Barre Chords ARGH!!!!

[WorldWithoutE]

Hi all. I am having loads of trouble on Barre chords as stated in the topic title...
I am still trying to get the hang of it by doing them on the 4-7th frets for the second day. But I can't really get all the string to ring with most shapes! The most frustrating thing about it is the B string. It almost always never rings! I am getting really frustrated by this. I tried many ways like moving my index finger up down twisting left right, positioning my thumb right behind the index. All these don't seem to work at all! My guitar is a Maestro SD-2 and was factory set-up. Action seems okay to me and I am using 12 gauge strings. Really need help here!

 

[tyzjames]

I dont think the problem lies with your guitar.

What you're going through now is what probably every other guitarist has gone through. I think your fingers does not have the strength and flexibility to fret the barre chords properly yet. Just need to practice more.. and do some finger strengthening exercises.. Like this..

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/guitar_techniques/finger_strength_and_speed_building.html

 

[LadyInTears]

its just like how playing the f chord seems hard at first.
finger strength comes with practice, and only via practice can you improve,
once you know that practice is key, you wont ask questions like which pickups can improve my playing

 

[zosomofo]

Perhaps you could try playing an open E Major chord and move down/along the fretboard with your index as the root. Hence, you will be playing the F, F#, G, G#, A Major barre chords, etc...

Soon, you will realise that your index finger does not actually fret the whole neck (barring all the notes), but rather a "C" shaped formation. This is because you middle, fourth and pinky are fretting the "open" chords, while your index determines the root of the chord. Therefore, you will only need to apply pressure on the apex and the base of your index finger.

Good luck with the barre chords, most beginners have this problem and those who preserver will eventually succeed.

 

[WorldWithoutE]

Thanks for quick and encouraging posts so far! I really am hurting my finger at this point in time so I guess I need to build up some calluses and finger strength to push down that B string a half millimeter more!

 

[lester_music]

some of the barre chords took me years to get it down....especially chords like
F7 shape, F#m7 on 6th string..B7 on 5th string...so be patient, if result comes so easily, probably everyone will be a guitarist.....finger strength needs time to develop.....

 

[SmFizz]

yup theres no substitute for practice..
i rmb barre chords were the most annoying for me last time also

 

[bryan1234]

haha. i had the same problem as u when i first started out on guitar but overcome it in 1 or 2 weeks. i know its dam fustrating. but dont worry, just keep practicing and you'll be fine.

 

[bryan1234]

Maybe you would want to get a gripmaster. its a hand and finger exerciser which improves finger strength and flexibility. it can be found at davis at around $20 bucks. i also have one and its really good

 

[Kinokunya]

huh serious 20+ bucks?
My friend told me that it was like ard 40+.

I'll be getting it then, I'm still stuck at gauge 12 Barre Chords like u, WorldWithoutE.
Currently practicing the E shape Barre. Haiz.

 

[mrekoj]

the best way to train chin up is to do chin up
the best way to train barred chords is to do barred chords

just save ur moonie and keep trying

 

[SmFizz]

yea agree with mrekoj, maybe the finger exercising thing works but the best way is still to keep trying

 

[Barakuda]

Are you playing an electric or acoustic? And are you strumming or fingerstyling?

The former would be easier in both cases cos you can "cheat" a little for barre chords. For example, you only need to strum either the top portion or bottom portion of the strings, NOT ALL. So, you can either just use your index finger to press on the lower E string or the base of your index finger on the first 2 strings and strum! Some people use their thumbs to go around like a bear grip and lightly press the lower E string as a variant.

For fingerstyle, you can either practise and practise (which will take some time to perfect), or you can selectively press only the strings that matter in that plucking sequence.

I watched one training video and the guy suggested to adjust the position of your thumb behind the fret board to a more comfortable position. Basically you can move your thumb up or down, or even adjust and angle it like a windscreen wiper until you find a position that gives you an optimum pressure on the corresponding index finger position.

