Barre chords buzz because the index finger is not close enough to the fret wire, because it is not pressing a string down evenly, or because a finger joint sits over a string and lets it vibrate. Move the finger close to the fret, roll it onto its bony edge, and press each string down firmly.
Why do barre chords buzz?
Barre chords buzz because the index finger is not close enough to the fret wire, because it is not pressing a string down evenly, or because a finger joint sits over a string and lets it vibrate. The buzz is the sound of a string vibrating against a fret, because the string is not held down firmly enough, and the string is free to move. The fix is to move the finger close to the fret, roll it onto its bony edge, and press each string down firmly, so the string is held against the fret and cannot vibrate. The buzz can also come from the other fingers, not just the index finger. A finger that is not pressing its string down firmly will let that string buzz, and a finger that is touching a neighbouring string will mute it, which sounds like a buzz or a dead note. The action of the guitar, the height of the strings above the frets, can also cause buzzing: a guitar with very low action will buzz more easily, and a guitar with old, worn strings will buzz more than a guitar with new strings. The F major guitar chord is the chord most players first hear buzzing on, and the chord finder shows the notes of any barre chord.
How barre chord buzzing happens
The buzz happens when a string is not held down firmly against the fret, so it vibrates against the fret wire and makes a buzzing sound. The index finger is the most common cause, because it must press down six strings at once, and if it is in the middle of the fret, or flat on its soft pad, or if a joint sits over a string, one or more strings will not be held down firmly. The finger should be close to the fret wire, on the side nearest the body, and slightly rolled onto its bony edge, so the strings are pressed down by bone, not by soft flesh, and the joints are not over the strings. The other fingers can also cause buzzing, if they are not pressing their strings down firmly, or if they are touching a neighbouring string. The ring finger and the pinky, which press the 5th and 4th strings two frets higher in an E-shape barre, must press their strings down firmly, and they must not touch the strings next to them. The middle finger, which presses the 3rd string one fret higher, must also press firmly, and it must not touch the 2nd string. The G major guitar chord with a barre at the 3rd fret is the same shape as F major, and the same buzzing problems apply.
Worked example — finding the buzzing string. Play an E-shape barre at the 1st fret, F major, and strum it: the chord buzzes. Play each string one at a time, from the low E string to the high E string, and listen: the low E, the A, the D and the G strings ring cleanly, but the B string buzzes. The B string is the 2nd string, and it is barred by the index finger, so the index finger is not pressing it down firmly. The joint of the index finger sits over the B string, so roll the finger slightly onto its bony edge, and move it a little closer to the fret wire, and play the B string again: it rings cleanly. The chord is now clean, and the fix was to find the buzzing string and adjust the finger. The key of F major lists the chords that F major belongs with.
How to practise fixing barre chord buzz
Practise by playing each string one at a time, so you can find the buzzing string and fix it, instead of strumming the whole chord and guessing.
- Play an E-shape barre at the 1st fret, F major, and play each string one at a time, listening for the string that buzzes, and adjust the finger until it rings cleanly.
- Practise the bar alone at the 5th fret, playing each string one at a time, and move the bar down to the 3rd fret and then the 1st fret when the 5th fret is clean.
- Roll the index finger slightly onto its bony edge, and move it close to the fret wire, and play the chord again, listening for the buzz to disappear.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with a barre chord for F major, and listen for the chord ringing cleanly on every strum.
- Use the chord finder to find the notes of any barre chord, and check that every string is sounding the right note.
Common mistakes
- Strumming the whole chord and guessing — A buzzing chord has one buzzing string, and strumming the whole chord will not tell you which one it is. Play each string one at a time, find the buzzing string, and fix it, instead of guessing.
- Pressing harder instead of adjusting the finger — Pressing harder will not fix a finger joint sitting over a string, and it will cause pain and fatigue. Adjust the finger, roll it onto its bony edge, and move it close to the fret, instead of pressing harder.
- Ignoring a buzz that only happens on one string — A buzz on one string is a sign that the finger is not pressing that string down evenly, and ignoring it will make the problem permanent. Stop, find the string, and fix it, or the buzz will stay.
Quick reference
This table lists the four common causes of barre chord buzz, with the symptom each one causes and the fix for it, so you can diagnose a buzzing chord in seconds. The first two rows are the index finger, which is the most common cause, and the last two rows are the other fingers and the guitar itself.
| Cause of buzz | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Finger too far from the fret | All strings buzz | Move the finger close to the fret wire |
| Joint over a string | One string buzzes | Roll the finger onto its bony edge |
| Other finger not pressing firmly | One string buzzes or is muted | Press the string down firmly |
| Old strings or low action | Buzz even with good technique | Change the strings or raise the action |
Use the table as a checklist when a barre chord buzzes: find the symptom, find the cause, and apply the fix, in order, finger position, finger roll, other fingers, and then the guitar. When you can diagnose a buzzing chord in seconds, you will never be stuck with a buzzing barre chord again.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my barre chords buzz?
Because the index finger is not close enough to the fret wire, because it is not pressing a string down evenly, or because a finger joint sits over a string and lets it vibrate. Move the finger close to the fret, roll it onto its bony edge, and press each string down firmly.
How do I find the buzzing string?
Play each string one at a time, from the low E string to the high E string, and listen for the string that buzzes. The buzzing string is the one the finger is not pressing down firmly, and the fix is to adjust the finger until it rings cleanly.
Can old strings cause barre chords to buzz?
Yes. Old, worn strings buzz more easily than new strings, because they are uneven and they do not vibrate cleanly. If the chord buzzes even when the finger is in the right place, try new strings.
Does low action cause barre chords to buzz?
Yes. A guitar with very low action, where the strings are close to the frets, will buzz more easily, because the strings have less room to vibrate. A guitar with higher action is easier to play cleanly, but harder to press down.
Why does my barre chord buzz on only one string?
Because a finger joint sits over that string, or because the finger is not pressing that string down evenly. Roll the finger onto its bony edge, move it close to the fret, and the string will ring cleanly.