Big knuckles barres - any suggestions?

if I were to wrap something around my finger to fret a barre
I would think it would be uncomfortable not being in touch with the string.
I think we can agree that playing guitar is very tactile.

maybe instead of barring a chord why not use modified open chords up and down the neck.
I kind of call them open barres.
that way we can get around our geezer joints.
I am a year less old than you.

Hi,

The trouble with taping is that it's hard to get it to work effectively and still not reduce the movement too much for when you want to play normally. I did briefly try tape, but as dogbite says it felt bad, and anyway I never got it to work successfully. It does sound like it should be possible, but I imagine it would take a lot of experimenting to get it right. I also remember seeing a 'barring device' that you attached to your finger like a moveable capo, but I don't know if anybody ever bought one. :)

There's two ways that I get around it:

a) like dogbite suggests I use more partial bars and four finger shapes and just play less strings. This is usually enough, especially on electric guitar when playing less strings often sounds better anyway.

b) When I do want a fuller bar I move the barring finger across the fretboard until the problem knuckle is hidden behind whichever strings are being fretted by the other fingers. It then doesn't matter if it's pressing the string down fully or not (I figure that at 60 my knuckles aren't going to get any younger either.... :P ). I can then pretty much always find a position where all 6 strings will then ring cleanly if needed. But how effective that is might depend on which knuckle you're having difficulty with, how bad it is, how long your fingers are, etc.

Cheers,

Chris

Dogbite, you must be talking about the rockin' fistful E shape that we all played in the garage. Thumb the low E and who cares if the high E rings anyway, right? Same with the A shape. I just don't have that kind of taste anymore. I like some rhythm and a little technique these days. I do like inversions and alternate voicings but it seems like with them I need barres more than ever. Are there practical open voicings above 5th position?

Chris C, your technique suggestions are similar to what I am working on now. Most of the time I am doing OK but I am pushing myself for a very clean sound right now because I am working on right hand fingerpicking. The left hand has to be pretty precise to get clean notes and I am frustrated with dead thunks now and then.

You know, guitar IS very tactile, but it doesn't necessarily HAVE to be. Google on musicians' finger prostheses and you will find some guitar and violin players that use prostheses to replace lost fingertips on their string hands. I have been trying to find out what materials work well. Electricians tape gets ragged pretty quickly and gets everything gummy so that is not the best solution. But there must be some way around this headache. Ummm, fingerache.

Best, MicMac, FL

There are practical open voicings, yes....it's something I've been looking at lately, though not in much depth as yet. The problem I've found is that with leaving strings open, they're OK for strumming but not necessarily so for fingerpicking, as you may be picking two adjacent strings and repeating the same note.

A technique I've developed over time, but more so lately - after a nasty injury last year took a lot of the strength from my left hand - is using my thumb to fret the bottom two strings, and playing barres with my index finger covering the top, or maybe top two, strings. It works for me because I've got big hands.

Here's an example:

That's a G chord played at the 3rd fret....my thumb is playing the root G note on the bottom E string, my 2nd 3rd and 4th fingers are in the same position as if I were using them in G barre chord (an E chord moved up 3 frets) and my index finger is covering the top two strings.

This works for me because it relieves the tension in the back of my hand, it's not arched so much - but it also helps for cleaner picking, especially on the top two strings where your knuckle might be.

It may not work for everyone - you need big hands, for a start - but it's the method I've developed as working best for ME given my greatly reduced hand strength. As the youngest contributor so far to this thread - not quite 50 - I've not yet been troubled with arthritis or rheumatism, although it can't be far away!

:D :D :D

Vic

Most of the time I am doing OK but I am pushing myself for a very clean sound right now because I am working on right hand fingerpicking. The left hand has to be pretty precise to get clean notes and I am frustrated with dead thunks now and then.

