Can women play bar chords?

I am a woman who is completely desperate to get bar chords to sound really good. I have only played 2 years but have made good progress. I can make some bar chords but others sound awful. I am trying and trying and trying but making little progress. The only way I can get the hard ones is to crush my index finger with any other available fingers and this is impossible if it needs to be done quickly. Is there a woman out there who has struggled but finally conquered the almighty bar chord? So far all I hear and read about is men and I am starting to fear the inherent strenth difference between a man and woman's hand might be a deal breaker for the bar chord. Please give me hope and tell me there are women out there who finally get these! If anyone has a suggestion for me please load 'em up!

Bar chords are tough for smaller fingers but there's several little tricks you can use.
First of all, you don't necessarily have to play all six strings on every barre chord. Most of the time when I'm playing barre chords I'm usually only playing the bottom three or four strings. For instance, barre chords are great for power chords that only really need the bottom end to make them sound good.

There's are some alternate fingerings you can use for making barre chords that utilize open strings as well... some of which are found in this lesson:

Open String Barre Chords
http://guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=1583

I've been playing for years, and I still am unable to get all of the barre chords clean.

For example, and I could use some suggestions. C#m7 in the 4th fret: 1st finger, 1st fret, bar all; 2nd finger, 5th fret, 2nd string; 3rd finger, 4th string, 6th fret.

The 3rd string isn't clean, so I've got to find a way to use my bar finger more effectively. I've tried placing the bar, and turning my index finger so that the side of the finger is doing the bar (this was recommended somewhere), but that doesn't help, and I can't seem to get a clean sound by using the index finger flat.

Basically, any barre chord that has an open string sounds flatted.

Terry

On some barre chords I've learned to use my second finger to help the first finger press down by placing the second finger over the first to give it extra leverage. On minor bar chords for instance.

I also use an alternate fingering method sometimes that gives the effect of a barre chord but uses the thumb instead.

ie, A barred A chord


------5--------------------------------------------------------------------
------5-------------------------------------------------------------------
------6-------------------------------------------------------------------
------7--------------------------------------------------------------------
------7-------------------------------------------------------------------
------5-------------------------------------------------------------------

Use the first finger to barre the 1st and second strings on the 5th fret.
Place the second finger on the 3rd string 6th fret
Place the third finger on the 5th string 7th fret
Place the pinky on the 4th string 7th fret
Use the thumb on the 6th string 5th fret.

You can now move that up and down the fret board and get the same sound as a barre chord

Thanks for your suggestions. I will try them. I am still looking for a woman who has conquered the bar chords. Even teenage boys I know have gotten the bar chords in a matter of weeks. I find myself envious of men's hand strength. I wish I understood which muscles in the arm make the bar chord work. Maybe I could try to strengthen those muscles. I really want to be able to make the classic bar chord and do it well.

Sometimes it helps to pull just a little bit on the neck with your left hand while using your right arm to press against the body.

Also, it's not all in the arm strength, but rather in the back. Try your barre with your back straight (not bending over the guitar).

Notwithstanding Kevin's advice about using the thumb to press the 6th string (although I have heard you should never do this), don't forget that the thumb at the back of the neck helps alot. Use it to apply pressure to the back.

Kevin, I'm not criticizing your suggestion, just wonder why we hear two different ideas about using the thumb?

Terry

Originally Posted by: KCWThanks for your suggestions. I will try them. I am still looking for a woman who has conquered the bar chords. Even teenage boys I know have gotten the bar chords in a matter of weeks. I find myself envious of men's hand strength. I wish I understood which muscles in the arm make the bar chord work. Maybe I could try to strengthen those muscles. I really want to be able to make the classic bar chord and do it well.

Make sure that the guitar is in a place that is ergonomically correct for you. If you are struggling to do barre chords, make sure that the guitar is in a place where you can appropriately have your arm in the right position to allow for comfortable access to the fretboard.

Here's a post I made about that:
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=232803#post232803

I'm a woman and can do barre chords pretty smoothly, but it varies based on the guitar I'm playing. I recently bought a Fender Deluxe Player's Strat that I love- very easy to barre things. But on my Ovation acoustic/electric, it's always a struggle.

I should probably get both guitars professionally set up to make the action as low as possible without buzzing. That would make it easier. The Strat plays well as-is, but I'd like to go as low as possible w/ the action on both guitars.

And Kevins' reminder that you don't necessarily need all six strings is a good one- in fact, in my opinion, 6 strings strummed all at once on an electric guitar sounds very muddy.

Originally Posted by: learninganewI've been playing for years, and I still am unable to get all of the barre chords clean.

For example, and I could use some suggestions. C#m7 in the 4th fret: 1st finger, 1st fret, bar all; 2nd finger, 5th fret, 2nd string; 3rd finger, 4th string, 6th fret.

The 3rd string isn't clean, so I've got to find a way to use my bar finger more effectively. I've tried placing the bar, and turning my index finger so that the side of the finger is doing the bar (this was recommended somewhere), but that doesn't help, and I can't seem to get a clean sound by using the index finger flat.

Basically, any barre chord that has an open string sounds flatted.

