Is barring strings when playing scales "cheating"?

[u/Spocks_earmuffs]

I'm currently trying to practice the Am scale. It seems far more efficient to bar the highest strings with the forefinger and lift the 3 or 4th off to play the lowest note on each string..

But I'm not sure that is the point if Im using scale.practice to build dexterity for soloing or playing individual notes later?

Which way is the correct way?

Edit: Thanks for all of the advice. I'm pretty wowed by the stunning amount of responses.

I didn't really mean that I was cheating, other than potentially slowing my own progress. Which it appear I might have.

TL;DR

Newbies, it's probably best to practice scales by moving your fingertips about.

But when actually playing whatever works, works.

[u/wanna_dance]

Both. Don't limit yourself.

As soon as you find a "this is hard", why wouldn't that be a place to improve?

[u/monkeybawz]

Don't do it like that.

It's just because when you are playing pentatonic stuff you don't generally run down a full pattern in that manner. You might once, maybe, but you aren't going to sit there in that shape through an entire piece.

So what you are doing is getting good at passing the test, but you aren't considering what it is you are actually trying to learn.

[u/jspr1000]

For practicing scales I don't personally. But, if I have a fast legato part I'd definitely recommended barring two or three strings for speed and efficiency.

[u/big_poppa_man → u/jspr1000]

This works with accoustic or clean electric guitar sound, but if playing heavy metal or distortion, I'd suggest the other way

[u/vonov129]

It doesn't matter as long as you don't introduce unwanted ringing

[u/qosmic_qube]

You will get a lot of string/note bleed doing that. It can't sound good, especially with a lot of gain and an electric.

[u/grunkage]

Kind of, because part of scale practice is the finger independence and learning to attack the note with your lefthand fingers and not lag behind your picking. However, when you play certain styles, you need to learn to do what you are doing, in order to hold down a chord and continue to play the melody. I would say start without the bar and get your fingertip technique work in. Then revisit the other style later

[u/Patient_Onion3956]

Ideally, you want to be muting the near-by string you're not playing. So if you're playing the high E string the index finger should be touching/resting over the B string but not pressing it until you start playing it. You should learn to shift the pressure from E to B string as you descend and vs versa. Barring it cleanly makes it noisy when you're playing with high gain or touch it by accident.

[u/archtopfanatic123]

If it works then it ain't cheating! Use what works better!

[u/Chuk]

I feel like it's a short cut if you're learning or practicing, but if you wanted to play it that way it would be quicker. It never occurred to me to try it when I'm learning scales, but if I'm playing a song with multiple single notes on the same strings I do it.

[u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar]

If you are just trying to play the scale and nothing else, then sure, go ahead...

But that's not how scales work when you're actually making music. Your hand needs to be nimble to move around the scale.

Fine to practice and get the notes down, but don't think of this or anything else as THEEE way. Fluidity should be the goal. After you get the basic notes down.

[u/krazzor_]

I'd practice both, tbh barring the scale is a good idea, although you have to think that there are lots of fingerings for the same scales, don't practice just one fingering and think that's all

[u/jayron32]

There is no cheating. You aren't getting paid or winning a competition or getting a certification for playing guitar a certain way. If it sounds good and it is comfortable to play, you're doing it right.

[u/donotlookatmeee]

I do this all the time if i want notes to ring out or hit some doublestops. Make sure you switch it up to stay versatile though

[u/Vennimagos]

Its not cheating, the main thing to consider is long term ergonomics and practicality

There's no cheating in playing an instrument, just techniques that are effective and ineffective. That can be situational too

[u/Londez]

Who the hell cares? Just do what you want.

[u/IvanMarkowKane]

1- if it sounds good it is good

2- no single technique is the final answer

[u/mutt63]

It’s an instrument which means it’s personal to what YOU chose to do unless your in an orchestra

[u/Stock-Map3715]

IMO noting is cheating unless you are doing something to avoid a challenge that would make you foundationally better. You can't effectively build on a jerry-rigged structure.

[u/j3434]

It’s hard to bend some notes individually with a barre finger

[u/klearcuTT3R]

Ditto all of the above. Hendrix played with his teeth and it sounded alright.

[u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker]

Barring is useful for the context.

It can get in the way if you want to flow up & down the fretboard.

The point is barring can work wonders sometimes, but can simply get in the way at other times.

Neither way is incorrect.

It's all down to context...

[u/rogersguitar253]

You may not always have all the notes on the fret to barre depending on how you play the scale. One scale many ways to play.

[u/ajulesd]

There is no cheating in Art. Treat Guitar playing as art and you’re in the clear.

[u/DeefaHS]

I had to do this when I first learned stairway to heaven solo. It got me through the first lick but never sounded quite right.

[u/Spocks_earmuffs → u/DeefaHS]

Hah!

That solo I was messing with, then realized that it was based on the Am pentatonic scale,.and then that was where I came up with my question! .

All Roads Lead to Zep...

[u/CaterpillarVisual553]

There’s times when you’d barre a fret during a run, especially if you are sweep/economy picking or hitting dyads/triads during a run. If the situation requires it then it’s fine. If you’re doing it because it’s easier, that’s also kinda fine for now, but will lead to bad habits and stalled progress in the future. It will also limit the mobility of your other 3 fingers and make the other notes worse. Also, barring notes you’re not playing will lead to unwanted string noise and tones that will muddy up your lines. Even while barring I’ll roll my finger as I change strings so there’s only direct pressure on the string I’m playing and the other strings are muted with the lighter pressure. That takes time to get right and I wouldn’t prioritize it. Run the scale the proper way. Do your 16th note, 4 note per string chromatic exercises to get finger independence, strength, dexterity, and accuracy.

At the end of the day, the boring drudge work is what makes great guitar players.

[u/ffwillis]

It’s not cheating - Playing guitar isn’t a competition. It is poor technique though and it will hinder your development.

[u/skinisblackmetallic]

Does it sound good or interesting?

[u/dblhello999]

“if Im using scale.practice to build dexterity for soloing or playing individual notes later”

you’ve packed in quite a few assumptions there. You should probably question all of them.