Posted: 2/13/2008 3:48:04 PM EDT
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I'm trying to learn barre chords (A and E to start) and can usually get it to sound OK on the first few frets, but as I try to do the chord on the higher frets, it seems like the B string either buzzes or is muted. Is there a trick? Should I just remove the B string and not worry about it? |
+1 You can also use one of these to develop grip and finger strength. I've even seem them advertised in Guns&Ammo for developing firm grip for shooting. I have one, but never really used it enough to give you a thorough AAR. |
Sorry, I'm not making my self clear - I was referring to the "A"-shape and "E"-shape barre chords. An F chord done with an "E"-shape chord looks like this: |1 |1 |2 |3 |3 |1 . . basically, your first finger makes a "bar across the neck behind the first fret and your middle, ring and pinkie fingers make the "E" chord one fret up from the open "E" chord. |
Just move that F barre chord up from the 1st fret to the 5th fret for an A. For a classic sounding E barre |0 |7 |9 |9 |9 |7 |
| Chances are, the area you are barring where your finger meets the B string is where one of the bends in your finger is. Try moving it over a mm forward or back so that it avoids it. At one point you'll have the strength to be able to bar it regardless of where. Good luck. |
| Also realize it's OK even often prefferable to not play all five or six strings. Watch videos of your guitar heroes, many play a barre chord using their thumb to fret the note on the low E string. This technique opens up all kinds of doors for you and can save you hand and wrist fatigue. |
Actually that's a Bsus (Pinball Wizard) Here's the classic barre chord riff to J.J. Cale's Cocaine in the key of E. Note the top E string is muted E|X |X |X |X |X |X B|7 |9 |9 |7 |9 |7 G|7 |9 |9 |7 |9 |7 D|7 |9 |9 |7 |9 |7 A|5 |7 |7 |5 |7 |5 E|X --D--E--E--D--E--D |
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One of the simplest pieces of advice, in my case, turned out to be the most valuable when I first started playing. That is, quite simply: only bar the strings that need it. In other words, for an F barre chord you only need to bar the E and B strings. The other strings are being fretted by your other fingers, so there's no need to worry about them. You see, as a beginner I would try to depress all five or six strings with my index finger no matter what barre chord I was playing and then fret the notes below it as well. Not only is this pointless, it is painful. However, I didn't know not to do it because...it just looked like the way everyone was doing it and it never occurred to me otherwise. You may have already figured this out. I didn't at first. I'm hardheaded and actually had to read about it somewhere. 
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Good advice echo - along with practice your barre finger will go where it needs to. Something I just figured out last night - after three weeks of trying to "always" nail a Bm I determined that my thumb was too high on the back of the neck. If my thumb was too high it made my barre finger curl. I lowered it to below centerline and walla....I'm am hitting the Bm - on to F with echo's advice! |
I think a lot of people do that. I can cleanly fret that chord but it takes my ring and pinky to do it. Also, name me a song where you actually need that top note and I'll say you should be playing a partial chord like the one below. Nothing sounds worse than full five or six string barre chords. x x x 5 5 3 |
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I had/have this same "problem" after about 8 years. It is due to 1.)Lack of real practice 2.)Using too heavy gauge strings. I can sound the B string if I really want or need to but I have adapted my playing to incorporate this shortcoming. My advice; keep playing and practicing and you will develop your own styles, techniques and a unique sound eventually. In the interim, try moving your pointer finger around (up, down, closer to the fret, further from the fret) until you find a position where the B string is sounding (if thats even a word...). Don't let it worry you too much there is alot more to playing guitar than the silly B string. Cheers |