The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-27-2013, 10:34 AM
Rockguy475 Rockguy475 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 1,435
Default Index finger strengthening

What are some good index finger excercises I can do to make barre chords less of a pain? Specifically the lower half that would cover the G string.
__________________
Martin D-14 Custom Shop
Martin DX-175th
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-27-2013, 11:14 AM
rick-slo's Avatar
rick-slo rick-slo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 17,172
Default

Doing barre chords - increases strength and technique (if you carefully consider what you are doing) all at once.
__________________
Derek Coombs
Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs
Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs

"Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love
To be that we hold so dear
A voice from heavens above
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-27-2013, 11:23 AM
Rockguy475 Rockguy475 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 1,435
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick-slo View Post
Doing barre chords - increases strength and technique (if you carefully consider what you are doing) all at once.
This is what I have been doing And I am seeing results but didn't know if there was something that I could do when not playing guitar.... Like using one of those stress balls or something
__________________
Martin D-14 Custom Shop
Martin DX-175th
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-27-2013, 11:27 AM
Sprikitik Sprikitik is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 327
Default Index finger strengthening

Bruce Lee performed push-ups using his fingertips. That should help.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-27-2013, 11:30 AM
michaelhager michaelhager is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Fountain Inn, SC
Posts: 626
Default

Practice, practice and more practice.

To strengthen any muscle in your body for a specific task, exercise it doing that task.

At the same time you will improve your muscle position memory for chords and your playing skills.
__________________
Michael Hager
www.cmhager.com/owings
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:23 PM
Jim Owen's Avatar
Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wilkes County NC and Columbus Georgia
Posts: 7,772
Default

Hey Rockguy,
Here's what I did years ago--it was the old timey way. Practice the full barre with the force of your other three fingers backing up your index. Make sure that each note frets cleanly.
You'll get a sense of where your thumb has to be for an effective clamp.

Devote some of your practice time each day to this. When it feels right, then practice the full barre with just index, middle, and ring.

Then, just index and middle.

Then, just index.

It worked for me.
__________________
Peace,
Jimmy

Optima dies, prima fugit
For Sale: Larrivee P 01Khttps://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...49#post7433849
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:27 PM
mdutr0 mdutr0 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Mississippi, USA
Posts: 944
Default

I am no expert but it seems to me that being able to play a barre chord is much more a function of overall grip strength than just index finger strength.

If so, I would think that any of those grip-handle-squeezy-things (a technical term) would do the job.

Or you could just not play barre chords - I try not to. It's fun finding alternate voicings and so on. Of course I am a 95% fingerstyle player so, YMMV.
__________________
000 12-fret by Danny Davis, Constructed!
Build Thread: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=343091

Ibanez AC240
Yamaha AC1R
Epiphone AJ220S

"It's folk music so.... you can kind of do what you want." - David Hamburger, Blues Genealogy.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:37 PM
SteveA SteveA is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 991
Default

This is something I invented years ago for myself......

I take a new, thick rubber band and wrap it around my fingers and open it up like a tulip and close for 50-100 reps....I then progress to 2 or 3 Rubber Bands
__________________
*
www.stevealtonian.com

****************************
Breedlove American C25 SME--Neumann KMS 105---Fishman Loudbox Performer---KORG PA 4X--Tascam DP 24
****************************
God, My Guitar, & Me
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:43 PM
Norml's Avatar
Norml Norml is offline
Curmudgeon
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 872
Default

The biggest thing for me when playing barre chords is placement of the index more than strength. You have to find the right spot where the strings are not lining up with one of your finger creases, especially the G string. The sweet spot will also change as you move up the fretboard. Like others have said, The best practice/strengthening is to just keep playing the barre chords.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:44 PM
Mystic Mystic is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 453
Default

Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:53 PM
billybillly
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I agree with just practicing the task at hand. For what it's worth, I remember finding them impossible when I began playing. It's a long time ago but I think it took me a year or two to be able to nail them cleanly and efficiently.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=