[GuitarGurl06314]

[font=Arial Black][b][color=#CC33CC] i just started playing under a year ago and am having some problems playing single barred chords.....any advice to stop the pain??

[dorio]

For barre there are no alternatives. The answer is daily practice till the muscles get used to that. It's work, but very rewarding in the end

[rock_slave]

check the guitar is properly set up

[ballads_r_bullshit]

i have the same effin problem its drivin me insane

[zooloo]

I recently started playing bass and sprain my wrist - what a woosie I am.

Anyway bought a Powerball (gyroscopic thing) and it worked well enough.

[The Chord Master]

I recently started playing bass and sprain my wrist - what a woosie I am.

Anyway bought a Powerball (gyroscopic thing) and it worked well enough.

Sorry I sound like a n00b but what's a powerball?

[jenniferdurst]

Powerballs are tools/toys for strengthening your wrists. I've never tried one so I'm not entirely certain as to how they work, but the main jist is to keep the ball inside spinning.

[HeteroBoy]

They are effing ridiculous.
The gyroball things?

If that's what you're talking about, I didn't know about the wrist thing but my goodness does it work your forearms.

[ninjato]

They are effing ridiculous.
The gyroball things?

If that's what you're talking about, I didn't know about the wrist thing but my goodness does it work your forearms.

Your wrists are controlled by your forearm muscles as well as your grip. No forearms = wimpy grip.


I have one. It relieves my carpal tunnel and it's the only thing that works for my CTS.

This post has been edited by ninjato: 02 January 2008 - 10:43 AM

[fenderguitarfreak]

[font=Arial Black][b][color=#CC33CC] i just started playing under a year ago and am having some problems playing single barred chords.....any advice to stop the pain??

You just have to keep practicing to get your muscles use to it. It'll come don't worry, just remember to practice it daily. Don't give up because it's hard at first.

[Siege of Troy]

Are you playing an acoustic guitar? or an electric guitar?

[flickfan82x]

It's okay, my fingers hurt with steel strings, but I fight through the suffering because playing is WORTH it all!

[chasyd69]

When I first started learning barre chords I found two things really helped....

1)When playing a barre chord I'd concentrate on the E,A,D,G strings effectively playing a fifth but it wouldn't hurt as much and as I got used to where all the chords were and felt more comfortable changing to them I eventually started barring the whole six strings.

2)I'd swap between my old acoustic with a really thick neck and high action and my electric with a thinner neck and lower action. When I'd swap to the electric I'd really notice how easier it was and when swapping back I'd found I'd improved slightly if that makes sense.

I hope that makes sense and helps.

[dadfad]

From an Earlier Topic With A Similar Question ...

Using the thumb on the 6-string can make barre-chords easier (It may seem clumbsy at first but quickly becomes very easy). Generally a full six string chord isn't always required, just either a bassier chord or a treblier chord. Concentrate your efforts on the side of the neck that is most important for the sound you want. On a barred F, that open 5-string (A) is a note contained in an F-chord and so may be left open (or fingered, 133211, as desired). Occassionally I'll use a full-barred-with-the-side-of-the-index-finger barre-chord, but I've found that generally you really only want one of two choices in a barre-chord...a bassy-sounding chord (where I'll use my thumb on the 6 and finger the 5,4,3) or a treblier-sounding chord (where I'll finger the 1,2,3,4). For those rare times I actually want a full-barre, I'll use the more conventional index-across-the-whole-neck type. (Actually, you can use the thumb for a full-barre too most times, depending on where you're going next or what you're coming out of.). Best advice, learn to play them all three ways, but for me and the stuff I usually play, the use of the thumb is the dominant method. Laying your middle finger over your barring-index finger for extra pushing strength can help to when that middle finger isn't needed elsewhere, like if you're just using simpler "power-chords," etc. In any case it will get much better and more solid with practice.

[ninjato]

OK since nobody has posted it yet....and I've posted this a few times already for those who wish to search.

HOW TO DO A PROPER BARRE CHORD.

1. STOP chocking the neck w/ the Vulcan pinch. It doesn't do anything other than bend your strings out of tune, and tire out your hand needlessly.

2. As you hold out your hand (fretting hand), palm facing you, note the outside edge of the index finger where it is "bony"....this is what you have to get down on the fretboard, not the soft fleshy part of your finger.

3. Anchor the index finger of the fretting hand on the topmost string you need to hold down...since we are talking full 6 string chords, I'll use the E shape barre chord on the 5th fret ("A" chord...577655). As you anchor your index, allow your arm and shoulder to relax "into" the guitar. Allow the weight of your arm to pull down on the finger and fret the strings w/ a little support from your thumb on the back of the neck. Keep in mind, IT IS NOT your thumb that is doing all the work to fret. If it is, you are not going to last after a few barres.

