Barre chord helper device?

[ty]

Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.

My index finger alone can't hack it.

[GaryT]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

I don't know that such a device exists...but I can tell you that practice
does pay off in this area. I was having difficulty when I first started
trying to play barre chords, but stuck with it. In a very short while it all
came together.

hth-
GaryT

[Tony Ennis]

Barre chords are not easy, don't despair. Also, there is your normal barre
chord, and the 'Grand Barre'. The former is when you push down a few
strings, the latter is the my-finger-is-a-capo maneuver. Practice the
easier types first. And stop at the first sign of pain.

You have to develop your coordination and strength.

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

[Sheldon]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

First, it won't work on most guitars as they have a radius that will not
match your popsicle stick which will be flat. (Might work on a classcial
guitar with a flat neck.) But, the ideal way to resolve this is to just
keep practicing. You may find you have to roll your finger back and forth a
bit to match the neck radius, but these chords are difficult for all of us,
especially beginners. Hang in there.

You might try "cheating" and playing partial chords, which many players do.
Depends a lot on the type of music you play. Classical and fingerpicking
often needs to be more "exact' than most rock pieces.

[sheli]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

Believe me when I say that a year ago I couldn't even THINK About playing a
barre chords because I thought my fingers were too small. Today I can play
them. Not always clean but enough to get by and I know if I keep practicing
them, they will come clean soon.

Keep trying, it will come.

People told me this too and I laughed saying, "Yeah, right, they can't see
me play and how bad I am."

They were right.

Sheli

[PolyMorf]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

Barre chords are a bitch when starting out. Just
keep working at it. Make micro-adjustments and
work on the angle. You may want to roll it back
towards the nut.

Regards,

Harry

[Jack Wagner]

I think the best advice on barre chords that I see is to start with
trying to barre an A chord at the fifth fret, then when you can get
that move down a fret and rinse lather repeat. Once you get the "feel"
of it it's just a matter of building up a little strength/endurance in
your hand to be able to do the F. But make no bones about it, if you
ever want to get into our secret club you have to keep practicing until
you get it, then we'll teach you the secret handshake and you're in!
It's not rocket science, it's just plain grunt work.

[Tony Meloche]

Post by Jack Wagner
I think the best advice on barre chords that I see is to start with
trying to barre an A chord at the fifth fret, then when you can get
that move down a fret and rinse lather repeat. Once you get the "feel"
of it it's just a matter of building up a little strength/endurance in
your hand to be able to do the F. But make no bones about it, if you
ever want to get into our secret club you have to keep practicing until
you get it, then we'll teach you the secret handshake and you're in!
It's not rocket science, it's just plain grunt work.

Colorfully put, but absolutely correct - there is no "free lunch"
with barre chords. It is indeed just plain "grunt work" until it comes.

The Old Guy

[PolyMorf]

Post by Tony Meloche

Post by Jack Wagner
I think the best advice on barre chords that I see is to start with
trying to barre an A chord at the fifth fret, then when you can get
that move down a fret and rinse lather repeat. Once you get the
"feel" of it it's just a matter of building up a little
strength/endurance in your hand to be able to do the F. But make no
bones about it, if you ever want to get into our secret club you
have to keep practicing until you get it, then we'll teach you the
secret handshake and you're in! It's not rocket science, it's just
plain grunt work.

Colorfully put, but absolutely correct - there is no "free lunch"
with barre chords. It is indeed just plain "grunt work" until it comes.
The Old Guy

My instructor says guitar playing is 3 things:

REPETITION, REPETITION, and REPETITION

It gets boring but ya gotta do it!

Regards,

Harry

[JoeT]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

One thing that will help you a bunch is to realize there's no need to fret
all of the strings with your index finger. You only need your index to fret
the ones you're not already fretting with the other fingers!

[ty]

Post by JoeT

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

One thing that will help you a bunch is to realize there's no need to fret
all of the strings with your index finger. You only need your index to fret
the ones you're not already fretting with the other fingers!

But those "end strings" are the hardest ones for me to do.
Hardest string is #1 for me.

The #6 string is second hardest, so I will try the "A"
position barre chords first, since there is one less string involved.

I normaly use three fingers for the A chord, but in this
case, I'm just covering up the 3 strings in a row with my ring
finger, although this creates a very "sloppy" sound, kind of like
it sounds like the ring finger hit 2 out of 3 strings, and it's
kind of random which strings are played.

Is it possible to get some side callouses on my index finger
to make it harder? Or is it just a finger strength issue?
I have seen an 8 year old kid play barre chords easily, so
there must be some easy yet mysterious tequnique involved.

[Maverick]

Do a Google for a device called "Gripmaster". Thinking about it myself.

:-)

Mav

Post by JoeT

Post by JoeT

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

One thing that will help you a bunch is to realize there's no need to

fret

Post by JoeT
all of the strings with your index finger. You only need your index

to fret

Post by JoeT
the ones you're not already fretting with the other fingers!

But those "end strings" are the hardest ones for me to do.
Hardest string is #1 for me.
The #6 string is second hardest, so I will try the "A"
position barre chords first, since there is one less string involved.
I normaly use three fingers for the A chord, but in this
case, I'm just covering up the 3 strings in a row with my ring
finger, although this creates a very "sloppy" sound, kind of like
it sounds like the ring finger hit 2 out of 3 strings, and it's
kind of random which strings are played.
Is it possible to get some side callouses on my index finger
to make it harder? Or is it just a finger strength issue?
I have seen an 8 year old kid play barre chords easily, so
there must be some easy yet mysterious tequnique involved.

[ty]

Post by Maverick
Do a Google for a device called "Gripmaster". Thinking about it myself.
:-)
Mav

Ok, I picked up a "Heavy Tension" Grip Master at REI.

