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Post subject: Um... Need help with bar chords
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:51 pm
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Yeah i feel dumb. i can't do bar chords. I've tried to move my thumb to the underside of the neck for better dexterity, like my teacher told me to do, but i'm still having trouble making the chords sound right. especially when i have to put my finger across the whole fret, and put other fingers on two or three other strings. Any tips?


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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:58 pm
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Try pivoting your wrist forward, it will feel really uncomfortable, but it should allow you to get more pressure on the strings. And practice, ALOT

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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:02 pm
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Still can't quite get it. Guess it just takes practice.


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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:24 pm
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j_rockr91 wrote:
Guess it just takes practice.


Yep. Keep workin' at it. You'll get it down soon enough...


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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:24 pm
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when you're playing barre's it's kind of like it's the bones in your finger that's pressing the strings down, while it's the flesh on your fingers when you're playing open chords(that's how i feel about it), it just takes some time to get used to it

sometimes it helps me a lot to use my thumb to fret the notes on the low E string(6th string), that way you only need to cover two strings with the finger used to 'bar/barré' the chord


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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:59 pm
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It helps to have your thumb vertical on the back of the neck opposite your first finger--so the finger isn't providing all the pressure--share it--and use the side of the index finger more than the inside.

And practice.

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Post subject: Re: Um... Need help with bar chords
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:08 pm
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j_rockr91 wrote:
Yeah i feel dumb. i can't do bar chords. I've tried to move my thumb to the underside of the neck for better dexterity, like my teacher told me to do, but i'm still having trouble making the chords sound right. especially when i have to put my finger across the whole fret, and put other fingers on two or three other strings. Any tips?


You're not alone. EVERY budding guitarist has been through this... it just takes practice... eventually it will become natural. Keep trying, don't worry what it sounds like at first, just concentrate on letting your fingers get used to those un-natural positions.

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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:31 pm
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Your hands backwards when you bar chords. Like typing your index finger on your left, barring hand is to the right of the hand, but barring you turn your hand upside down and the index of the left hand is to the left.

You just have to get used to your hand being upside down and then playing is like typing with your fingers moving to the right place for the sound you want without you looking.

In terms of making the index finger work to create a bar, the first thing is equipment. Get a guitar with low action. Set it up yourself or if that causes a problem with too much buzz then go get a professional to set it up including the truss rod and if necessary dressing the frets.

If your equipment's in order, with the right technique you don't need tons of strength to bar a chord. Your thumb needs to be positioned behind the neck so you opposite pressure from your index finger, sure. It needs to be comfortable and pushing back easy to where you've got your index finger.

There's a psychological barrier that gives people trouble and causes us to sink when we try to bar a chord, even though really it's easy, and we try to mash the strings real hard to avoid buzzing and so forth. Think of the fret as a wall. See that frets a wall and your pressing the strings up against the wall with your left index finger, not mashing them on the fretboard. You don't need to much force. Just do it slowly and firmly and you'll get rid of the rattle and hum quicker than you think probably with good equipment. Then, you'll get tired but just practice and focus on reducing the amount of pressure you're using until it's easy.


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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:33 pm
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You gotta build up the muscles in your fretting hand. Just keep playing.


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Post subject: Bar Chords
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:52 pm
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Most of the bars I've played in don't care which chords you play...... :lol:






..................get it?.............."BAR" chords............. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Bar Chords
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:24 am
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Greg Mitchell wrote:
Most of the bars I've played in don't care which chords you play...... :lol:






..................get it?.............."BAR" chords............. :roll:


:?

lol


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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:28 am
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Keep practicing, as it took me a while before I could get bar chords right when I first started playing...

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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:42 am
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It's a matter of time. You just need to build up a little strength in your hand and fingers. Keep crankin' and you'll get it in no time.


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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:49 am
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Excellent advice. I couldn't have said it better myself.

wickedmartini wrote:
It's a matter of time. You just need to build up a little strength in your hand and fingers. Keep crankin' and you'll get it in no time.


Last edited by evh1978 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:52 pm
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You're weak and disgusting. Just settle for a kazoo.

:lol:
Only kidding. Every single one of us here has gone thru that. Don't sweat it. It'll be easy before you know it.

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