4. Last of all, keep in mind that most barres, you only have to worry about holding down 3 strings w/ the index finger. The other three strings are taken cared of w/ your middle, ring, and pinky. So for example this barre chord. 577655 the barre only has to deal w/ the low E str, the high B and E strings. You are not barring all the strings, just 3 of them. Or even easier (for some) a A shape barres.....or the "D" chord on the 5th fret. You have 557775...on this chord, the hard part is not the barre w/ the index finger but rather the smaller barring of the D, G, and B strings w/ the ring finger.

Regardless, the key to barring is to use the weight of your arm and not the squeezing action between your thumb and index.

[Gronkubus]

OK since nobody has posted it yet....and I've posted this a few times already for those who wish to search.

HOW TO DO A PROPER BARRE CHORD.

1. STOP chocking the neck w/ the Vulcan pinch. It doesn't do anything other than bend your strings out of tune, and tire out your hand needlessly.

2. As you hold out your hand (fretting hand), palm facing you, note the outside edge of the index finger where it is "bony"....this is what you have to get down on the fretboard, not the soft fleshy part of your finger.

3. Anchor the index finger of the fretting hand on the topmost string you need to hold down...since we are talking full 6 string chords, I'll use the E shape barre chord on the 5th fret ("A" chord...577655). As you anchor your index, allow your arm and shoulder to relax "into" the guitar. Allow the weight of your arm to pull down on the finger and fret the strings w/ a little support from your thumb on the back of the neck. Keep in mind, IT IS NOT your thumb that is doing all the work to fret. If it is, you are not going to last after a few barres.

4. Last of all, keep in mind that most barres, you only have to worry about holding down 3 strings w/ the index finger. The other three strings are taken cared of w/ your middle, ring, and pinky. So for example this barre chord. 577655 the barre only has to deal w/ the low E str, the high B and E strings. You are not barring all the strings, just 3 of them. Or even easier (for some) a A shape barres.....or the "D" chord on the 5th fret. You have 557775...on this chord, the hard part is not the barre w/ the index finger but rather the smaller barring of the D, G, and B strings w/ the ring finger.

Regardless, the key to barring is to use the weight of your arm and not the squeezing action between your thumb and index.

Those tips are great, and you should also get a guitar with a thinner neck, especially if you have small hands.

[ninjato]

OK since nobody has posted it yet....and I've posted this a few times already for those who wish to search.

HOW TO DO A PROPER BARRE CHORD.

1. STOP chocking the neck w/ the Vulcan pinch. It doesn't do anything other than bend your strings out of tune, and tire out your hand needlessly.

2. As you hold out your hand (fretting hand), palm facing you, note the outside edge of the index finger where it is "bony"....this is what you have to get down on the fretboard, not the soft fleshy part of your finger.

3. Anchor the index finger of the fretting hand on the topmost string you need to hold down...since we are talking full 6 string chords, I'll use the E shape barre chord on the 5th fret ("A" chord...577655). As you anchor your index, allow your arm and shoulder to relax "into" the guitar. Allow the weight of your arm to pull down on the finger and fret the strings w/ a little support from your thumb on the back of the neck. Keep in mind, IT IS NOT your thumb that is doing all the work to fret. If it is, you are not going to last after a few barres.

4. Last of all, keep in mind that most barres, you only have to worry about holding down 3 strings w/ the index finger. The other three strings are taken cared of w/ your middle, ring, and pinky. So for example this barre chord. 577655 the barre only has to deal w/ the low E str, the high B and E strings. You are not barring all the strings, just 3 of them. Or even easier (for some) a A shape barres.....or the "D" chord on the 5th fret. You have 557775...on this chord, the hard part is not the barre w/ the index finger but rather the smaller barring of the D, G, and B strings w/ the ring finger.

Regardless, the key to barring is to use the weight of your arm and not the squeezing action between your thumb and index.

Those tips are great, and you should also get a guitar with a thinner neck, especially if you have small hands.

Actually the thinner the neck is (front to back), the worse and more painful it gets to do barre chords. You want a fat neck for barres. The fatter the neck, the less work you have to do w/ the hands to complete the barre. I know it sounds contrary to reason but it's true.

Width of the fretboard and scale length is entirely a different issue that can afftect barre chording.

This post has been edited by ninjato: 31 March 2008 - 09:28 AM

[regard13]

I can suggest two things:

1. As a beginner you can buy strings with low tension - the sound will be not so bright (that doesn't mean "not good") but it will be much easier to hold barred chords.
2. James Blunt clips a fretboard with a special clip at any place where he needs to make a barred chord I don't like it, but it's interesting to try.
3. Put second finger on a finger that holds a chord. It will give more power to the first finger
4. Train more!

[sixgunsound]

I can suggest two things:

1. As a beginner you can buy strings with low tension - the sound will be not so bright (that doesn't mean "not good") but it will be much easier to hold barred chords.
2. James Blunt clips a fretboard with a special clip at any place where he needs to make a barred chord I don't like it, but it's interesting to try.
3. Put second finger on a finger that holds a chord. It will give more power to the first finger
4. Train more!

privyet regard. good advice to practice more. i was on your website and no ya ne gavaryu pa russki, ya oochus and wondered if you were from russia?