It is now time to learn the B barre chord, fellow guitarists! You will read here some very simple steps on how you can begin playing the B Major Chord in almost a snap. Of course, being that this is a barre chord we are trying to learn, some of you may feel just a tad intimidated, but you needn’t be afraid because once you get the hang of playing barre chords, you will definitely have more room to grow in your guitar playing.
So let’s go and learn the B barre chord, shall we?
Tips in Playing the B Barre Chord – The Steps
Step 1: Bar it!
Of course, in playing the B barre chord, the first step would be to form a bar using your first finger. Lay your index finger across all the strings on the seventh fret, then when you have done so, pick each string so that you will hear if each note sounds right.
Step 2: The E shape
Now once you have that bar in place, it is time to make the E shape chord with the rest of your fingers to complete the B barre chord. The basic E chord shape is needed to complete the rest of the B major barre chord, so you will have to position your fingers accordingly – place the second finger on the third string in the eighth fret, while the third and fourth fingers should be on fifth and fourth strings on the ninth fret.
Step 3: Now put it together
Your b barre chord is almost done! Now that all of your fingers are in the proper positions – the first finger barring on the seventh fret, the second finger on the eight fret, third string; and the third and fourth fingers on the fifth and fourth strings on the ninth fret – it is time to pick every string individually so that you can hear if all the notes are clear.
The B Barre Chord - Common Problems Encountered when Playing the B Major Barre Chord
You may come across some problems when you play the B barre chord. Perhaps one of the most common problems in playing not just the B barre chord, but all other barre chords in general, is that barring hurts the fingers and it causes some notes to be muted. Aside from this, the fourth finger may sometimes overlap with another string – this will also cause muted notes.
Playing the B Barre Chord - Tips/Solutions
Do not be discouraged, however, when you hit these bumps in the road. There are some things you can do to make the B barre chord a little easier. First of all, you should practice barring regularly so that your fingers can get used to it. One thing to remember is that you should roll your index finger outward slightly so that the outer edge is pressing down on the strings instead of the soft part of your finger. Also, in order to avoid the muting caused by the overlapping of your pinky on other strings, roll your wrist a bit in a downward manner. This way, you will be able to slightly lift the fourth finger and it will no longer touch the other strings.
The only way to get better at playing the B barre chord, and the other barre chords, too, is to keep practicing. So what are you waiting for? Get your guitar and start playing the B barre chord way better!