A barre chord is a guitar fingering where one finger, usually the index finger, presses several strings at once to form a chord. It lets you move chords around the fretboard without relying on open strings.
The basic idea
By sliding the same shape you can play a wide range of chords. To make every string ring cleanly, you need to adjust the angle of your finger and the position of your wrist.
Using it in performance and programming
Start by sounding only a few strings, then add more one at a time. Find the strings that choke and adjust the position without squeezing too hard.
Difference from related terms
A barre chord is a fretting technique, while a power chord is a type and shape of chord centered on the root and the fifth.
Instead of aiming for perfection all at once, get used to it inside a short chord progression.
