IM-111 • E Shape Barre Chord Grip (Maj and Min)

[askerovlab]

I'm now on intermediate stage. I was pretty long on the beginner stage because I wanted to get the F chord properly down. So, I think my finger is more or less toughened up.

The problem is the following:
I try and practice every day to barre all 6 string, and all of them ring out except the G string no matter how hard I press.
The actions seems reasonable, 0.3mm on the 12th fret.

So, I can play the 7 chord and I can play major E shape, but I can't the minor and minor 7.

I can play minor chord kinf of if move the finger up, but I dont really want to do this, because as I understood it's better to have the finger in one position and not to move it up.

Because when I do move it up, the G string rings out, but not the A and D strings.

There aren't a lot of stores in my city with musical instruments, and the onest that are I'm not sure about their specialists, so I didn't give my guitar to anybody for a setup. I asked in one place and he advice to turn the anchor a bit.

So, my question is: is there a way to know if this the problem with guitar or with my finger not begin strong enough? How can I examine the guitar? Except the action, because it seems normal.

[stitch101]

Your problem is most likely the G string is in the crease of your index finger.
Your going to have to find a way to place your finger so the strings miss the creases.
To check your guitar place a capo on the first fret them play the chords your having
problems with. If you can play them clean then your nut slots need some work to
bring the action down on the first fret.

[askerovlab]

@stitch101, thanks for your answer. I think this must be a guitar problem. Because, in every video about bar chords, including Justin's, they say it's easier to learn higher on the fretboard, so I've been trying to do this on the 7th.
But interestingly enough, it got easier, not a lot on the 3-4 frets, I can get at least some sound out of G string. So, it's probably neck of the guitar has some weird shape or something.

Planning to buy electric, so maybe my problems will end there.

[Rolandson]

I can play the barre chords and they are sounding clear.
The problem what I have is with the wrist.
Right now I ma learning creep from Radiohead. This song is only with barre chords. My wrist is burning because it is exhausting for my fretting hand. Maybe I use too much pressure? 
Does it get easier with more practice?
Does anybody have the same problem)

[DarrellW]

You need to remember two things, you’ve not been playing ALL bar chords before so it’s going to be harder and you need to make sure that your posture is correct when you’re playing higher up the neck, it’s easy to not realise that it’s not quite right. If you’re not sure about posture play in front of a mirror and watch yourself playing and be analytical about what you see.

[Rolandson]

Higher up the neck is really difficult. B and C chord needs more pressure then the F or G chord. Thank you for the advice

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[stitch101]

Higher up the neck is really difficult. B and C chord needs more pressure then the F or G chord. Thank you for the advice

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Higher up the neck should be easier, there is less tension on the string. How high
is the action on your guitar.
Your wrist is burning most likely because you are cranking it past a 45 deg. angle.
Your wrist should be as straight as possible.

[Rolandson]

Exactly. Almost 45 degrees when it is higher up the neck.

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[Rolandson]

So I just found out the mistake I made since I started learning barre chords. Justin always said that anyway but I wasn't sure what he ment with too much pressure. I just used so much I needed and it isn't even a lot. If I  use a lot pressure the flesh from the finger gets pushed  and it moves forward. That's way the D string when I play a 7 chord was not clear. To much pressure is counterproductive. It makes so much sense now.

Hope everybody understands what I wrote here. Maybe the grammatic isn't as good. My native language is German.

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[62newbie]

Was wondering why the lessons say to learn the barre chords up to the 8th fret? Is there a reason not to go higher say to the 12th fret? Is because most of the time your not going to use barre chords above the 8th fret?

[Joerfe]

Was wondering why the lessons say to learn the barre chords up to the 8th fret? Is there a reason not to go higher say to the 12th fret? Is because most of the time your not going to use barre chords above the 8th fret?

Above 8th fret there usually is too little room for bar chords. When playing up there you normally would choose to play chords differently like triads or diads only.

[askerovlab]

A question about minor barre chords. G string is always problematic.
If I play on electric, my finger position is a little bit higher, on acoustic it a bit different. Is this normal? To adjust barre chord position, based on how a particular guitar is set up?

[adi_mrok]

As long as it's a clean strum and all strings sound okay doesn't really matter. It also should be convenient to you and shouldn't cause any pain.

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[tobyjenner]

Is your index flat across the strings or are you rolling it sightly on to the bony edge of the finger where its flatter ?

[askerovlab]

Ok, thanks. Yes, it is.

[tobyjenner]

You can use your middle finger over your index finger to increase contact/pressure when playing minor, 7th or min7th. That may help, Justin cover this in quite a few lessons, especially song lessons. Its just like almost crossing your fingers. So it may be that little bit of extra luck you need to get them clean. BUT work on getting them clean with no support.