chords

I'm 46 and i took up the guitar around 3 years ago. When I'm playing open chords and basic bar chords I'm ok. However, I've developed two problems.

1) when i remove the bass notes from a bar chord I have real difficulty in pressing the top two string (B+E) consistently. This has resulted in me having a lot of pain and stiffness in my left index finger! I can only imagine I am doing something wrong?

2) This is a little difficult to explain. I've been looking at lessons to play in the style of Hendrix. I think its an inversion when you play a bar chord with a higher bass note? I have great difficulty in doing this without deadening the other strings.

If anyone can give me advice on either of these issues I would much appreciate it.

thanks

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Hey & welcome to GT!

Originally Posted by: stweddle1979
1) when i remove the bass notes from a bar chord I have real difficulty in pressing the top two string (B+E) consistently. This has resulted in me having a lot of pain and stiffness in my left index finger! I can only imagine I am doing something wrong?
[/quote]
This could be several things.

1. Technique issue. You might need to adjust your hand & wrist position. Review the basics of good posture & positioning here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1141

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=605

2. Strength & dexterity. You might just need more of both. Sometimes a weak pinky or ring finger is the reason your index or middle has to work harder than they should. The result is that you overcompensate leaving your index finger sore.

Build pinky strength & dexterity here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1292

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1829

3. Equipment shortcoming. What kind of guitar are you playing? You might need to get a set of lighter gauge strings. You might need to get the action adjusted on your guitar (lower the height of the strings at the bridge or nut) to make it easier to play.

You might even need to try a different guitar! One with a smaller neck. Have you tried these solutions? Or played other guitars to assess their ease of play relative to yours? Maybe a visit to your local music store is in order!

[quote=stweddle1979]
2) This is a little difficult to explain. I've been looking at lessons to play in the style of Hendrix. I think its an inversion when you play a bar chord with a higher bass note? I have great difficulty in doing this without deadening the other strings.