Barre chords and bending fingers backwards

Bob-Dubery

I've decided to take on something I've shied away from some time. Barre chords using an A shape.

Something like this

6 5 4 3 2 1
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| | | | | |
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| | | | | |
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| O O O O O
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| | | | | |
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| | O O O |
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| | | | | |
----------------

That shape gives you a C at the 3rd fret, a D at the 5th and so on.

What's getting me is the 4th to 2nd strings. You have to really bend the ring finger the wrong way to get those notes down and still have the 1st string ring cleanly.

Which is a sort of unnatural thing.

Any tips for developing that sort of bend? I know it can be done...

singemonkey

You know what we're gonna say Bob. Practise. Put your finger in position with your right hand, if necessary, at first. As you go on you kind of develop a way of putting your ring finger on the D string, applying pressure in just the right way, and it bends over backwards.

I'm guessing that's about all anyone can say.

Upside is that this is totally something you can do while your significant other is watching the telly without disturbing her. Because you don't need to play anything to practice it. Just laying your hand on the fret and placing that finger again and again. It'll all become clear in time. ?

vic

Your pinkie should not be under the fretboard...try letting it stand up like an English lady drinking tea :?

Bob-Dubery

LOL! Once you've got the ring finger sorted out the pinky comes in quite handy.

VellaJ

I don't quite use this fingering. I've always found it to be more accurate (for me at least) to use fingers 2, 3 and 4 to play the strings 4,3,2, and use 1st finger to play as normal. It doesn't hurt, and it's fairly accurate, if you can get your chord changes nice and quick.

singemonkey

VellaJ wrote: I don't quite use this fingering. I've always found it to be more accurate (for me at least) to use fingers 2, 3 and 4 to play the strings 4,3,2, and use 1st finger to play as normal. It doesn't hurt, and it's fairly accurate, if you can get your chord changes nice and quick.

You can totally do this, Bob, and not be disadvantaged. Both work great. I guess the only real advantage I can think of of barring with the ring finger is being able to fret the E string with your pinky (with the B you can just shift it forward). The advantage of using three fingers instead of the barre, is that it's easier to let the E string ring out from under the index finger without accidentally damping it with the ring finger - hard not to do with the barre.

DonRoos

I have been using this fingering for years. When I first saw it in a book I did not believe it possible. Initially I had to really press hard to make the joint bend backwards but over time my ligaments have loosened making it quite easy now. Kind of like contortionists keep pushing the joints till they loosen up. Keep at it.

It allows you to play basic 3-chord progressions with barre chords and only have to move two frets and change from barre-E to barre-A shape. It is the only way I know to play Eb as I can't stretch 4 frets to play the open shape..

Chris-Mason

Hey Bob bending the fingers not that bad, take your gloves off will be easier.
Saddle and Nut

Warren

Most players I know (well, those into rock on electric) favour that barre fingering for playing power chords and then mute unwanted strings accordingly (or just avoid them with the pick).

As for me, I use it when I'm doing quick changes and I'm not too worried about the high-E string ringing out. Otherwise I use fingers 2, 3 and 4 and avoid the barre if I really need each note to ring out clearly, such as during a fingerpicked passage.

If you really want the high-E to ring out using the barre, all you can do is practice...though initially I've found it helps to try and keep your fretting hand thumb near the middle of the back of the neck while learning these "mini-barre" fingerings. Gives you a better angle onto the fretboard.

chris77

I use my pinky and ring finger. Ringfinger inbetween the 3rd and 4th string and pinky on the 2nd. It works a helluva lot easier for me than the other fingerings.

singemonkey

Warren wrote: As for me, I use it when I'm doing quick changes and I'm not too worried about the high-E string ringing out. Otherwise I use fingers 2, 3 and 4 and avoid the barre if I really need each note to ring out clearly, such as during a fingerpicked passage.

This.

evolucian

I usually do that barre with my pinky. Can also use either the ring finger or the second finger... depending on what flavouring I want to add afterwards. I use my pinky for the barre to basically rest my middle and ring finger for that brief period of time.

From what I can see on the pic... you are definitely applying a LOT of pressure! Try straightening your hand up (unless you really really want your high string ringing out, then ignore this). But yeah, it takes practice. And the way your pinky is at the moment of the pic... is incorrect and adding strain on the hand. Ease up on your tension once your pinky is having tea.

