after practicing for like 4 weeks i still cannot get my index finger to press cleanly across all 6 strings- i think it has something to do with my index finger, there's like a noticable pit/dip on the left side of my finger which makes 1 to 2 strings dulled no matter how hard i try. its also bent slightly toward my middle finger, which sucks
usually its always the g strings thats muted
Wow I have almost the same fingers. ;) (bent toward middle, "pit" that makes one string not play cleanly no matter what)
...and then I was just coming here to post that I finally figured out that I can actually play some barre chords after all (starting tonight) because I realized that a lot of the time you're only hitting maybe 3 strings (for E and A shapes) with the index finger.
But then I tried again on the acoustic for fun, and...it's still really hard to do. :oops:
So, I don't know if that's helpful at all, but maybe it's some encouragement to remember that you don't actually need to play all 6 strings cleanly (unless you're taking lessons and that's what they want, or something) to make some chords. :)
The most natural, comfortable position for barre chords is not always the best. Experiment with moving your finger up, towards the ceiling, or down towards the floor. Also, try rolling your finger a little. It will take a ton of practice, and you will eventually build up finger strength and it will become easier.
Oh year, and this exact problem (my finger is oddly shaped) has been posted countless times :D You are not alone, and your finger is normal. Nobody has a finger shaped like a capo! :D
When you start and practice all these things will happen.
When you are through this phase, then you are REALLY going to enjoy playing the guitar. Barre chords just open the whole guitar for you.
I have suffered very red fingers while learning to play on my classical guitar. Its been 2 years and more since then and I am glad that I learnt them.
So hang on and don't worry about the fingers. Let em harden up and then you are ready to go. :wink:
We're in the same boat. I've been trying for a few days to barre 6 strings, I can get the 4 "low" strings to sound, but the other 2 are a problem. I find myself having to press REALLY hard against the neck of the guitar with my thumb in order to get them to sound.
I'm a firm believer in practice, over and over, and over and over though. That's the only way. :P
Tell him the liberator who destroyed my property has realigned my perception.
It can be a good thing that your G-string's not sounding out loud. :lol:
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
But you don't have to press cleanly against all six strings. If you're playing an E shaped barre, three fingers have already fretted the E shape. The barre should fret the remaining three notes. An A shaped-barre mostly needs only to capture the root on the fifth string and mute the high e. An Em shaped barre needs only to fret the four notes not fretted in the Em shape itself. The Am shaped barre needs to capture only the fifth string root and the high e string. Those are probably the barre shapes you're working with.
Yes, play around with finger position. Your fingers are not the problem. But think ergonomically -- it's typically not an issue of barring all six strings. Focus on fretting the notes that contribute to the chord. You might find you can relax the barre a bit.
I hope that made sense. It's actually one of the mysteries of the barre chord, imho.
Well we all shine on--like the moon and the stars and the sun.
-- John Lennon
Practice going up the fretboard with the E shape then follow it with the A shape barres or mix them up. Eventually you'll find the best position for your barre finger. My finger positioning certainly would not be textbook as my fingers been mangled trying to catch a frozen football more times than I care to remember.
As well, I use my ring finger to get the A shape and I don't bother too much with hitting the high E or B strings. This was a chord shape I always avoided like the plague but with some practice I've gotten so it doesn't sound too bad. In fact, I'm to the point where I'll use it in fingerpicking as my ring finger has stretched to accomodate the lower strings although I muffle the high E. I still have problems with the A7 shape especially as an E7 but no problem with a B7 - go figure?
This is a natural problem everyone has when starting out
Basically just keep moving your index finger about on its own until you can pluck each string and make it sound clean. very small movements of the index finger to a new position is recommended to get that sweet spot.
Your index finger may hurt like hell and it may feel uncomfortable but for me this was to be expected.
I now find myself naturally going to the sweet spot where it sounds clean and my fingers dont hurt nowhere near as bad as when i started to play
I hope this helps (ive been playing guitar for about 18months so i am just a newbie too)
But you don't have to press cleanly against all six strings. If you're playing an E shaped barre, three fingers have already fretted the E shape. The barre should fret the remaining three notes. An A shaped-barre mostly needs only to capture the root on the fifth string and mute the high e. An Em shaped barre needs only to fret the four notes not fretted in the Em shape itself. The Am shaped barre needs to capture only the fifth string root and the high e string. Those are probably the barre shapes you're working with.
Yes, play around with finger position. Your fingers are not the problem. But think ergonomically -- it's typically not an issue of barring all six strings. Focus on fretting the notes that contribute to the chord. You might find you can relax the barre a bit.
I hope that made sense. It's actually one of the mysteries of the barre chord, imho.
Hear Hear! That's some great advice. I found that with the most comfortable position for Em shaped Barre Chord my index finger tends to extend beyond the low E.
When you wanna rock hard children, lean on F sharp
borrowing someone else's finger who is stronger than you at opportune moments is the only way. but it's expensive not to mention inconvenient if you don't have live in staff. :wink:
xax