:07:47.291 --> 00:07:51.370 So you've got a kind of a collection of the things that you know. 00:07:51.370 --> 00:07:53.055 The chords that you know in your head. 00:07:53.055 --> 00:07:57.338 You'll also find writing it down on a page will help you remember each shape. 00:07:57.338 --> 00:08:00.599 So, of course there's chords on my website that you could choose to print out. 00:08:00.599 --> 00:08:03.121 But I think writing them down yourself is also a good way 00:08:03.121 --> 00:08:04.780 of making sure that you remember them. 00:08:04.780 --> 00:08:07.745 So, before you move on to the next one you want to make sure that you've got 00:08:07.745 --> 00:08:13.162 all your E shape, your Major, min, min7 and 7 chords so they're all sounding cool. 00:08:13.162 --> 00:08:16.302 And, excuse me, also the A shaped barre chords. 00:08:16.302 --> 00:08:19.758 Remember, of course, that this is now a 5th string Root. 00:08:19.758 --> 00:08:22.948 So, whereby we had a regular A chord, 00:08:22.948 --> 00:08:25.818 the chord I was just demonstrating in that close-up was a Bb chord, 00:08:25.818 --> 00:08:27.171 . . . 00:08:27.171 --> 00:08:29.293 cause I always had my 1st finger in the 1st fret, 00:08:29.293 --> 00:08:35.164 if I put my 1st finger in the 3rd fret, we've now got a C chord. 00:08:35.164 --> 00:08:38.001 You hear it's quite similar, there's open chord C, 00:08:38.001 --> 00:08:41.492 barre chord C, pretty straight forward. 00:08:41.492 --> 00:08:45.794 C at the 3rd fret, D at the 5th fret, 00:08:47.579 --> 00:08:50.628 E at the 7th fret. That's the basic gist. 00:08:50.628 --> 00:08:55.169 You should hopefully have checked out your Root notes for 5th and 6th string Root 00:08:55.169 --> 00:08:57.525 in the Power Chords lesson. If you didn't, you're very naughty 00:08:57.525 --> 00:08:59.754 and you should go and revise your Power Chords right now. 00:09:00.692 --> 00:09:05.528 OK, I shall see you later on for Part 4, when we check out the minors, 00:09:05.528 --> 00:09:09.544 and the 7th shapes for this 5th string Root barre chord. 00:09:09.544 --> 00:09:12.115 Remember this is A shape, because it's built around an A chord. 00:09:12.115 --> 00:09:14.366 Take care and see you soon, bye bye.