Barre chord
A technique where one finger presses down several strings at once (guitar, lute).
What it means
Barré, from the French for “bar,” denotes a fretting technique on instruments like the guitar or lute in which a single finger, usually the index finger, presses down several or all strings at once across one fret. The finger acts as a movable nut, while the remaining fingers form the actual chord shape on higher frets.
Musical use
Barre chords let a player shift the same chord shape along the fretboard, producing the same chord type in any key without fundamentally changing the finger position. This makes barre chords especially important for accompaniment in popular music and folk, and for realizing chord progressions that would be hard to voice using open strings.
A full barre, covering all strings, should be distinguished from a half barre, where only some strings are pressed by the same finger, as in certain major or minor shapes omitting the lower bass strings.
Performance practice
When forming a barre, apply even pressure along the finger's whole length and place it as close to the fret wire as possible to reduce the force needed. Practice picking each string individually to spot muted spots and adjust your finger position accordingly.