Necessary to play Barre Chords?

cobb wrote: Yes, Mike, I know there are others, basically any open chord that can be shaped with a bar can be moved, but this is for someone just trying to get them working. My particular favourite is the C chord. Very nice wherever you put it.

Boys are Back in Town was the first song that made me learn that chord. Although this chord is possibly the most difficult barre chord, there is a simple and beautiful variation:

-2-
-3-
-2-
-2-
-2-
-0-

cobb wrote: Essentially there are just two main shapes to construct major bar chords with - E and A.

There are at least two more shapes - read my previous post. 

It's absolutely essential. And it's easy - everybody can learn it.

Start with the easiest barre chords - based on the open E-major/minor. Then move on to those based on open A-major/minor. And then, if you think you know it all, try those based on open C-major.

And then ... try this:

-5-
-5-
-5-
-4-
-5-
---

Yes it's pretty much essentiall! And they are quite handy too!

Because if you play a proper open A-major chord you would use the DGB strings on the second fret. To play a B-major chord then you would have to play the DGB strigs on the fifth fret and then you would have to barre at the 4th fret the other strings and then you could continue down the neck with the same fret and then you got all the major chords!

So its handy because once you know all the open chords then you just move down the neck and barre the rest of the string that was played as open to play them i new keys...

Ok...that was quite quirky explained but its very practical to learn!