Trouble doing full F major on upper frets

[paulp1960]

As you get higher up the neck the action usually increases. And the frets get closer together. But it's something I learned to do without over analysing things. I just played a lot.

[GHS]

This is kind of strange since most folks have trouble with F's, first postion bar because its close to the nut, ( as your picture). If you are playing a barred F at the 8th fret that should be an "A" shape if you are using the caged system and should only involve the inner four strings and should be fairly easy.

[M19]

Originally Posted by SunnyDee

For me this is just the difference in the angle of my arm&elbow with neck of guitar as I get closer to the body of the guitar. Near the headstock my arm is relaxed, but close to the body, I need to pull in some with my bicep to do a clean barre. Some people do it that way, might help.

This ^^^ is as much or more a factor than fret spacing or action.

[SunnyDee]

Originally Posted by GHS

This is kind of strange since most folks have trouble with F's, first postion bar because its close to the nut, ( as your picture). If you are playing a barred F at the 8th fret that should be an "A" shape if you are using the caged system and should only involve the inner four strings and should be fairly easy.

I think OP is not playing an Fmajor. Rather, OP is playing the E shape barre whatever the notes.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I actually have small hands. Can't explain it; it's just harder. This is on all five of my guitars so it's not the action because they have had set ups and play easily otherwise.

Hi pz
I have a question for you. Have you had your guitar setup?

I know others have possibly mentioned this. Barre chords don't change in difficulty as you move up the neck till the neck heel begins to interefere with your hand (10th fret or so).

Based on what you said, I'm guessing it's an action issue, not lack or skill or strength.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi pz
I have a question for you. Have you had your guitar setup?

I know others have possibly mentioned this. Barre chords don't change in difficulty as you move up the neck till the neck heel begins to interefere.

All five have been set up. It seems there are different opinions on if it's harder as you go up the neck.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

All five have been set up. It seems there are different opinions on if it's harder as you go up the neck.

How often do you practice your barres?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by TBman

How often do you practice your barres?

Every day. This isn't about practice or if I can do barre chords. I can do barre chords on every fret on the guitar. My question is why does it take me more effort to do them as I get closer to the soundhole. I'm just curious why that is, since I using the same technique whether I'm on the first fret or the 8th fret.

[rick-slo]

Then you have the fact that the fretboard gets wider and the strings farther apart as you go up the neck. Plus many fretboards also get flatter as you go up the neck. Neither is barre helpful.

For a full six string barre the third (G) string is the most likely to buzz as it falls under an index finger joint crease. For a chord like a Em7 barred on the seventh
fret try in general using a five string barre instead of a six string barre.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

All five have been set up. It seems there are different opinions on if it's harder as you go up the neck.

Paul, we both have a J-45. Mine's a 2016 standard. I'm guessing the neck profile on both of ours are exactly the same. I don't practice my barres much at all, maybe once a week and I have no problems playing them all over the neck. Here are some shots of my setup, don't know how helpful it is. I play fingerstyle so I like it low. The middle photo is a little out of focus, but you get the idea.

[magnawing]

Arm/hand angle has a lot to do with it. If you watch old videos of Johnny Cash, you'll notice he moves his guitar out to his left occasionally...this may help with your problem.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[GHS]

Originally Posted by magnawing

Arm/hand angle has a lot to do with it. If you watch old videos of Johnny Cash, you'll notice he moves his guitar out to his left occasionally...this may help with your problem.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

This can be resolved by moving the guitar to the left knee to give more body clearance. I play most everything like this now.

[magnawing]

Originally Posted by GHS

This can be resolved by moving the guitar to the left knee to give more body clearance. I play most everything like this now.

That works if you play sitting down...he was usually standing on stage.


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[Wyllys]

Originally Posted by magnawing

Arm/hand angle has a lot to do with it. If you watch old videos of Johnny Cash, you'll notice he moves his guitar out to his left occasionally...this may help with your problem.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by GHS

This can be resolved by moving the guitar to the left knee to give more body clearance. I play most everything like this now.

I agree the angle is a factor. Re-Positioning the instrument a bit toward the fretting hand side will lessen the change angle of the dangle as you move toward the body.

Perhaps a cut-away would feel more comfortable?

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

All five have been set up. It seems there are different opinions on if it's harder as you go up the neck.

Hi pz

There are different opinions about nearly everything guitar related, including what 'well set-up' means.

My action is uniform up the entire fingerboard on each of my guitars. So whether it would actually be harder to press the strings at the 1st, 8th, 15th frets seems to me like only the Germans would build gauges to measure the difference if there is a difference. After playing for 55+ years, I sure don't perceive differences.

Hope you get it worked out…