BARRE CHORDS- DARYL

I've found that lots of problems with barre chords can be attributed to technique and instrument, not hand strength. You shouldn't need to have a vice grip to sound notes. With that, a few things:

1. Make sure your guitar is set up correctly and action is low enough that you don't have to do a ton of work.
2. Make sure your guitar neck is in a high enough position to allow your hand to hang from your elbow. Prop your left knee up or use a strap, even when sitting. This is good position: https://deftdigits.com/blog/wp-content/ … osture.jpg  This is bad position: http://www.fretjam.com/images/acoustic- … itting.jpg Also make sure your guitar isn't angled upward toward you. This makes it easier to see the fretboard but much harder to play, i.e. http://takelessons.com/blog/wp-content/ … 06/117.png
3. When you fret a barre chord (or any note for that matter) the pressure doesn't go directly in to the fret board. Your elbow pulls your hand both back and down slightly. So you are using gravity, not hand strength, to fret notes.

Hope this helps!

I've found another good practice exercise is to take one "scale" practice session during the week and do it the same way normal practice sessions are done, only do it on a twelve string. It's awkward at first, but it makes any 6 string seem so much easier to handle. If you play them slow enough to ensure complete coverage of both stringed notes, and work on tonal quality, the six can take on a new sound with touch effect.

I think it's still good advice though! 

edited for spelling - ahh!

I play in Barres all the time on acoustic..... not as often in Bars though.  I'm totally behind what that Bald Guitar Fellow said !!  Most of our (including me) problems with finger placement and clean sounding chords/notes can be directly attributed to poor habits formed while we were still learning. (some of us get to blame arthritis though)....   Get the posture right and thumb well behind the neck, practice in short sessions often, and it will all come together.

Edited to Add:  Try to learn to form your "first position" open chords without using your index finger also. the A,D, E, G, C, and minor shapes are mobile up the neck with the addition of the "index finger Barre" and it might make transitions into and out of Barred forms easier down the road.