Other than that, I also use the A2 chords as an easier alternative.
Hope it helps!

 

[theunknown]

i hate barre chords cause my thumb hurts like lovelovelovelove! old injury perhaps. hahaha. rather use the other variants of the chords.

 

[fenderrules]

I tell you this funny story when I was a young sec 3 boy learning barre chords..

I got so frustrated, especially with that....that F Major chord! Grrr, so hard to press down with the index finger and what's more there are even harder ones, like the Minor barre shapes. A day simply trying to play those mother flippin' barre chords drained the life out of my hands, leaving me demoralized and tired after each practice time.

I got so worried after each try, so I decided to learn the shortcuts. Well I did, but that wasn't what guitar was all about. I had to get my basics right, but how? One night, while I put the guitar away and got back to my books, my hand automatically went to the table, and just like doing barre chords on a fretboard, I started pressing down on the surface with my index finger and thumb.

I was like WTF??? That looks kinda dumb but whatever, it sorta helped. So it stuck to me. Everyday, everywhere I go, either school or church or even McDonald's also, I would find a surface to press on. So it was sort of like a mini finger gym for my index everyday, and hence I nailed barre chords.

Practice is still the main point, but from this it goes to show that you can be creative in how you wanna practice. Nowadays also have those cool gadgets like those short plastic frets for training your finger strength.


Cheers and happy practicing

 

[bryan1234]

so fender, how long have u been playing guitar? im in sec 3 and started 3 months ago...

 

[fenderrules]

Eh let's see....I've been playing since I was 14, and I'm now 21.

7 years lol. I didn't realize how fast time flew as well.

 

[Nizamkaizer]

Well i should agree that Barre chords are beginners worst nightmare, i do remember when i was starting to play guitar at the age of 12, i met this one Mat Rock under the block & he told me to hold that chord so hard as if i was strangling somebody's neck lol.

it does work until my fingers were all red haha but when i was learning in Yamaha, my instructor shows me the importance of your thumb placement behind the neck. There are also other factors too like your other fingers placement on the fretboard. For eg did your other fingers touched the string beneath it?

After that, he asks me to practice fretting the neck in all position using my first finger. It became like my warm up during my guitar lesson. Once i was slightly better on it, i slowly start to add other fingers until i had finally strum the complete barre chord. My advice is practice slowly & when its start to hurt. Take a rest & continues when you're ready for it. If not you would get easily frustated & even gave up. Even athletes need their rest before practicing for their event. So Good luck & keep on practicing ^^

 

[Syahwylder]

Barre Chords.. yup they are a beginners nightmare. There really is no way around it but to keep doing it. They get easier the more you do it.

Finger strength?? There is no need to buy anything for it. Here's my tip. All you need is a towel. A thick one is good. Just roll it up or fold it till you're able to properly make a fist-like grip around it. Then just squeeze it real hard for a few seconds and ease off. Repeat as many times as you like. Not only will you develop a firmer handshake but this will help with overall finger strength too.

But bah.. Crank up the distortion on that electric guitar and let the POWER CHORD rip baby! Way more fun than Barre chords hahaha!

 

[pianomankris]

OK here's some classical technique that may help you:

The thumb should be behind the second finger, not the first, as the strongest grip in the hand is with the thumb and the second finger (as the second finger, if you look, runs through from the centre of the arm/hand. It therefore uses more muscles than the other fingers, and as such, the grip can be stronger).

Usually, this means that your thumb will be underneath the fret above where the barre is. However, if you're playing a chord that doesn't use the 2nd finger (e.g. the 6th string root position minor shape), it's OK to move your thumb down a bit closer to under the 1st finger.

The 2nd knuckle crease on your 1st finger - the crease closest to your nail - when barring, this crease should sit between the 3rd and 4th strings. In strict classical terms. But it does make barring easier. PS this means that your finger won't be hanging off the end of the neck at the back. this may feel strange if this is what you've been doing.

Try those and see how you get on.