How to find out where to play a chord... ?!

Well I'm not much of a music teacher, but i have figured something out about barre chords:

Finding barr-chords:

Play an open chord, like C. Pick the bass string of C (A string on the 3rd fret)

Listen to how it sounds and try finding it on the E string. U will find it on the 8th fret. Do a barr-chord on the 8th fret, and it will be C.

U can do the same with G, D, A, E

I hope u understand^^

theres 2 main forms

e and a

for e play an e chord and for a play an a chord simple

to play an f bar the first fret and play an e chord behind it the patter goes like this

e f f# g g# a a# b c etc.

same for a heres that pattern

a a# b c c# d e f f#

Wow thanks a lot for your answers already. I guess everybody has his own way to do it  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz"> . The "listening to the E string" -scharefun-method is really handy, at least now i can find a lot of them without having to look at a paper. But i still don't get why i should do the D-barr cord with an A-position and not with an Am-position  for example.

The other trick, from spaminator is still about remembering the scales (which is not my best talent actually <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink"> and also leaves me with the question above.. why I should do the D-barr with an A position and not an Am.

The goyag-300 method..uuhhh... haha well the last message is quite vague <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink"> i'll wait for the rest to come i guess <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Then, the book, what is exactly in the book? I don't know about you but i have a problem with books. They either way tell me too much (so i don't understand anymore) or don't give me enough progression (which makes me bored..) also i live in the netherlands and the book here is about 20 euro's and only available through internet. Don't really have a chance to go through the pages and see how i find it. Can you tell me some more about what's in the book? Is it a method they found out which is 'really something' or is it music theory in a 'new jacket' (maybe a dutch saying, it's like 'same thing, different approach')?

Thanks a lot everybody

Well, you know in the E form, the root note of the chord is on string 1 (the lightest string); in the C form, the root note is on string 2, and in the A form, the root note is on string 3.  So, if you learn the notes on just the first three strings, then you'll know where to put your bar chords to make any chord, does that help?

Props to Saladtripp but I think what I'm saying is right:

Here is an F chord.  It's made using a partial E form bar chord on fret 1.

The root note F is on string 1 (and also on string 4, too).

1:--------1------

2:--------1------

3:--------2------

4:--------3------

5:--------x------

6:--------x------

Here is a Db chord.  It's made using a partial C form bar chord on fret 1.

The root note Db is on string 2.

1:--------1------

2:--------2------

3:--------1------

4:--------3------

5:--------x------

6:--------x------

Here is a Bb chord.  It's made using a partial A form bar chord on fret 1.

The root note Bb is on string 3.

1:--------1------

2:--------3------

3:--------3------

4:--------3------

5:--------x------

6:--------x------

The root of a G form is on string 1 (and also string 6) and the root of a D form is on string 2.

Also, once you're away from the open chords, in the middle of the neck, then, distances are gonna be the same no matter which key you're in.  So, like, say your in the middle of the neck playing a song with a I-IV-V chord progression.  Then, you play a different song that also uses the same I-IV-V progression but in a different key.  Well, the distances on the neck would be the same.  Like, the number of frets you would move over to change chords would be the same.  So, fear not, practice I-IV-V progressions in different keys using all bar chords (no open chords).  It's easy cuz it's the same you just start on a different fret.  Then, after you've really got that down, then once you start playing a certain song, I think your fingers will automatically know how far to jump to go to the next chord, see what I mean?  Then, it's automatic, you don't have to think.  But, initially, until that becomes automatic, use all of these great suggestions folks are offering you to learn the chords in the first place.  if that helps, well, good luck!  Remember that's only true if you stay in the middle of the neck and use all bar chords.  Then a chord progression pattern will be the same in any key.  But, if you go to the top of the neck and play open chords then the same pattern will not work in different keys, ok?