Barre Chords. HELP! :(

starscream · 6 Jul 2006 at 23:39

SidewinderINC said:
how do you play a major chord with your middle finger atop your index?

Was just going to say that as well! They would all come out as minor chords as I see it.

I found barre chords like learning to ride. One day I couldn't do them, the next I good, Does anyone ever use "C" shape barre chords as well as E and A shape?

SidewinderINC · 6 Jul 2006 at 23:42

ive tried to use D but it just doesnt work

never tried C before. just seems far too complicated and pointless.

E and A are really easy to get your hands used to moving to quickly, C just seems too complicated.

Andelusion · 6 Jul 2006 at 23:49

marc_howarth said:
I often found it easy to place my middle finder on top of my index finger to give added support, i'm guessing this may get into a bad habit though

Noooo don't do that

Try and get out of that habit, when you want to play a simple Major barre you'll be stuck with no comfortable finger to play the Major 3rd then, which is the whole point of playing that particular chord, plus it'll mean when you want to play other chords which require a barre AND use of your middle finger you'll be back to square one. Best to just nail it first time around

marc_howarth · 6 Jul 2006 at 23:56

thanks for that, it really is like having a free teacher

back to basics it is for then...

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2006 at 00:22

F on the first fret. The hardest chord to play perfectly in tune ever. Still gives me nightmares *shudder*.

Andelusion · 7 Jul 2006 at 00:30

Nitefly said:
F on the first fret. The hardest chord to play perfectly in tune ever. Still gives me nightmares *shudder*.

lol FMajor add9 is a ******.

E:1
B:1
G:2
D:5
A:3
E:1

Major add 9 chords are my favourite chords, not when they're in F though

Dave · 7 Jul 2006 at 00:30

Yeah, usually I just dodge the F-barre chord by just not playing the low-E string and having the index finger along the top 2 strings. Hard to describe but I guess everyone does it to get past it

Karl · 7 Jul 2006 at 08:25

I found that Bb is much harder than F, but then again, I use my index finger for the barre and my other 3 fingers for each subsequent string.

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2006 at 10:21

Andelusion said:
lol FMajor add9 is a ******.

E:1
B:1
G:2
D:5
A:3
E:1

Major add 9 chords are my favourite chords, not when they're in F though

What a sillychord, thats just asking for trouble! As for that C shaped chord, its not as evil as the above, I wouldn't find it a pain in the arse if it came up whilst learning a song. The most aweful chord I have ever come across is this beast:

-3-
-4-
-2-
-3-
-0-
-x-

Blegh! Hitting that everytime smoothly takes some practise, for me at least.

My F sounds out of tune when I play it compared to other chords... but I am the sort of person that scowls when my chords arn't 'metranome' perfect. I do indeed cheat by not playing the low E sometimes.
I'm aweful at setting up guitars

Vonhelmet · 7 Jul 2006 at 12:29

William said:
Will do, was trying to learn Married With Children by Oasis.

Well, once you get that down you'll also be pretty much set to play She's Electric, as well as Lithium by Nirvana.

starscream · 7 Jul 2006 at 12:41

vonhelmet said:
Well, once you get that down you'll also be pretty much set to play She's Electric, as well as Lithium by Nirvana.

And Octopus' Garden

William · 7 Jul 2006 at 12:49

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopusses garden in the shade....

Sunsheeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyne.

SexyGreyFox · 7 Jul 2006 at 14:05

I thought I'd try my hand at video tuition

So here for your delight is dmpoole's Guide To Barre Chords pts 1 & 2 and you can even hear my boring Stokie voice.

Pt 1 - The Basics

Barre Chords - The Basics (4.47 meg WMV)

Pt 2 - Examples, rock n roll style and Can't Get Enough by Bad Company

Barre Chords - Examples (7.56 meg WMV)

If any of you find this useful then send me an Old Speckled Hen or Bishops Finger.

William · 7 Jul 2006 at 14:19

Increadibly handy, will drop your Hen off next time I go through Stoke.

William · 7 Jul 2006 at 18:54

Bumppity....

Really really helpful, managed to nail the chords in that Oasis track. Just need to be able to switch to them fast enough now.

starscream · 7 Jul 2006 at 19:42

Am I the only one that uses my 4th finger to make the A shape on Barre chords?

Andelusion · 7 Jul 2006 at 19:43

starscream said:
Am I the only one that uses my 4th finger to make the A shape on Barre chords?

Hope so

SidewinderINC · 7 Jul 2006 at 19:46

starscream said:
Am I the only one that uses my 4th finger to make the A shape on Barre chords?

just tried that, dont have the strenght or agility in my pinky yet, and even if i did i doubt i'd use it

starscream · 8 Jul 2006 at 12:48

SidewinderINC said:
just tried that, dont have the strenght or agility in my pinky yet, and even if i did i doubt i'd use it

You can use your little fingers to do hammer ons that way

SidewinderINC · 8 Jul 2006 at 13:05

starscream said:
You can use your little fingers to do hammer ons that way

dragging this thread off topic for a few seconds, you've played the joiners in soton right? what capacity is that place? i know its really tiny... do you know the actual capacity?

and by 4th finger do you mean pinky? or the one next to it (thus counting the thumb as a finger)