I understand what you mean - I like to do a bit of fingerpicking too. :) Whenever I get discouraged about my ageing hands I try and remind myself what Django could do with only two working fingers in his left hand. 8)

Django at work

Not bad eh... :shock:

Vic, I'm jealous you can do that kinda chording. Wow. :shock: I've tried to no avail because my thumb doesn't want to go over and get into grabbing any string except on a Gmaj7.

micmac. not quite the thumb over bashing...I hear ya!
but as Vic shows. thumb over can do alot.
you compensate and be more selective on the strings you hit.

I also understand when you say there are times for a barre. yes, nothing like it.

I still don't like the prosthetic idea. but if you can get used to it.

Thanks for the photo Vic. Gorgeous axe, BTW. Yes, that is the big time garage band moveable root chord but it has limits; voicing for one. Your hands must be bigger than mine because I can't really wrap around that much on my Telly or my D-body. I hope you are getting over your injury and you get your strength back. I had similar problems with my right arm in 2000 that lasted more than 4 years. I couldn't even lift a cup of coffee or comb my hair. After neck surgery to correct nerve impingement I gradually got 95% range of motion back and about 70% strength and stamina. I feel lucky to be able to play again.

Chris, thanks for the video link to Django, which I haven't seen before. NOW what can I whine about?? Amazing player and an interesting human being as well.

Dogbite, good advice on being selective. I am trying to get more out of each position these days, picking 3-string arpeggios and such and learning to combine rhythmic strumming (like the guys behind Django) with small riffs. Not so easy because I have never been that great on technique up to now.

MicMac in Florida

Good post Vic...I guess because that's exactly the finger position I've been using for 40+ years instead of barres...I simply call it the "closed F position"...(I also have large hands)...I also sometimes use the "closed Bb position", with the thumb over the two bottom strings, fretting strings 2,3,4 with my index finger, letting the first string mute....but I usually barre that instead.
I am 64, so far no arthritis in the hands....mine is in my knees. :wink:

Hi OdNt43: Please pardon, can you run that one by me one more time? Fret 2, 3 & 4 with your index and thumb 5 & 6? Is this one fret apart or on the same fret? Sounds like a great cheater chord.

Best, Michael in Florida, USA

MicMac, the chord he's referring to would be played like this....

E A D G B E
1 1 3 3 3 x

The thumb would cover the E and A strings, and the index finger the D G & B strings. Bowie used a B chord in this manner in "Queen B*tch" - that's a great song for learners, all the chords are majors, and the chords used in the song are A B C D E F and G! I play it in a similar fashion, but use my ring finger for the barre.

Here's a link - watch Bowie's fingers (and thumb!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7rk6zkC6DBU

:D :D :D

Vic

Good post Vic...I guess because that's exactly the finger position I've been using for 40+ years instead of barres...I simply call it the "closed F position"...(I also have large hands)...I also sometimes use the "closed Bb position", with the thumb over the two bottom strings, fretting strings 2,3,4 with my index finger, letting the first string mute....but I usually barre that instead.
I am 64, so far no arthritis in the hands....mine is in my knees. :wink:

hey big brother. I call it the closed F position too.

have you tried the 'closed' C7 position?

at the nut make the open C7. make sure the pinky is on the 3rd string 3 fret. C7.

move that shape up to the 5th fret.
you can play the big open E string as you pick the strings upwards.
you have E7 and that is right there for "Down on the Bayou".
move that shape up and down the fret board scale for the other chord 7th's.

Vic: nice link to Bowie's video of Queen Bi ... b, b, britches 8) . His style in this is pretty much what I have been doing for years, straight ahead punchy rhythm and vocal. Thanks for the link, I really enjoyed it. This is is the second great guitar video link I have gotten from y'all (oops, sorry, I'm in the Deep South, USA). Chris C posted one of Django Reinhardt, also superb.

I see the chord clearly, a lazy A shape slid up & down the neck. Handy for rhythm. Bowie seems to use A&P fingers for the lower barre and thumbs the low E.

MicMac, Florida, USA

Nice how Bowie uses that thumb to create the root in the chords. He has large hands and has that luxury. Funny, I don't see Bowie play much guitar these days.