Works my index finger quite well, so it seems.
Also not bad for the other fingers, except the pinky (too hard).
You owe me $15 if it doesn't help me play barre chords.

Ty

[athena]

Ty, it's interesting that you say this, as I can get the outside
strings, but #2 (B string, I keep confusing the numbers) almost never
sounds for me yet in a full barre chord. Sometimes if I change the
angle across the string it works. Or if I change where my thumb is so
that it's more directly behind the offending string. And, often it
seems I'm not hitting the other strings as well with the tips of my
fingers so they don't ring as true as they could. So for me, anyway, I
don't really think it's a strength thing, but a style thing.

Before I saw your post, I was going to whine about barre chords too :-)
I know I have to work to get them, but I wonder if it will ever happen!
Good luck to you.

[mickey]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

Nope, no shortcuts here. We all went through this...one day, you're going
to start doing it and wondering what the fuss was about.

In the meantime, consider picking up an electric guitar and putting on
ultralight strings. The amplifier will help the sound come out, you won't
have to press down so hard, you'll be able to concentrate on get your
fingers positioned properly and you'll build up your muscles.

I don't understand why they don't make it a RULE to start beginners on
electric guitars.

[RPM1]

Post by mickey

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

Nope, no shortcuts here. We all went through this...one day, you're going
to start doing it and wondering what the fuss was about.
In the meantime, consider picking up an electric guitar and putting on
ultralight strings. The amplifier will help the sound come out, you won't
have to press down so hard, you'll be able to concentrate on get your
fingers positioned properly and you'll build up your muscles.
I don't understand why they don't make it a RULE to start beginners on
electric guitars.

I am a beginner and when I went guitar shopping my brother and his wife
strongly suggested an electric instead of an acoustic. I've been playing
since 12/04/2004, (with size 10 strings), and I can play a barre F chord. I
can't do quick chord changes yet but right now I'm concentrating on sound
quality. I pick each string of the chord separately to make sure they sound
good. Experimenting with how far across the fretboard your index finger
lies helps too, (i.e. sometimes play with your index finger hanging off the
end a little and sometimes try with the tip of your index finger just
reaching the low E string - find your own good spot). I found that keeping
my fingers separated was hard to do but helped.

Keep trying and give your left hand frequent breaks.
Patrick

[mg]

RPM1 wrote:

Experimenting with how far across the fretboard your index finger

Post by RPM1
lies helps too, (i.e. sometimes play with your index finger hanging off the
end a little and sometimes try with the tip of your index finger just
reaching the low E string - find your own good spot). I found that keeping
my fingers separated was hard to do but helped.
Keep trying and give your left hand frequent breaks.
Patrick

I've been playing for 2 1/2 months now and can make some barre chords,
but not change between them quickly yet. I was watching Chrissy Hines
(sp??) on television and noticed that when she barred, her finger was
hanging over the edge by quite a bit. I tried it and it really helped.
(she also used two fingers to barre when the second finger wasn't being
used on a string)
Mike

[Jack Wagner]

If worse comes to worse you can always tune down half a step and try it
with a little less tension on the strings.

[Andy Eng]

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

A capo?

Was watching the recent Simon and Garfunkel concert DVD and noticed
that Paul Simon uses a capo on nearly every number all up and down the
fretboard. Many of his chords chould have been played with a barre
chord but with a capo, he was able to use more open chord fingering.

BTW - Are you trying to learn barre chords with an acoustic or an
electric?

Best,
Andy

[ty]

I use both. I also went over to Guitar Center and tried all kinds
of guitars out, NONE barre for me!

[m***@somewhere.com]

Pick you a song that you like that you can use barre chords (I picked
"sister golden hair") and play the chords over and over and over .....and
over. By the time you hate the song, you'll have built enough strength, or
whatever it is that you need to play barre chords cleanly.

It worked or me.....took a few of months of what seemed like non stop
practice. Honestly, it pretty easy now. I don't play "sister golden hair"
much any more.

[_Bigred]

I have never found anything like what you are searching for... I too have
struggled with barre chords for the past 4 months, and am just now getting
it to work for me. When I was struggling with keeping my fretting index
finger down, I would mash my finger with my strum/pick hand then "Try" to
play the desired barre chord.

After doing this for some time, I can finally keep that fretting index
finger barred and working etc..

You didn't learn to walk, talk or running all in one sitting... practice and
patience will get it done for you.

God Bless Rock N'Roll
_Bigred

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

[sheli]

Post by _Bigred
I have never found anything like what you are searching for... I too have
struggled with barre chords for the past 4 months, and am just now getting
it to work for me. When I was struggling with keeping my fretting index
finger down, I would mash my finger with my strum/pick hand then "Try" to
play the desired barre chord.
After doing this for some time, I can finally keep that fretting index
finger barred and working etc..
You didn't learn to walk, talk or running all in one sitting... practice
and patience will get it done for you.
God Bless Rock N'Roll
_Bigred

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.

Another piece of advice I got from my teacher which helped me is to place
the barre first then follow with the other fingers. By playing open chords
for a while it's easier to place those other fingers other than the bar. If
you place the barre first it seems easier for the other fingers to follow. I
used to do it the opposite way and he noticed it....then said..."try it like
this". Within a week I had a much easier time.

Sheli

[briggst]

On the barre chords where your middle finger
isn't busy, place it on top of the index finger.
Give's the index a little rest...

Patience & practice, you'll get it.

Rock On!
--
--
"Of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong!"
Tod Briggs
Briggs Brewing

Post by ty
Does somebody make something like a tapeable
popsicle stick that I could attach to my
index finger, in order to play barre chords?
That is a crude description of what I am looking
for.
My index finger alone can't hack it.