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Barre Chord Revelation
Like a lot of people, I’ve struggled with barre chords just about as long as I’ve been playing guitar (more than 50 years ago. Since joining TAC I’ve worked at them diligently and have made a lot of progress. Now, about that revelation. I only own one guitar, an Ibanez AE300 E dreadnought that I bought back in the mid 1980s. Last week, my wife and I went to Austin, Texas, to visit our son, who arranged for me to borrow the guitar of one of his friends, so I wouldn’t have to lug my Ibanez thorough multiple airports. It was a newer Yamaha (maybe a JR1?) with a very nice tone. My barre chords rang out clear and distinctly, all up and down the neck, including the ones that I’ve really struggled with. I was gobsmacked. I never thought changing guitars would make that much of a difference.
I’m think it’s time to take my Ibanez in for a complete checkup. Which might also be a good opportunity to add a second guitar (yeah, I’ve been looking for an excuse anyway).
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6 Replies
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Brilliant analysis. Get that ibenez into the shop like yesterday. And then comes the fun part. I like buying a new guitar almost as much as having it. I feel like I am hunting for just the right one and I do like a hunt. Have fun and play as many as you can. Wait for the one you just can’t put down.
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That’s really intriguing! Like you, I credit TAC with helping me improve so much with my guitar skills, including those frustrating barre chords. But I have several guitars and can’t say the struggle is significantly easier on any one of them. (Barre chords are easier on the electrics, but my main focus has been on acoustic so far).
Have to agree with jumpinjeff about the thrill of hunting for that next guitar! I used to feel a little guilty about adding to my guitarsenal when my playing skills are not that advanced yet. But lots of people collect things that are way less useful or beautiful than guitars! Enjoy your search if you decide to add another one, but no doubt a good setup job will make a difference with your Ibanez.
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Hi @Badgerbanshee , I have a bit of a testimony that supports having a set up some. I have a Taylor 410CE I had purchased in 1997 and had to played it the way it came out of the case for all those years. A few weeks back I had a need to take it into a luthier for some minor fret work and asked that they also do a full set up and lower the action on the strings. When I picked it up a few weeks ago and started playing it I was dumbfounded. The set up made fingering and fretting everything so much easier (yep – even the dreaded barre chords) as well as sound so much better. It’s like I have a new guitar!
Find a luthier with a good reputation that you can trust and get the setup done. You will not be sorry!
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You might have some heavy strings on that Ibanez (besides any issues with the action) – when you bring it in for the setup you could try going a size thinner, which will make the barre chords easier…
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It’s amazing how a good setup on an old guitar can improve its playability. It might feel so much like a new guitar that you wouldn’t need to buy a new one.
(I’m kinda anti GAS lately hahaha)
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You may only be anti gas because you have not been looking in the right places? I can help. I know where all the good ones hide.
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