Trouble with barre chords???

Question

Ok so I have really small hands, and barre chords are sooo hard, it's driving me insane cause no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get them right... is there any way to fix this? Or do I just have to buy another guitar with a smaller neck? Cause I really don't want to do that.. Like if I practice enough will I seriously be able to do it or is it just impossible for me? If there's any specific way of practicing please tell me...

Answer 1

Well as long as your index finger is able to hold down all six strings on the first five frets (the widest frets) the size of your hands isn't much of an issue. One of the biggest issues with barre chords is its difficult to play if the action (string height form the fingerboard, which you can change on the bridge unless you are using a nylon acoustic which you can't adjust) is too high. Try lowering it slowly if you can at the guitar's bridge until you can comfortably hold a barre with your index finger. Just don't set it too low as the strings will start buzzing against the frets. As with everything in life you need practice, build up the finger strength to hold different barre chords. Good luck and hope this helped

Answer 2

Do you have an electric or acoustic?

If you have an acoustic, maybe you should try electrics since they have thinner necks. If you have an electric, you could try finding a guitar with thinner necks (Ibanez guitars tend to have thinner necks).

Other than that, keep trying or find ways around it such as using your thumb to fret the lower strings (Jimi Hendrix did this...although not because his hands were small :P)

Answer 3

I have small hands too, at 42, my hands still fit in the plaster mold I made as a kid.  Before arthritis struck me, thanks to having my small hands and all, I played guitar. Like you I had trouble reaching chords from underneath, my fingers just wouldn't wrap around right, so I learned to play from the top (using all 5 fingers), it was tricky but I got the hang of it, took a lot of practice.  Be careful you don't strain your wrist, it can cause carpal tunnel problems, which I have issues with too.  But I found it helpful, and I hope this helps you out too!