"F" chord is now outlawed (Page 2 of 6)

If you have trouble playing barre chords...the solution is to correct your posture...not use your thumb.

Barre chords are really tricky at first, the cheat Bm really helps me get by, too (xx4432) I still use it in a lot of places because it's just a hell of a lot faster anuyways. My suggestion with the whole barre chords situation is to just play the chords you can play, get really good at changing between them (I always look at the first three frets as a 3X6 box with only a certain amount of allowable combinations) and minimising the total finger movements involved. For example, when switching from the C to Am, you only need to move one finger, not pull them all off at once. Pretty basic, I know, but it helps to visualise all of your movements and think them through. Anyways, getting back to barres; Your fingers will eventually strengthen enough to make them easier, but you may just really lack the strength in your tendons to pull it off at first. Luckily if you're practicing enough you'll build up the endurance for them without actually having to attempt them all the time. To get the B barre going, try to practice your A by fretting all three strings (2,3 and 4) with one finger, preferably your ring finger. Then when you're ready, it'll feel a bit more natural to flatten those strings while you barre the 2nd fret.

I have no problem barring the F chord but usually use the short form suggested by mekidsmom because I'm lazy.
So after a while I ended up back where I began.

Same with the B flat.
Short it with the index finger on the 3rd fret and don't usually bother with the bass notes.

I guess I'm the odd ball... I refused to learn/use any cheater chords until I could do them all fully barred first... IMO, taking the time to learn the cheats just takes practice time away from learning the real chord... Not saying they're not good to know, 'cause they do fit some songs better, but if you can squeeze by with a cheat, where's the real initiative to learn them proper?? Chances are you'll stop at the cheat and/or take twice as long to getting around to learning the full barres.

I may get pounded for this but..... I also think carrying your thumb over for the bass note is bad, bad, bad It limits your reach and is just plan bad form IMO...  I'll admit that it comes in handy sometimes playing fingerstyle to catch the odd bass note but as a general rule I say stay with the full barre  and keep your thumb where it belongs at the mid/back of the neck

Yea but look at the angle he has to hold his guitar to do it! He's a giant also Honestly, I really didn't find the playing that impressive though....  Now this girl inspires me! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI_FHSOcLQU The clarity and precision of the piece is amazing IMO.

Whoa! Thats a new one!
Thats the first time I've seen someone playing in Drop-D with only their thumb!

The Technique referenced before is like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEzKXW8q3Dw

MUCH MUCH more comfortable for playing long and hard...provided you don't have stubby fingers.

;-]
Dm

Gutiarpix,, I dont think its  one good , one bad , of vice versa.  Its just a trick.  I used to practice barres,, by playing full barre F chord , strum it a couple bts, then " rearrange " fingers  aka switch chords to Bb.  Then F# to B maj.  and move up the board bit at a time.  Theres nothing wrong w/ knowing how to do both,, and I think any little trick that can help a person ,  play a chord they couldnt helps.  More confidence will end up making that person learn , knowing they can.
I believe there more  of a physical aspect than some seem to think , when they first come to guitar , and it frustrates them ,  I know a guy who teaches , and when he sees me playing the folk F , gets mad,, he says that chord is harder than the barre version! 
everybodys different , but many options are good.
  no offence intended  now or ever

Steve

I don't like to substitute easier sounding chords with the real chord. It is frustrating at first but that's one of the things I love about my guitar. I love when I accomplish something that I was struggling with, and then one day it's just like BAMMM!!! I got it  I actually for real lives really got it. It's an awesome feeling, and the song sounds just like it should. Keep practicing!!

Oh no the army is knocking my door down they know I'm a mutant nooooooo...................

This method does make it much easier but using the guitar as leverage also pulls it sharp about 1/8 -1/4 note by pulling the neck back. Try holding your guitar with a tuner in your lap... Now position your finger to barre the lower 5 strings but don't apply any pressure. Hit the E string and it shows in tune, now barre the lower 5 strings ( allowing the E to ring through) using leverage like that and watch the E move to sharp. I'm not sure how much or even if it really does hurt it, but I wouldn't think that that constant flexing of the neck joint would be good for the guitar in the long run either.... Just some thoughts....

Cool all guitars are different I suppose... Playing from 3rd up mine doesn't go sharp doing this... (I was just playing around with it after your post) But on F F# Bb & B they pull sharp regardless... But that far from the body you increase the leverage...(Just for reference I was trying it on short scale with only 3/32 at the 12th so it's not the action)  I would think the problem would be worse when your really "feeling" the music though

I'm really not liking how my guitar sounds doing this    I'm  killing my tone by holding the soundboard and back. I was always taught to keep the forearm away from the top and the back away from your body.. Doing this is hindering my top and back resonance and hurting my tone/sustain/volume. It may not be enough for the average "audience" to really hear but other guitarist would and more importantly I notice it.. It's like my guitar just lost all it's liveliness. How do you address that??   I'm just trying to understand man I'm always open to try new things But right now I like using my thumb for pressure much better...

Just thought about something.... Maybe I'm just hearing this stuff more because of the soundports......

Archtop electric makes all the difference!! I'm using a lightly built solid wood acoustic. I could see how this could be feasible with electrics though

As for keeping it away... I seldom play standing up cause it's hard to do (minimize contact) strapped in. So I usually use a playing chair or good barstool with a back. It's easy enough to keep just a little distance from you and the guitar that way, at least with an acoustic. The narrowness of an electric body would make it more difficult to steady the instrument... Also I imagine you don't harm the tone by touching it much with an electric since most of your tone is from your pickups and effects.. At least you wouldn't be able to really tell when plugged in. All the best man! -Chris

As a side note I also like to play in classical position if I'm going to be playing barre for prolonged periods of time. The position seems to offer less fatigue and easier stretches

Okay I did some research and understand the technique you're referring to. Your not really using the guitar as leverage... It's simply were you relax the muscles of your fretting arm and allow it's weight to "hang" and assist with the barring pressure. You still squeeze with the thumb but this technique allows less pressure and (though the article didn't say) I'd assume your thumb position would be slightly higher on the back of the neck so that it acts like a fulcrum for the weight to be applied to the barring finger.

Here's the link I was looking at http://www.guitarprinciples.com/Guitar_ … chords.htm