whenever i bar...the 3rd string will mute...cant ring properly..4th string sometimes ring..sometimes mute...i use alot of strength to press down already. how?

do ur guitar have the right setting?

Huan, I don't think there is much to say except that you just have to press harder down with your index finger. Try to make sure that your finger applies even pressure on all strings.

And depending on the barre chord you are playing, some of them you can cheat a little bit. Like the F chord, since you have other fingers on D, A, & G strings, your index fingers will only need to focus on pressing down on low e, B, & E strings.

Having said that, you should still try to have as much pressure on all strings as you can so they are all down on the fret with the index finger.

Keep on practicing, and eventually you'll develop the finger strength to press the strings effortlessly.

For practice, you can start with something that only uses 2 other fingers apart from the index.
Like the Bm barre chord (224232 I think)
That way, you can use your middle finger to support your index. Later, you might be able to do it without the middle finger.
Keep practicing, that's all there is to say.
Good luck.

Firstly a correction for Ezak. :P
(224232) is Bm7.
(224432) is Bm

For better strength and leverage while performing a barre chord, make sure your thumb is not sticking out of the neck. It should be placed right in the middle at the back of your fingerboard.
Another tip is while fretting, move yr index finger as close to the fret(metal piece) as possible.
Also while fretting, you can rock your index ringer around left and right to find the perfect position which will give you the most strength.

ok. so i just gotta keep pressing as hard as i can and eventually i will bar effortlessly right?


kitkit, what right setting?

thanks guys

barre chords are pretty easy when:

you squeeze the neck of the guitar with your thumb AND your index finger
(your thumb should be as low as possible)

and when you use the right side of your index finger ONLY
- your joint should allow you to hold the 4th and 3rd string relatively easy

make sure you have a good hand position and then press down and you should have all strings sounding

good luck!

I was practicing the two barre chords yesterday and I realize that I still don't press down hard enough. For example, the Bm7 in Tokyo, some times the A and G strings are muted.

I have pretty bony fingers, and I think that the lack of "meat" in my index finger creates a little crease (since the bony finger joints stick out and the bone narrows in the middle), hence I have to press extra hard to get certain strings down on the fret.

lol! XD
that happens to me as well.... sometimes :lol:

If you are strong you can use the thumb and index finger.

But I suggest use your arm strength not your thumb. So when you do barre chrord try using your arm to pull your index finger and your thumb doesn't touch the back of the neck.

Meaning you're actually bending the neck of the guitar towards you.... I don't think that's a good idea...
If you do that you won't be only using your arm but your whole body cuz you'll be trying to stabilize your guitar from flipping with you right arm which also uses your whole body as a support.... Won't that deal much more stress...

ok...another thing is that when i do bar chords around the 1st and 2nd fret, my wirst dont feel very comfortable...the neck of guitar is kinda far...my wrist aint comfrotable...how?

I guess keep on practicing and eventually, your wrist will get used to bending that way and it won't feel uncomfortable.

gaiachrome that may not be the best method to play barre chords! as tsunvun86 said you may end up flinging your guitar towards whoever is in front of you and doing that for a long time might result in a slightly bend neck since your applying so much pressure by bending it towards you...

Huan how do you hold your guitar? if you have your neck pointing a little bit to the front then you'll find yourself curling your wrist a lot...maybe you can bring the neck back a little closer to your body when you play?

wow! I never tried that before..not needing to use my thumb that would be great :lol: My thumb is very sore after a long period of barre chords especially that c.he.rry song. I can't finish the whole song coz my thumb feels as if it's going to break :swt

very true..it's all about practising..i remember having pain on my wrist all week but it kinda went away after sometime (which i can't remember how long it takes)...no pain no gain that's what everybody keeps on saying :swt

i have been trying both sides of my finger, as well as the middle (not using the side of the index finger) for me, using the sides of finger will not allow the strings to ring clearly, because the joint will have this curve part, where your points let u ring the strings clearly, but after the joint is not gonna ring.

i heard from many people, using the left side of your index finger (while barring the left hand side) is much better.

anyone uses the middle or which ever sides?

What I've read up ages ago was, your thumb should be placed one or two frets from the barre, meaning for Bm for example (224432) place your thumb further towards you and curl your over hand in front of the neck. And the other tip was try not to land the strings where your fingers crease.

it's very true what Yue said. especially the not pressing the strings where your fingers crease part.

That's usually the main reason why your string don't ring. The other thing is well, just practice, like everyone else had said. The strength of your finger and wrist will need to be a little bit stronger before you can barre right. =)