(Photo by Vivanne J. Odisho) When I was thirteen I almost quit playing guitar because of these chords. My guitar had the highest action possible. I would see these jokers on MTV playing barre chords in the back of a moving truck, swinging from a rope, under water, just about anything stupid. I would try barre chords while sitting in a chair and have very bad results. After teaching for a few years, I found a way to ease students into barre chord territory. Fret not.