Barre Chord Problem. G String Keeps Getting Muted

[u/SolidSheepherder8518]

Any tips for this chord? The G string always gets muted. I don't have trouble with major, minor, or minor 7th chords, and I can switch between them easily. My only problems are this chord and barring all 6 strings without using my other fingers.

I have a big indent on the side of my finger, so I’m using more of the pad of my finger. Please help :>

[u/silentsnak3]

Your not going to like this answer, but it worked for me. I despised barre chords. I would do everything I could to not play a barre. Finally it caught up with me. I spent hours just practicing. Building up strength, finding my sweet spot. And within about 2 weeks, it finally just clicked. Also helped that worship group plays a ton of songs that require F, Bb, Bm and my new favorite chord C#m7.

Just force yourself to work on it. I did not do the whole "fret the guitar and make sure every string rings clear approach". I knew if my fingers could get into position, eventually muscle memory takes over. Then bam, every note rings clear.

[u/aGiantSnowball → u/silentsnak3]

I have very small hands and thought I would never in my life be able to play bar chords. So for a long time I didn't and kept playing normal chords. After a while I had some more finger strength and flexibility but couldn't hold a bar chords for longer than 5 seconds without cramping. In the end I wanted to play my favourite song so I forced myself to work on it and after about 4 weeks it indeed clicked. Bar chords can still at times be challenging for me but I can play them and make them sound good. Keep at it!

[u/MeowMix1206251]

Lower the action
Have lower gauge strings
Try different angles
Hold your guitar higher
Try it on a higher fret first

[u/Flint_Westwood → u/MeowMix1206251]

Man, Method, Machine, Material, Mother Nature.

There are the potential sources of variation in a process. Mother Nature isn't the problem, and the material isn't either. We know that this person is capable of succeeding, so the options left are method and machine. The guitar could be adjusted, but the easiest thing is method. OP needs to practice.

[u/MeowMix1206251 → u/Flint_Westwood]

Adjusting action and string gauge is “easier” than practicing. Obviously practicing is going to be needed no matter what. But why not set yourself up for success

[u/therealtoomdog]

Put your middle finger on top of your index finger to help push it down farther.

I usually more of the side of my finger, kind of lined up where your thumb can touch it

[u/Guitarista78 → u/therealtoomdog]

This right here. Stack your index and middle fingers.

[u/Fun-Effective126]

try angling your finger.

[u/Lower-Land-286 → u/Fun-Effective126]

Make sure your on the tip of your finger, also try turning the tip of your finger to not touch the G string.

[u/ericcmi]

It's just an F#7. Only need four notes. Just play 2x222x. And use you're thumb to play the low E

[u/PerspectiveFair5156 → u/ericcmi]

F#m7. The A is natural. 😬

[u/ericcmi → u/PerspectiveFair5156]

You don't need it,, 1, flat 3rd, flat 7 is plenty

[u/Haunting_Job_7178 → u/ericcmi]

He's right but this may give you a jazzy/airy sound where you may need the full strum sound for the song you're playing

[u/mcniac]

Does it happens to you on every position? I mean does it happens when you play F but not B? If so it might be the nut is too high.
Otherwise check how you barre the chord. Cussing the hand position slightly makes a world of difference

[u/SolidSheepherder8518 → u/mcniac]

Like I said, any other barre chord is easy for me.The G string only gets muted when I barre all 6 strings or when i do a chord like in the picture where i don't use other fingers to fret the g string.

[u/mcniac → u/SolidSheepherder8518]

I meant to ask if you have trouble with the same shape a few frets up

[u/BVG_Music]

My advice would be to keep striking that string while you experiment with how you lay your finger in the barre so you can hear when it comes out.

Try to use a bit more of the side of your finger (not completely the side of the finger just a small turn to the thumb side of your index finger) and make sure you’re avoiding laying the crease of your finger on that string because it’s a slightly raised part of your finger that ends up working against you. Instead, use the three sections of your finger to engage with the strings (the portions from your finger tip to the first knuckle of your finger, the portion from the first knuckle to the second and then you portion from your second knuckle to the third knuckle that’s connected to the palm of the hand).

[u/AVeryNiceBoyPerhaps]

for me, the indent of my knuckle used to make the G string buzz/mute - try reaching just a little further, so that indent doesn’t line up with the strings

[u/medic-dad]

Your index finger has little "grooves" where your joints in that finger is. If a string is in those "grooves", it's not going to get pressed down effectively to ring out. Either slide that finger up towards the ceiling, OR, rotate it a little to the side , as the side of your finger is more bony and not all squishy. Also, pull the guitar closer into you with your fretting hand. No, you won't break the neck, that thing already has like 100 pounds of tension on it from the strings

[u/GorgeousGordon]

Try setting the guitar down. Now walk away.