Terry

Yeah, the open string method tends to give a different sound because you're leaving the first and second strings open.
However you can get some interesting results just moving up and down the fretboard.

For instance, I'll throw together a quick MP3 for you going through the different chords on a real cheap Yamaha Eterna Acoustic guitar to give you an example:

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/barres.mp3

It's just a matter of desire. Anybody who has a burning desire and a willing to learn can do this. Don't lose hope, just keep practicing. Those who are in success right now went through all of these challenges. Good luck!


Health Is Wealth

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it. I will use the strap.

Thanks to all for your encouragement. I think PenWrite05 is right, I just need to keep at it.

Originally Posted by: Kevin TaylorYeah, the open string method tends to give a different sound because you're leaving the first and second strings open.
However you can get some interesting results just moving up and down the fretboard.

For instance, I'll throw together a quick MP3 for you going through the different chords on a real cheap Yamaha Eterna Acoustic guitar to give you an example:

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/barres.mp3

Kevin, in the example I gave re: C#m, none of the strings are open; I am barring the 4th fret, so the 1st string is barred. ALSO, the 2nd string is fretted by 3rd finger, so it's not open. I'm pretty sure I'm fretting correctly. Why can't I get the 3rd string right?

Also, I wasn't sure what I was listening for in your mp3 example. When I strum all the strings in a barre chord, it sounds ok, I guess, but it doesn't allow for me to play any lead involving the 3rd string.

Sorry I'm not understanding everything.

Terry

I am a woman...and I too strugggled at first with some of the barre chords. I think with practice, focus and strengthening your fingers you'll get better in time. I found that with a lot of jazz chords. I could get some of the ones I was working on but with time and practice I could...especially with the stretching. Now its a different bunch I have problems with. I got one of those finger exercisers...its just a bunch of springs you push down that works the fingers....that might help you too?

And I also found it is easier on different guitars. Acousitcs are harder for me. Especially if the action is really high and the strings are thick or older. Playing my electric is much easier all around but the acoustic is a good workout.

Maybe have you guitar checked out amd see if they can lower the action...stick some thinner strings on?

A long time ago I played a friends 3/4 acoustic ( it was a martin which is really nice ) and I noticed I could barre really easily on her guitar...

so maybe just go to your guitar shop and try different guitars and see if a different set up helps? Just for your own knowledge...not necessarily to buy a new guitar...try a 3/4 and see if it helps

just my 2 cents
gotta bolt to work
good luck

Yeah, women can play bar chords! Don't worry.... many men can't do them properly, either. You don't need to develop biceps or triceps to do it. Here are some tricks I've used to master them:

-stress ball: used to strengthen the muscles in you hand. I started off doing slow squeezing movements (don't go crazy or you can mess up your hand). My bar chord workout consisted of doing a series of squeezing for 2 mins/3 times during my practice sessions. do it after you're really warmed-up. each week, I would add 30 seconds to my time. the muscles get stronger.

-practice: bar chords are frustrating. do a couple of bar chords slowly everyday. do your best to get all the strings. if you can't, don't worry and don't cheat (can mess your hand). do them every day... you'll get them.

Poune

Yay Poune,

I couldn't have said it better myself!

I used to think barre chords were a cruel joke. Now I can't live without them.

(and it's true, they are tough for many men as well)

Best wishes, Lisa

Thanks for the good tips and great encouragement. I have been trying the other suggestions and found that playing while standing and using a strap to hold the guitar helps some. I will get a stress ball and work on that. I have one of those spring finger strengtheners and will get at that again. I had become frustrated and given up on that but I will work on it again. Thanks for the insights!

There's another thing you can use for strengthening your forearm muscles called a dynaflex

http://www.dynaflexpro.com/


I've been using one for a couple of years now to keep up my strength for tapping and it works amazing. All ya do is just rotate the thing in your hand while the gyroscope turns around and it's kinda like somebody pushing on your muscles and trying to take it out of your hand.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65Make sure that the guitar is in a place that is ergonomically correct for you. If you are struggling to do barre chords, make sure that the guitar is in a place where you can appropriately have your arm in the right position to allow for comfortable access to the fretboard.

Here's a post I made about that:
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=232803#post232803

Agreed! Also, how is your posture? How do you hold the guitar? Do you hold it like Joey Ramone – slung way down low? Or like (somebody help me here, I can’t think of someone who holds it really high)? I find chording is easier when my wrist is more or less straight, with my thumb directly behind – not over the fret board. The more your wrist is curved, the harder it will be harder to hold down strings.

Alex :)

Kevin - Thanks for the suggestion of the Dynaflex. That seems like a neat thing - so much so I think I will buy one.

Alex and Jeffs65- I will watch my posture. I find I am pulling the neck up kind of high and the guitar is across the top of my stomach. I will watch how my wrist sits. I am making a bit of progress. I am finding if I have my finger tip almost peeking above the board I do better. I have to get the lowest, fattest section of my index finger to hit the lower strings and then I can get more notes to sound. This is a bit awkward but if it gets the chords I'll do it. Standing and using the strap to hold the guitar both help too.