Bar Chords?

Question

I have a guitar, but I can't do a single bar chord. When I place my index finger across, my other fingers seem stuck to it, and unable to bend across to get to the other frets.

Maybe it's my violin playing that hinders me---since your fingers always arched so you're on your fingertips.

Is there any way I can help fix this? Help!

Answer 1

finger exercise and practise, practise, practise! You have to press pretty hard to hold a chord on a guitar...At first it will be hard on your fingertips but, with practise, they wont hurt at all

Answer 2

I have the same issue when I try to play - sorry.

Answer 3

no ure basically screwed lol

Answer 4

It just takes practice.  Start by barreing the first finger and then lay in the other 3.. .then take them off then lay them on again and maybe barre just 3 or 4 strings... it's just a matter of practice and. just like learning the violin... you practice THE MOVES you don't try to play at the same time... just concentrate on the moves and you should get it.

Answer 5

Bar chords are always difficult to begin with.  Practice is all you need!  There is no easy method.  The violin thing just sounds like an excuse!

Answer 6

try moving your fingers in free air, and keep your index finger straight, while bending your remaining fingers so you create a bar chord.  it'll help you with keeping that index finger across the strings while moving your other fingers

Answer 7

Build up your finger strength through practice.

You need to retrain your hand muscles to obey the correct form, which can take a while.

Any other hand exercises can help, too.

Answer 8

Since my first mastery of the F chord (in 1956) I've used my thumb to catch the sixth string while the ring and the small finger caught the fifth and fourth strings. I figured if Chet Atkins and Merle Travis could do it then so could I.

I save the  barring of the chords when the thumb placement is either secondary or delayed. What's more, I can play any chord fashionable in this manner and save on the strength needed for full barring by the forefinger.

I use the thumb to catch the sixth and the fifth strings when playing Bb (113331), Bbm (113321), and Bb6 (113333). Of course, these chords mentioned can be applied chromatically--step-by-step up the fret board, and when done so, take on new chord names.

Try my suggestion; you just might like it.

Answer 9

ok heres a little tip practice the pentatonic scale heres a tab for it

http://www.learn-guitar-online.com/image...

Focus on switching up fingers also try and play normal open chords with you three bottom fingers hope I help :)

Answer 10

Practice.  It took me a long time too, but it came along, and now I can do them automatically.