The Lifted Barre Trick

Beginner Grade 3 Module 20: Chords in Keys Made Easy!
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Use this easy trick to transform barre chords like F into lush open chords you can play all over the fretboard!

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It would be great to see a module dedicated to songwriting on the guitar with different ways you can build a full arrangement - with examples of songs that use that particular technique

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Oooooo I LOVE this and it’s exactly the sound I want for a song I’ve had in my head for 2 years. I also found some more goodies with lifting some fingers here and there. Thankyou Justin.

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Sometimes I see a video pop up on Youtube but want to log in and find it here, but that’s not always easy! In this case I saw it as a new lesson. Criticism aside, it was a very fun lesson! I would point out that the Allman Brothers’ “Melissa” takes advantage of the progression from E to F#m/E to G#m/E. So simple to play and yet so beautiful. Justin, this would be a really good song for you to do a “how to play” video lesson.

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I was trying to spice up the intro to Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game and tried this technique, but found it easier to switch between Major and Minor chords using the thumb up over the neck for the bass chords, I think it sounds well! Bm - A - E

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Hey there!

Foo Fighters have some songs with this kind of chords: “Stranger things have happened” – that one I’m 100% sure. Also “come alive”, almost sure. I thing Dave Grohl likes this trick a lot!

Cheers,
Manu

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A song that uses both major and minor chords of this type is ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ by Sandy Denny

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An easy song to practice the Lifted Barre Trick is Sacrifice by Anouk, which has the same 4 chord progression throughout the song. If the finger picking parts are too hard you can use simple strumming instead.

This is a great one to transcribe as well.

Key & Chords - Spoiler
  • The chords you play are E major, B major, D major and A major.
  • Thinnest two strings are played open.
  • To play along with the record you’ll have to tune down to Eb.
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Alice in Chains (Jerry Cantrell) uses this often

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This seems like an ‘easier’ introduction into barre chords? Ie not having do the full barre

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George Harrison’s beautiful All Things Must Pass uses the reverse of a chord progression Justin mentions here - E, F#m, G#m, A.

A lesson on All Things Must Pass would make a great tie-in with this!

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