How do you play the two fingered bar chord?

[kissfanps]

Lets you are playing a D bar chord. You know, the one with a finger on the 5th and one on the 7th. I play it with my index and ring finger. However, I've seen both Clapton and Ace play it with their index and pinky.

What do you guys do?

[JkGriffin]

I can occasionally use two fingers to make two bars... but for your question, there is no two finger bar chord.
I use my index finger to make a bar and the three remaining will sit down on each of their corresponding strings... This gives me more options and flexibility. Specially handy if you like to do more than just easy strumming.

[kissfanps]

What do you mean there is no two finger bar chord? You bar a fret and use another finger two frets higher to hit the d,g, and b strings.

[JkGriffin]

Sorry... bad wording... not a two finger bar chord FOR ME

[Spotted Dog]

My Pinky Sucks! (sounds like a porn movie)

Index and ring fingers

[thunderkyss]

What do you mean there is no two finger bar chord? You bar a fret and use another finger two frets higher to hit the d,g, and b strings.

That's more of a power chord... Root, 5...

It depends on what I'm playing. I'll use index & ring finger if I'm just blowing through some chords. If I'll be using my other fingers for embellishments & I can make the stretch, I'll use my Index & middle finger (which is easier on the 5th & 4th strings.. 4th & 3rd strings, & higher up the neck).

[kissfanps]

Sure it's a power chord if you only hit those two strings.

[Spotted Dog]

The A barre chord, commonly called the "double barre", is made by sliding the A chord shape (X02220) up and down the frets. When the A chord is barred, the index finger lies across the top five strings, touching the 6th string (E) to deaden it. Either the ring or little finger is then barred across the 2nd (B), 3rd (G), and 4th (D) strings two frets down, or one finger frets each string. For instance, if barred at the second fret, the A chord becomes B (X24442). From fret one to twelve, the barred A becomes B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, A♭, and at the twelfth fret (that is, one octave up), it is A again.
--------------A---------------D
E-------------0---------------5---
B-------------2---------------7---
G-------------2---------------7---
D-------------2---------------7---
A-------------0---------------5---
E---------------------------------
Guitar tablature of an open A chord and an A-shape D barre chord.

[kissfanps]

Thanks spotted! I kind of felt what i was saying was not coming across.

[Spotted Dog]

No problem kissfan, of course the classical style is below, which is really awkward for me.

--------------A---------------D
E-------------0---------------5---
B-------------2---------------4---
G-------------2---------------3---
D-------------2---------------2---
A-------------0---------------5---
E---------------------------------


...but these 4 mini barres are no problem....

-------G------G----------Gm----Gm----Gm7
E-----10------3------------3------3------3------
B-----12------3------------3------3------3------
G-----12------4------------3------3------3------
D-----12------5------------5-------------3------
A-----10------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------

[thunderkyss]

Sure it's a power chord if you only hit those two strings.

A power chord would include the octave on the third string down (from the top). Using 2 fingers (2 strings; 2 notes) only is often called a root, 5 power chord, since you are only playing the root and the 5th.

[kissfanps]

so you're saying there are two type of power chords? one thats root, 5, root, and another thats just root, 5?

[JimDep]

so you're saying there are two type of power chords? one thats root, 5, root, and another thats just root, 5?

That's always been my understanding. Sometimes it sounds good to add the root's higher octave, and either way it is still called a power chord. On a chord chart, an E5 chord (for example) usually just means the root and the 5th, but you can add the higher octave using your discretion.

You mentioned seeing Clapton and Ace using the middle finger and pinky for a "two fingered" bar chord. Without knowing what the tune or circumstances might have been, I can't think of a reason why they would do that. Using your 1st and 3rd fingers keeps your hand in position for the usual corresponding pentatonic scales that go with the chord and ability to add the common suspended note for riffing. I just can't picture an advantage for using the middle finger and pinky. Good observation on your part. Do you remember what the tune(s) where?
Wasn't Ace a big Clapton fan when he was starting out? I thought I read that somewhere.

[Gonzo]

Hey Kissfanps-

I used to always play that type of chord index and third-until I started working my pinky like a bastard-you know, practicing stuff that was hard with the pinky over and over till it got into shape. Now I catch myself using index and pinky all the time on power chords-especially low on the neck. It's just easier for me now-less of a stretch for the hand, but I NEVER did that until my pinky got working well.