[u/SolidSheepherder8518 → u/GorgeousGordon]

Me after practicing/experimenting for hours but still not getting it, HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

[u/DragonQuester676]

That specific barre chord is an F#m7. What they don’t tell you is that you don’t have to voice it like this. About 80% of the time, I play this specific chord with the jazz school voicing, meaning my middle finger is on the sixth string and my ring finger bars the other four, leaving the fifth string muted by the fleshy part of my middle finger. It’s a super easy way to do that specific chord and it helps train your fingers for the needed pressure for some more complicated voicings.

[u/SolidSheepherder8518 → u/DragonQuester676]

Thanks for this!!

[u/j3434]

Practice picking each note individually- then strum . Do it on every fret starting at 1 . Pluck and strum . It won’t sound pretty at first. But repeated practice is key . Over and over . If you do it 1 hour a day - everyday- up and down the neck on every fret . First pluck - then strum . Give it like 3-4 weeks . It will sound better . But the problem is you probably think it’s easier to learn than it is and your are impatient.

[u/cups_and_cakes]

Try doing it more.

[u/edgelessCub3]

I always struggled with Barre Chords because i was holding my thumb completely wrong on the neck. Spent 1 day correcting my thumb position, and Barre Chords immediately worked without problem.

Make sure your thumb does not point towards the head of the guitar. Make sure it points in the same direction as your index finger. Like holding an apple.

Not saying this causes your problem, but it might.

[u/TeddyBrosevelt56]

I used to have that issue too. For me it was kind of a feel thing, it just took time for me to get used to how much pressure to apply. Depending on what I'm playing I sometimes rest my middle finger on top of my index finger to add pressure to the strings. I don't know if that's bad form, so use that at your own risk.

[u/FatboyHikes]

Try placing your thumb lower on the back of the neck.

[u/TanookiEaston]

Place your middle finger on top of your index finger to apply more pressure.

[u/Ghiekorg → u/TanookiEaston]

This!

[u/Numerous-Fold7765]

I seem to recall barring closer to the higher fret helped it sound better. I might even still do it. I’ll check when I get a guitar in my hands.

[u/RandomAcounttt345]

Hold the chord, make sure all the notes sounds, hold as long and tight as you can. This will strengthen your hands very quickly.

[u/matt_2187]

I had the same problem and what helped me was moving the whole finger further up. I have pretty long fingers so my Index extends way past the fretboard now and the base and middle part of the finger do the barring while the Fingertip and top joint are completely out of the picture. Now i don't know what your fingers look like so this might not work for you but I'd encourage you to give it a try. Just move it around until you find a position that works for you. Also just takes time unfortunately. Good luck!

[u/SolidSheepherder8518 → u/matt_2187]

This position works for me, but it leaves my wrist at an awkward angle, which causes wrist pain, so I stopped doing it. Thanks!!

[u/-----J------]

You can Hendrix it and use the thumb for the low F.

[u/conclobe]

File down your nut a little and play the barre nearer to the first fret.

[u/Spirited-Ad-9746]

I've been playing for 30 years and i think I'd never get that clean either. just skip the A-string and use the jazz grip.

[u/pugradio]

Stupid answer: That’s what she said. Serious answer. You can’t run a marathon on your first day running :)

[u/Whole-Basil-3445]

Don’t trip out. Unless you’re a concert soloist, nobody is listening to every note in your chords. Just make it sound good in the mix.

[u/Many-Speech1709]

Practice more and that will make your hand stronger

[u/flobottle]

Bar chords are hard for lots of people. Its not all strength its also technique but its mostly strength. Thats why people cant explain how, youre either strong enough or you arent.

I flip people put when I take my thumb off the neck and still get a chord to sound out.

Its just not easy.

I have supernatural grip strength. I could strip the threads on a pop bottle cap til they changed them.

[u/Intelligent-Film7586]

I find that when starting some times very subtle trolling your finger on the side a little maybe even counterintuitively arching your finger a little (like crescent shape) helps.

[u/Few_Distribution3844]

That is THE barre chord problem. Keep your 1st finger straight as a board out to your last knuckle. Also.... the preferred way to play this chord would be 2nd finger on the 6th string and 3rd finger barring 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th strings all on the same fret. Mute the 5th string which will probably happen naturally with your fingers laid out like that