How to play barre chords... I have small hands.?

Question

I'm trying to play songs like Free Bird and Hotel California on my 12-string acoustic.

On my electric guitar, I can kinda play the barre chords, but on this I can't at all.

It's not so much that my fingers are too weak, but rather that they are not long enough to hit the notes properly. To put it simply, my hands are about the size of a petite 12-year-old girl's. It makes some stuff kinda difficult.

Basically, I'm looking for some tips on playing them (I don't have the cash to get a new guitar or modify this one.)

Or some other ways to play an F, F#, and Bm.

Oh, and I'm not a newb asking a dumb question either. I've been play for a few years and I'm rather good, I just can't barre.

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

haha.thats awesome.well im glad your not a newb, but you should look into music theory. it doesnt matter if your a newb or a hardcore musician, it would always help to learn how chords are made.

for example. i hope you dont already know this, but for basics a major chord is a major third with a minor third on top.

- C chord is built with a C-E-G, [C(c#,d,d#,)E = major 3rd]
[E(f,f#)G = minor 3rd]

so in conclusion, there are many different places to play the same chord.and where on the guitar there is a c - e - g, you can form a c chord.same with any other chord.

-the only catch is that your probably going to have a different voicing/ tone because your playing it in a diff erent spot, but you gotta do what you gotta do. so hope that helped.

Answer 2

The dreaded barre chord. I remember my first time trying to get that clean sound. It really just takes pratcice and is the next in line of the hurdles you will come up against when playing guitar. It is probably down to strength in your fingers. Plenty of practice and finger exercises will really help believe me we have all been there. You can use half Barre chords to get by but never stop practicing the full barre and it will eventually come.

Answer 3

I remember Stephen King the writer saying this and he has his own band. I heard him say that the one thing he wished that he could do was to make an F chord and have it sound clear !!!! There is a thing called a Gripmaster it's for building strength in your fingers and hands, any guitar store sells them, but be careful, they warn you to do this carefully, or you may injure you hands. Barre chords are something that takes years to do with ease, most of my students have the same problem, after about three years of doing this on a steady bases it will become easier, it's not the size of you hand or fingers it's the strength, if you can place you index finger across the fingerboard and it coves it your problem it in the strength of it, believe me I know, it took me years to do it smoothly. Don't give up in time you'll see, try that Gripmaster, good luck to you, bye !

Answer 4

Consider using your thumb on the sixth and fifth string notes if you have been tackling the barre situation with your forefinger.

While my fingers are long, I've always used the thumb to press down the sixth, the fifth, and even the fourth strings as necessary.

As for F, F#, and Bm try these abbreviated forms:

F: XX3211
XX7565
F#: XX4322
XX8676
Bm: XX4432
XX9777

Answer 5

The best thing to do is to keep practicing, barre chords are tough. For seeking alternatives to any chord and a demonstration to playing them, go here:

http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/guitar/index_db.html