Learn the mini A barre chord

Using only your first finger!

Coming hot off of that weak G, I figured we could re-imagine the A major chord while we're at it.

This mini A barre chord is is my default A Chord. Some might think it's a bad habit, but it might be an easier option for certain chord changes!

In this lesson, you'll learn how to play this A chord variation. The more grips you can play on guitar, the better! It's how you discover fingerings and patterns that work best for you.

How To Play The Mini A Barre

For this A chord, you won't be squeezing three fingers into one fret! What a relief, right? :)

You're going to use only one finger - your 1st finger. To play it, lay your 1st finger down across the three strings, forming a mini barre.

Try this mini A barre chord and give it a solid go for a few days! Then, see how you feel about it. It may be tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it after a few days of practice.

🚨 Now, some people will find this very easy. Others will find it difficult. Don't fret over it too much (see the pun there?!). Your grip ability has a lot to do with your individual ability. Whichever grip you prefer is up to you and okay! I always encourage keeping an open mind and trying new techniques. :)

Things To Watch Out For

Like the A major chord, you won't play the thickest string for this chord. Leave the 5th string open, and the barre chords will be the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings.

Now - you've got some options when it comes to the 1st string. We include the thin E chord in the classic A chord, but I'm not a huge fan of that twangy open string ringing out! I prefer muting the 1st string with my 1st Finger. I slightly angle it to mute the string, but I don't fret it.

If you choose to leave the thinnest open E string, rotate your hand around from the knuckle. Rotating it will leave a gap between your mini barre and the open string.

Be aware of the big E (thickest string)! Up until now, you haven't been playing it often. Make sure you don't strum it by hanging your thumb over the top of the neck to mute the thickest string. If this is too much of a stretch for you, don't worry about it! Leave the thumb out of it for now.

This thumb technique is not for everyone and doesn't always work on every guitar! Later in this grade, you'll learn more about this thumb over the guitar neck technique. :) For now, focus on barring those strings!

When To Use The Mini A Barre Chord

As with the weak G, you might find that the mini barred A is easier at certain times. So - depending on the chords surrounding the A, you can decide if you want to use this barre.

Right now, it's important to explore alternate ways of playing. Doing this will give you a better understanding of the instrument! Different options of grips mean more flexibility and freedom. It will come in handy when you want to create or execute a particular sound.

See what feels good for you! And remember, it's going to feel awkward at first - like it did for the regular A a couple of weeks ago! Explore chord variations for guitar, and have fun. :) Also - don't forget to add the chords variations you really enjoy to your own chord book.

Keep an open mind and try new things - it's an awesome part of learning. Now, let's dive into some F chord changes.