I have avoided barre chords for about 40 years and left my guitar sit for years at a time due to my frustration trying to learn it on my own.
About a month ago someone mentioned Barre chords and the "Caged" chord system.
I did an internet search on "Caged Chord Theory".
I checked out all the links and weeded the good ones from the bad ones and then printed up about 50 pages from various web sites.
The I placed the pile of paper at my favourite reading place *flush* and read and re-read until I grased the concept.
I then sat down and And figured out the basic "Caged Chords" for the Major and Minor natural keys.
I could post those chords (working on 7th chords now) but the sifting through it all and figuring it out myself is what turned the light on.
Then I tried it out using a 12 bar pattern in A.
I used An E type barre chord (caged) barred at the fifth fret (That's an A chord) and an A style barre chord at the 5th and 7th frets for the IV and V (D and E actually).
Then in an effort to be able to sloo or arpeggio over something higher up on the neck I went on to use the D style barre chord at the 7th fret (An "A") and then a G style Barre chord at the seventh and ninth fret for the IV and V (D and E actually).
Now, I don't know a whole lot about a whole lot but "Caged" gave me an understanding and incentive to work my barre chords.
After reading everything multiple times and finally wrapping my head around the concept, I suddenly found myself one morning automatically picking the e style Barre chord instead of the usual open A. I stopped and relished in the revelation.
So anyway I started off figuring everything out and suddenly I had incentive, motivation and a profound revelation. The rest is practice I guess which I do daily.
Here is an example of the above mentioned chords. There may be mistakes since I did this on my own note for note, tab for tab, chord diagram for chord diagram. In one day I gained 75 chords and they just keep multiplying.
The whole thing makes ity alot easier than running up and down the neck for the I IV V (using say an E style barre chord at the 5th 10th fret and 12th (A,D,E) and it opens up so many possibilities that it is astounding. It can keep the chords all close together on the neck. Changing to higher or lower forms helps th emusic vary and gives new ground for accompaniment and soloing. It's just plain all good.
First position in A example of Caged.
So now if I move it a bit higher up the neck (higher in pitch) I used:
The possibilities are endless and the biggest boost is when you finally get it. It's a bit wierd but it suddenly becomes clear over time.
Well worth the search and the read and the practice.
"Caged" is just the order of the positions in "caged" the first position is actually often referred to as E so really E,D,C,A,G describes it better but Caged is easier to remember I guess referring to the order only.
"Caged" gives a head start and a big boost in incentive and motivation although it's success is based on learning the fretboard, practicing and using your mddle, ring and baby fingers to make the chord pattern and using the index finger as the barre.
So first one has to master the open C, A, G, E, D chords using the middle, ring and baby finger. Then you're ready to start applying the positions and the barre.
Search, read and enjoy as I am. Now to strengthen my Barre. Incentivative, motivation and practice. It's well worth a look see.