FAQ's

YES – and with its adjustable strap and the option of using from 2 to 4 fingers on the finger rest, it fits all hand sizes.

YES - all you’ll need are the chords and lyrics to the song, not even the notes of the melody.

YES - with the Level I Method you will be able to play ALL MAJOR chords and substitute the harmonically substitutable major chord for most minor chords. This will enable you to play almost all songs. With the Level II Method you’ll be able to play the real minor chords as well. You will not be playing most 7th, augmented, suspended and other specialized chords. You will be substituting the root MAJOR and minor chords in their place. This is often done even by more experienced players and will not significantly affect the outcome of the song or your ability to play along with someone who is playing all these specialized chords. You can use this method for a lifetime of playing enjoyment.

The base guitar is traditionally played one note at a time. However, there is nothing to prohibit one from ‘open tuning’ a base guitar and playing chords, which is easy to do with the Guitar Barre.

YES – you’ll be playing exactly the same chord, sometimes more fully, as you will be using all the strings on your instrument, and sometimes slightly higher pitched, especially when barreing chords well down the fretboard.

ALL KEYS – ALL MAJOR and minor chords (Level II). And in all Keys at a time, irrespective of the ‘open tuning’ used.

YES – once you get used to the chording positions, you will be able to play without the labels.

You could. If all you want to do is play ‘blues slide style’ you can use a traditional slide. It will be a little harder to use as it requires the use of one finger inside the slide to push the strings down, whereas the finger rest on the Guitar Barre enables you to use the full energy of your hand to push the strings down. If you want the natural chording sound produced when one barres a chord with their finger (not possible using a 'slide' - abrasive sounding and feedback when changing chords), the Soft Bar on the Guitar Barre does exactly that. This is one of the main advantages of using the Guitar Barre instead of a 'slide' for normal guitar playing. If you want the ability to play ‘slide style’ at times, each Guitar Barre comes with an interchangeable Hard Bar facilitating easy ‘slide style’ play as well.

YES - Follow this link to the bottom of our Homepage under References to look at the names of some of the professionals who use ‘open tunings’ and play ‘barre chords’. The only difference is they use their finger (difficult) or a ‘bottle neck slide’ (abrasive sounding) to barre the chords.

This Method will greatly enhance the likelihood of beginning success so that one does not get frustrated and give up. It will make the transition to ‘fingering’ a ‘standard tuned’ instrument much easier, if one decides to go that way (optional). For those who move onto the ‘standard tuning’ approach, they will be one step ahead when they are later exposed to ‘open tunings’ (normally taught as an advanced technique because of the difficulty associated with barreing chords with one’s finger).

NO – on guitars for example, only 3 strings require re-tuning which is easily accomplished with a chromatic electronic tuner. For 5-string banjos, which are already open tuned, no re-tuning is necessary.

YES – the Method Books and Videos assume you know nothing about music and are very easy to follow. Out of thousands of units sold since 1990, we have only had 4 returned, usually from persons with a severe learning or physical disability. Please refer to our TESTIMONIALS webpage for some positive feedback we have received from many of out satisfied customers.

YES – the Guitar Barre also works well for those with missing fingers or finger tips. It even works for those with just one hand or who are blind (see the section under MORE INFO, SPECIAL NEEDS).

We recommend about 6/7/8 years of age, depending on the child. However, we have also developed the CHILD’S BARRE (see the ORDER FORM or MORE INFO, YOUNG CHILDREN sections) which facilitates successful chording for those of even a younger age.

YES – return within 30 days for a refund (less shipping and Paypal processing fees).

YES, and at very reasonable rates.

YES – this is the perfect Method for teaching groups, even full classroom sized groups. Many music teachers, religious education instructors, recreation leaders, etc. are teaching 8/9 year olds and up to play this way. They are playing 2 and 3 chord songs after their first lesson.

YES – just switch to an ‘open 5th tuning’ (covered in our Method Books).