Hey & welcome to GT! Are you working through the fundamentals courses? They have a lot of good material on how to ramp up to barre chords. For example you can start on power chords.

https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2

Originally Posted by: shsparrow1949

Refusing to give up on music I decided to learn to play the guitar (electric). I’ve learned a lot but I just can’t seem to get my fingers to stretch apart or separate enough to be able to make 4 or 5 fret stretches and make barre chords correctly

Sometimes the blues boogie rhythm is difficult in the lower regions of the fretboard. But there are effective substitutes for it & virtually any difficult stretch..

Having said that, the most effective strategy is simply repetitious practice. I have exercises on hand stretches here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1525

I have exercises on building strength & dexterity here.

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

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

Those can help you save time by practicing smarter. But in the end you have to be patient with yourself & go slowly to build technique.

Also, remember that there are a ton of songs that only use basic chords & fingerings!

https://www.guitartricks.com/songs.php?input=beginners

If you take the time to use the skills you've already acquired, it's incredibly rewarding. And it can help take the tediousness out of practicing of learning a new skill so you can play more complex songs!

Hope this helps. Please ask more if necessary & best of success. Have fun playing guitar! :)