Open chords use open strings and are played in the first three frets, with a warm, ringing sound, while barre chords use a bar across the fretboard and can be moved up the neck to play any chord, in any key. Open chords are easier, and barre chords are more versatile, and most players use both.
What is the difference between open chords and barre chords?
Open chords use open strings and are played in the first three frets, with a warm, ringing sound, because the open strings ring freely, and the chord is full and resonant. Barre chords use a bar across the fretboard, with the index finger pressing all the strings at one fret, and they can be moved up the neck to play any chord, in any key, because the shape moves, and the root moves with it. Open chords are easier, because they need less strength, and the fingers are in the first three frets, and barre chords are more versatile, because they can play any chord, anywhere on the neck, and most players use both, open chords for the easy keys, and barre chords for the hard keys. The open chords are C, G, D, E, A, Am, Em, and Dm, and they are the first chords most players learn, because they are easy, and they sound good, and they are used in most songs. The barre chords are the E-shape and the A-shape, and they are the chords most players learn next, because they unlock the whole neck, and they let the player play in any key, with two shapes. The C major guitar chord and the G major guitar chord are open chords, and the F major guitar chord is a barre chord, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How open and barre chords compare
An open chord works because the open strings are part of the chord, and the fingers add the other notes, in the first three frets, and the chord is played with the open strings ringing, and the sound is warm and full. A barre chord works because the index finger replaces the nut, shortening all the strings at once, and the other fingers form the shape behind the bar, and the shape can be moved up the neck, so one shape makes many chords. The open chord is fixed, in one place, on the neck, and the barre chord is movable, anywhere on the neck, and the difference is the versatility: the open chord can only play its own chord, and the barre chord can play any chord, by moving. The sound is different too: an open chord sounds warm and ringing, because the open strings vibrate freely, and the chord has the open strings as part of its sound, while a barre chord sounds tighter and more focused, because all the strings are fretted, and the chord is played with the fingers, not with the open strings. The open chord is easier to play, because it needs less strength, and the barre chord is harder, because it needs the bar, and the strength to hold it, and the player must learn both, because the songs need both. The D major guitar chord is an open chord, and the B major guitar chord is a barre chord, and the key of G major is the key most open chords are played in.
Worked example — the same chord, open and barre. Play a G major chord as an open chord, with the fingers in the first three frets, and the open strings ringing, and the notes are G, B, D, G, B, G, which are the root, the major 3rd, the 5th, the root, the major 3rd, and the root, and the chord is warm and ringing, because the open strings are part of it. Now play a G major chord as a barre chord, the E-shape barre at the 3rd fret, with the index finger barring all six strings, and the other fingers forming the E shape, and the notes are G, D, G, B, D, G, which are the root, the 5th, the root, the major 3rd, the 5th, and the root, and the chord is tighter and more focused, because all the strings are fretted, and the chord is the same, G major, but the sound is different, because the voicing is different. The I–V–vi–IV progression in G major can be played with open chords, and with barre chords, and the sound will change.
How to practise open and barre chords
Practise open and barre chords together, playing the same chord both ways, so the ear learns the difference in sound, and the hands learn the difference in shape.
- Play a G major chord as an open chord, and then as a barre chord, the E-shape at the 3rd fret, and compare the sound, warm and ringing, versus tight and focused.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with open chords, and then with barre chords, and listen for the sound to change.
- Practise the F major barre chord, the E-shape at the 1st fret, for five minutes a day, until it rings cleanly, and the strength builds.
- Practise changing from an open chord to a barre chord, such as C major to F major, and back, slowly, until the change is smooth.
- Use the chord finder to find the notes of any open or barre chord, and check that every string is sounding the right note.
Common mistakes
- Using only open chords — A player who uses only open chords will be limited to the easy keys, C, G, D, E, A, and will not be able to play in hard keys, such as Eb, Bb, or F#, because the open chords do not exist in those keys. Learn barre chords too, and the whole neck will be open.
- Using only barre chords — A player who uses only barre chords will lose the warm, ringing sound of the open chords, and the songs will sound tight and focused, when they should sound open and ringing. Use open chords when they fit, and barre chords when they are needed, and the sound will be right.
- Thinking barre chords are better — Barre chords are not better than open chords, they are different, and each has its place, and the best player uses both, choosing the chord that sounds best for the song, not the chord that is hardest to play.
Quick reference
This table compares open chords and barre chords side by side, so you can see the trade-offs at a glance. Open chords are easier and sound warm and ringing, while barre chords are more versatile and sound tight and focused, and most players use both, choosing the chord that fits the song.
| Open chords | Barre chords | |
|---|---|---|
| Uses | Open strings | A bar across the fretboard |
| Position | First three frets | Anywhere on the neck |
| Difficulty | Easy, less strength | Hard, needs the bar |
| Sound | Warm and ringing | Tight and focused |
| Keys | Easy keys: C, G, D, E, A | Any key, by moving the shape |
Use the table to choose the chord for a song you know: if the song is in an easy key, and it needs a warm, ringing sound, use open chords, and if the song is in a hard key, or it needs a tight, focused sound, use barre chords. When you can play both, you can play any song, in any key, with the right sound.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between open chords and barre chords?
Open chords use open strings and are played in the first three frets, with a warm, ringing sound, while barre chords use a bar across the fretboard and can be moved up the neck to play any chord, in any key.
Are open chords easier than barre chords?
Yes, because they need less strength, and the fingers are in the first three frets, and the open strings ring freely. Barre chords need the bar, and the strength to hold it, and the hand must be strong, and the technique must be right.
When should I use open chords?
When the song is in an easy key, such as C, G, D, E, or A, and the open chords sound warm and ringing, and the song needs that sound. Open chords are the best for folk, pop, and country, where the sound is open and ringing.
When should I use barre chords?
When the song is in a hard key, such as Eb, Bb, or F#, and the open chords do not exist, or when the song needs a tight, focused sound, and the barre chord gives it. Barre chords are the best for rock, and for playing in any key.
Can I play the same chord as open and as barre?
Yes, most chords can be played both ways, and the notes are the same, but the voicing is different, and the sound is different, because the open chord uses open strings, and the barre chord uses fretted strings, and the choice is the sound you want.