A partial barre chord bars only some of the strings, usually two to five, instead of all six, which makes it easier to play than a full barre. The most common partial barre is the F major shape, where the index finger bars the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret, and the other fingers form the rest of the chord.
What are partial barre chords?
A partial barre chord bars only some of the strings, usually two to five, instead of all six, which makes it easier to play than a full barre, because the index finger needs less pressure and the hand tires more slowly. The most common partial barre is the F major shape, where the index finger bars the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret, and the middle finger presses the 3rd string at the 2nd fret, and the ring finger presses the 4th string at the 3rd fret, and the 5th and 6th strings are not played. The chord is F major, because the notes are F, A and C, and the shape is easier than the full barre, because the index finger only bars two strings. Partial barres are used for two reasons: to make a hard chord easier, and to make a chord that does not need all six strings. A full barre chord uses all six strings, but many chords sound better with fewer strings, and a partial barre gives the chord with the strings it needs, and no more. The B minor chord is often played as a partial barre, with the index finger barring the 1st to 5th strings at the 2nd fret, and the 6th string muted, which is easier than the full A-shape barre. The F major guitar chord is the chord most players first learn as a partial barre, and the B minor guitar chord is the chord most players first learn as a partial A-shape barre.
How partial barre chords work
A partial barre works because the index finger presses down only the strings it needs to, and the other strings are either not played, or they are open and sound as part of the chord. In the F major partial barre, the index finger bars the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret, which sound as F and C, the root and the 5th, and the middle finger presses the 3rd string at the 2nd fret, which sounds as A, the major 3rd, and the ring finger presses the 4th string at the 3rd fret, which sounds as F, the root. The 5th and 6th strings are not played, because they are not part of the chord in this voicing, and the chord is F major, with the notes F, A and C. The partial barre is also used for the A shape, where the index finger bars five strings, from the 5th string to the 1st string, and the 6th string is muted, which is a partial barre in the sense that it does not bar all six strings. The B minor chord, the A-shape minor barre at the 2nd fret, is a partial barre in this sense, and it is the chord most players first learn as a barre, because it is easier than the full E-shape barre at the 1st fret. The key of F major lists the chords that F major belongs with, and the key of B minor lists the chords that B minor belongs with.
Worked example — the F major partial barre. Play the F major partial barre: the index finger bars the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger presses the 3rd string at the 2nd fret, and the ring finger presses the 4th string at the 3rd fret, and the 5th and 6th strings are not played. The notes are, from the 4th string to the 1st string, F, A, C and F, which are the root, the major 3rd, the 5th and the root of F major. Check the maths: the 1st string at the 1st fret sounds as F, because E plus one semitone is F, and the 2nd string at the 1st fret sounds as C, because B plus one semitone is C, and the 3rd string at the 2nd fret sounds as A, because G plus two semitones is A. The F major guitar chord is the full barre, and the partial barre is the easier version.
How to practise partial barre chords
Practise partial barre chords by playing the easy version first, and then the full barre, so the partial barre becomes a stepping stone to the full barre.
- Play the F major partial barre, with the index finger barring the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret, and play each string one at a time, listening for a clean note on every string.
- Practise changing from an open C major chord to the F major partial barre, and back, slowly, until the change is smooth, and then try the full F major barre.
- Play the B minor partial barre, with the index finger barring the 1st to 5th strings at the 2nd fret, and play each string one at a time, listening for a clean note.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with the F major partial barre, and listen for the chord ringing cleanly on every strum.
- Use the chord finder to find the notes of any partial barre chord, and check that every string is sounding the right note.
Common mistakes
- Playing the strings that should be muted — A partial barre does not use all six strings, and playing a string that should be muted will sound the wrong note. Mute the strings that are not part of the chord, with the tip of a finger, or avoid strumming them.
- Using a partial barre when the full barre is needed — A partial barre is a stepping stone, not a replacement, and some songs need the full barre, because the full chord has more notes and a fuller sound. Learn the full barre too, and use the partial barre when it is the right sound, not just because it is easier.
- Forgetting that a partial barre is still a barre — A partial barre still needs the index finger to press the strings down firmly, close to the fret wire, and the same technique applies. A partial barre that buzzes is a sign that the finger is not in the right place, just as with a full barre.
Quick reference
This table compares the partial barre and the full barre for four common chords, so you can see the difference in difficulty and in sound. The partial barre uses fewer strings and less pressure, and the full barre uses all six strings and more pressure, and the choice depends on the song and the player.
| Chord | Partial barre | Full barre |
|---|---|---|
| F major | Bars 1st and 2nd strings, 1st fret | Bars all 6 strings, 1st fret |
| B minor | Bars 1st–5th strings, 2nd fret | A-shape barre, 2nd fret |
| C major | Bars 1st–3rd strings, 3rd fret | A-shape barre, 3rd fret |
| G minor | Bars 1st–5th strings, 3rd fret | E-shape barre, 3rd fret |
Use the table to find the partial barre for a chord you know, and try it, comparing the sound with the full barre, and noticing how much easier the partial barre is to play. When you can play both versions cleanly, you can choose the one that sounds best for the song.
Frequently asked questions
What are partial barre chords?
A partial barre chord bars only some of the strings, usually two to five, instead of all six, which makes it easier to play than a full barre. The most common partial barre is the F major shape, where the index finger bars the 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret.
Is a partial barre easier than a full barre?
Yes, because the index finger needs less pressure, and the hand tires more slowly, and the shape is simpler. A partial barre is a good stepping stone to the full barre, and many players use partial barres for years.
When should I use a partial barre?
When the chord does not need all six strings, or when the full barre is too hard, or when the partial barre sounds better, because it has fewer notes and a clearer sound. A partial barre is a choice, not a compromise, when it is the right sound for the song.
Can I play every chord as a partial barre?
No. Some chords need all six strings, and some chords cannot be played as a partial barre, because the notes are not in the right place. A partial barre works for some chords, and a full barre works for others, and the player must know which is which.
Is the F major partial barre a real F major chord?
Yes. The F major partial barre has the notes F, A and C, which are the root, the major 3rd and the 5th of F major, so it is a complete F major triad, even though it does not use all six strings.