Bar chords

[BarbaraM]

Hey Mark,

I’m no fan of barre chords, having small hands, but it depends on what your particular issue is with them. Others will chime in I’m sure with suggestions.

First, if you have large enough hands to physically reach, straight enough fingers to effectively barre, and long enough fingers to create a good arch so as to not mute other strings, is to go through the Hand Stretching course, and practice those stretches each time you play. (There is also a Better Barre Chords course.) Then practice positioning your hands for the chord, and play each string individually to be sure they all ring out clearly. Then practice picking up speed in your finger placement. If your anatomy allows, you will get there.

If not, and you have small, crooked fingers like me, you will have to find workarounds. For me, aside from simply avoiding barre chords, I find the triad that corresponds (without the barring finger), and just play those 3 strings. It’s not as full as the whole chord, but it will do most times when simply strumming.

Hope this helps!