Damn Barre chords

[iDavid]

DO most acoustic plays use barre chords?

I have no poblem with them on my elecctric, but they are making me insane on my acoustic. My acousitc has been set-up well, so that's not the problem, its me

So, is it common to not use barre chords on an acoustic?

[Gazza]

I use them. They're not always easy or fun.

[MichaelK]

???

[iDavid]

not fun at all, in my book

[Den]

I'm not sure what you're talking about, but if you find your hands get tired after a while with barre chords, you'll find that there are simple variations that allow you to grab a different chord shape now and then that gives you a break. Also, if you haven't already, it's great to learn how to wrap your thumb around the neck allowing you to add the sixth string without using a full barre.

[iDavid]

thanks

I got me some little hands

could be part of the problem....

any good links for varitions or partial barre chords?

[Den]

Here's a link for an online chord generator ... this will give you enough variations to last a lifetime:
Cranwell chord Generator

You may also want to pickup a basic chord book at any music store.

The idea is to substitute some 3 and 4-note chords up the neck (sometimes adding open strings when possible). You'll often find that these are more pleasing than full barre chords. In some cases I use these chords through the verses and then switch to full barre chords for more fullness in the chorus. If you're playing with other guitarists, it's usually best to find different versions of the same chords to sit in a different space in the music.

[Old Tele man]

...I often make use of the "gran barre" with jazz chords, for instance, to mimic the "folk" G-chord fingering of an Bb chord in key of Eb:

e|--1---- (not played)
b|--1----
G|--1----
D|--1----
A|--1-3--
E|--1--4-

...which allows me to quickly move the 4 & 3 fingers over one string to become EbM7:

e|--1----
b|--1----
G|--1----
D|--1-3--
A|--1--4-
E|--1---- (not played

[John Phillips]

I have very small hands too, and my style on both electric and acoustic is largely based around barre chords.

You just have to get used to it... I don't even use a low action or light strings, on electric - 11s, with more relief than most people recommend. I do use 11s on my acoustic too though - I used 12s, but I just couldn't get through a two-set gig playing full rhythm stuff without it getting uncomfortable towards the end. Now, it's not much harder than the electric.

[waxnsteel]

Depends. Solo, I don't use the barre's very much. When you're playing for four hours, barre chords hurt! I have pretty big hands. But solo, I need to make a lot of good noise. Doing that involves using open strings a lot, and capos, too. USE THE CAPO! Playing acoustic in bands, I just played the parts.

[MichaelK]

I also have small hands. It helps to have a guitar with a neck that's not TOO wide, but small hands is what you got from whomever made you and them's the cards you been dealt. Acoustic guitars sound better with action that's not low like an electric, that's just the way it is.

Practice, practice, practice. Build strength in your hands and fingers. Find chords that work for you. Make up your own. Use alternate tunings. If you gotta make music, you find a way.

[MichaelK]

Jason, any relation to a piano tuner/tech in Atlanta named Manny Loiacono?

[jayn]

Originally posted by waxnsteel
USE THE CAPO!

What he said. I almost never use barre chords with an acoustic...too much work . Maybe the F or Bm shape once in a while... Work with a capo for awhile and it becomes pretty easy to figure out which fret to put the capo on. Think about whether it's easiest to use the open G, C, E, or A shape in relation to the key of the song.

[r9player]

Play a lot of bar chords guess it is in the nature of praise and worship songs to have a lot of E A B C#m stuff
I find that different lengths and profiles make a difference.
In general Electric is easier, but I used to have a V shaped neck on an acoustic that I could play bar chords on for a long time without wearing down. So I'd say either try an ovation or a V shaped neck (Ovations I feel can have very low action with pretty "slack" string tension)

[iDavid]

really looking for partial chords..... me thinks