Hope this helps

Bob-Dubery

Evo, the photo isn't of my hand. It just illustrates the back-bent ring finger well. I'd also want to keep the pinky free as it can come in handy once you can do that that two finger barre chord.

I think doing it this way makes for a quicker change too the chord as well.

I spent about an hour on the electric last night, mostly going from Dm to C. It was starting to happen, but then I went down to Bb and the first string stopped ringing :'(

I'll practice on the electric some more, but eventually I need to get this waxed on an acoustic.

Doing it with the high string muted is no problem. It's just that I want that high string.

DaFiz

I play the barre chord with a single finger bent over three strings as well, though I can't bend the finger backwards so have to avoid playing the E string.
I have been advised to teach the use of three fingers for three strings and I battle with it myself. :-[

Riaan-Combrink

X-rated Bob wrote: I'll practice on the electric some more, but eventually I need to get this waxed on an acoustic.

I've been doing it well on the electric for some time - but ACOUSTIC - now there's a different kettle of fish! ☹

Jack-Flash-Jr

Applying counter pressure in the right place with your thumb will also help, i.e directly behind the second or third finger, not like the pic. Never had a problem with this kind of fingering...

deefstes

Riaan C wrote: I've been doing it well on the electric for some time - but ACOUSTIC - now there's a different kettle of fish! ☹

+1
I'm finding it very frustrating. On the electric I have absolutely no problem with this barre shape whereas on the acoustic it's just not working for me. On the nylon I play strings 4,3 and 2 using fingers 2,3 and 4 as described by VellaJ and Warren but on the steel string, and especially higher up on the neck, there's just not enough room for all those fingers.

VellaJ wrote: I don't quite use this fingering. I've always found it to be more accurate (for me at least) to use fingers 2, 3 and 4 to play the strings 4,3,2, and use 1st finger to play as normal. It doesn't hurt, and it's fairly accurate, if you can get your chord changes nice and quick.

Warren wrote: As for me, I use it when I'm doing quick changes and I'm not too worried about the high-E string ringing out. Otherwise I use fingers 2, 3 and 4 and avoid the barre if I really need each note to ring out clearly, such as during a fingerpicked passage.

Like I just said, I use this shape without problem on the nylon but I can't seem to fit all my fingers in there on the narrower neck of the steel string. Do you have that problem as well or is it only me? Do you use your 2,3 and 4 fingers in that order or in the order 3,2,4? In other words, which of the following shapes do you play?

6 5 4 3 2 1
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| | | | | |
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| | | | | |
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| 1 1 1 1 1
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| | | | | |
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| | 2 3 4 |
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| | | | | |
----------------

OR

6 5 4 3 2 1
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| | | | | |
----------------
| | | | | |
----------------
| 1 1 1 1 1
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| | | | | |
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| | 3 2 4 |
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| | | | | |
----------------

The second shape seems to allow more fingers fitting into a smaller area, making it possible for the three fingers to fret three adjacent strings on the same fret but for some reason I can't quite train my hand to do that. I suppose I just need to practice it more but I'm putting more focus on practicing Bob's shape until I can play it on the steel as well. I like having my pinky available for other stuff.

Bob-Dubery

I've seen variations on this - including using two fingers to hold down strings 2 to 4. The grip that I'm working on seems to me to be the best (also the most difficult) because
1) You can can move to it quicker
2) It allows more use of the pinky for modifying the fingered chord.

PS: I've seen Stratisfear do it on one of my acoustics - strung with 13s.

VellaJ

deefstes wrote: ...on the steel string, and especially higher up on the neck, there's just not enough room for all those fingers.

Do you have that problem as well or is it only me? Do you use your 2,3 and 4 fingers in that order or in the order 3,2,4? In other words, which of the following shapes do you play?

When I get very high up the neck, I play the position using fingers 1 and 3 (barring the 3rd finger). I also can't fit all those fingers into the correct fret...

VellaJ

X-rated Bob wrote: I've seen variations on this - including using two fingers to hold down strings 2 to 4. The grip that I'm working on seems to me to be the best (also the most difficult) because
1) You can can move to it quicker
2) It allows more use of the pinky for modifying the fingered chord.

Actually I'd completely forgotten about this technique, despite the fact that I use it fairly frequently :-[. I find it gives me a fair bit of strength and accuracy, but of course it doesn't leave your pinky available for other applications.

Look, I think with the right amount of practice, this barring of the 3rd finger is the best option, on balance. I've just never personally devoted enough time to practicing the positioning of that finger...