finger strength and frustration

[fattydq]

I've been playing guitar for 3 years and I'm starting to get very frustrated. I can do basic soloing and all that but what I really want to do is to be able to write my own acoustic songs. I don't want to do anything crazy but it seems after all this time of playing my finger strength is horrible. I just want to be able to strum simple jack johnson/bob dylan/neil young songs. I can't play ANY 7th chords at all unless they're in the open position because my barres are never strong enough to get that note, for example

5
5
6
5***
7
5

i can never get that 7th note. For simple minor chords I often can't get

2
2
2***
4
4
2

that note gives me trouble. I literally can not play and sing a lot of songs I want to because I can't play these chords without leaning into the guitar and pressing to the point where my hand shakes. I don't have much stretch in my hands at all and i have to put my thumb way down behind the neck to even play barre chords so i cant shift from normal chords to barre chords very fast at all. ANY tips would be appreciated I'm desperate.

[bnazzz]

Try to expirement with your fretting hands positioning. It could be a very small change is all that's required. For example, if you use the soft meaty part near the base of your finger to bar, you'll dampen the strings and muffle the sound no matter how hard you press down. Aim to have the bonier parts of your index, mostly near the knuckles, over the strings that need to ring out, and you shouldn't have to exert too much energy to get it to ring. Remember, when you play a chord, the strings are no more resistant then when you play a single note, so it really shouldn't take any more pressure on your part.

Brian

[Bizarro]

You might have a "crappy" guitar with strings that are too high. See a guitar tech and get it adjusted.

Some parts of my fingers don't hold the strings down well, like in the crease behind my knuckles. I have learned to avoid that part of my finger when holding chords. It took some effort, but doesn't everything worthwhile? :)

Good luck!

[perth]

I literally can not play and sing a lot of songs I want to because I can't play these chords without leaning into the guitar and pressing to the point where my hand shakes. I don't have much stretch in my hands at all and i have to put my thumb way down behind the neck to even play barre chords so i cant shift from normal chords to barre chords very fast at all. ANY tips would be appreciated I'm desperate.

The only way to get that strength is to practice barring. You should start barring one string at a time to avoid injury. Exerting that much force on your fingers without training them first is risky.

You can however, revoice those chords so you don't have to barre, and if your singing voice is the main event, then the chord voicing isn't as important, IMHO.

A Dominant:
-0--
-2-- index or middle
-0--
-2-- middle or index
-0--
-0--

F# minor:
-2-- pinky
-2-- ring
-2-- middle
-x-- mute with middle
-0--
-2-- index

(this one is barred, but based on your diagram, it shouldn't be a problem)
-9-- index
-10- middle
-11- ring
-11- pinky
-9-- index
-x-- mute with index

There are many other ways to play these chords too. Good luck, and have fun.

[mmendes]

What you could do is check your strings gauge. Maybe you are using hard tension strings and it makes harder to do barre chords. I also play acoustic and I had the same problem.

After using low tension strings for a while I started using more heavier strings and now I am using D´addario Extra-Hard tension. But I took me a while to get to them....so don´t give up. And practice as musch as you can so your hand becomes stronger.

[ashc]

I would check the point Biz made about the creases behind knuckles lining up with the string. Also try rotating the index outward just a little, leaning it back toward the nut.

Also, You need to barre, as with all fretting, fairly close to the fret but too close can be a problem as well in the case of a barre'd index finger.

Strength and stamina is part of the answer but it's dangerous road to try make it the whole answer. If you keep going and keep checking for technique problems one day these will be easy!

[mattblack850]

Depending on your hand size you could always try playing Half-Barre chords with your fingers and bring the thumb over the top of the neck. Sometimes also called Folk-style. It takes a bit of getting used-to but maybe worth experimenting with. Your hands don't have to be as big as you'd think to use this technique!

[ashc]

Hmmm...good point.

I always think of the thumb over as "Jimi Style". Makes it easier to do the embellishments, esp. with the pinky. It's my default way in a lot of cases and I have worked at this to learn some songs (mainly JHE) and my main difficulties with that style is:

1) the transition from E string root barre chords where it works to A and D string root barre chords where it doesn't.

2) Sliding chords and position shifting can be more difficult with the thumb over - especially higher up the neck as it gets wider.

I do like it, but apart from getting from open position chords, e.g. C, to a half barre'd F chord I don't know that I would consider it easier ??

[mattblack850]

Yep, I totally agree with you Ash, especially about moving further up the neck than say around the 5/6th fret. I mainly suggested it as a halfway point to help get the strength into the fingers to start with, once they can play this way cleanly they should have the strength to be able to switch to Full-Barre without much trouble!!

[AndyP]

In addition to all of the very excellent suggestions and possible solutions to your woes. I'd like to add this. I think technique is as much a problem as flexibility and strength here. One technique that helps me barre is to place my thumb on the back of the neck in the center, pretty much directly behind my index finger. I think of creating a barre as a squeezing motion between my thumb and index finger.

You should be able to practice laying a barre across all six stings to get the hang of using the thumb and index together. Don't add any other fingers 'til you can barre nice and clean.

It shouldn't hurt. Just build up strenth and technique slow and steady. Take a couple minutes everyday to practice barring but don't over do it. The angle you hold your index finger at, and where you place your thumb are key so try to find your sweet spot.

[mattblack850]

Another great suggestion Andy!! In fact, how about taking it one step further and retune the guitar to a G or D chord and practice barre chords all over the neck whilst still be able to play songs?;)

[AndyP]

Great idea Matt.