Action too high?

Hi Everyone,

Probably an easy tech question for anyone with some experience.

For the past year I've been practicing on an off with my Strat and I always struggled with barre chords. This past year, my wife bought me a Martin and I can now finger barre chords with relative ease. Why is it so difficult on my Strat? Is the action too high?

Thanks,

Andrew

Originally Posted by: andrewlross87

For the past year I've been practicing on an off with my Strat and I always struggled with barre chords. This past year, my wife bought me a Martin and I can now finger barre chords with relative ease. Why is it so difficult on my Strat? Is the action too high?

That's absolutely possible. It could be the nut slots are not cut deep enough, or the bridge saddles are too high. The neck could also be a culprit if it has too much of a curve.

If you aren't comfortable with assessing or adjusting it yourself, then I encourage you to take your guitar to a local music store & ask them to have a look at it. Or just go to the store to compare for yourself how the action is on some of their Strat style guitars.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Chris. I will probably bring it in just to be sure.

Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegel

Originally Posted by: andrewlross87

For the past year I've been practicing on an off with my Strat and I always struggled with barre chords. This past year, my wife bought me a Martin and I can now finger barre chords with relative ease. Why is it so difficult on my Strat? Is the action too high?

[p]Hey, Andrew.

That's absolutely possible. It could be the nut slots are not cut deep enough, or the bridge saddles are too high. The neck could also be a culprit if it has too much of a curve.

If you aren't comfortable with assessing or adjusting it yourself, then I encourage you to take your guitar to a local music store & ask them to have a look at it. Or just go to the store to compare for yourself how the action is on some of their Strat style guitars.

Hope this helps!

I took your advice and took my Strat to a local shop and it plays like a gem now.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by: andrewlross87

I took your advice and took my Strat to a local shop and it plays like a gem now.

Thanks!

Good deal! Glad to hear you got it worked out. Thanks for the update. Go play your Strat! :)