Barre Chord Trick That Will Save You Hours of Frustration

A common problem that people run into when they're first learning to play a barre chord is that their index finger naturally curves a little bit. Because of this curve, it doesn't actually press down on those middle strings against the fretboard. And that'll sound something like a dull, muted thud — which is definitely not what you want!

So, how do we fix it? If you use a second finger for assistance, it is significantly easier! Stacking your middle finger right on top of your barring index finger adds the extra, even pressure needed, especially when you're still building up that initial finger strength.

If you don't want to use two fingers, just remember the golden rule: you need to pinch very hard and try to get your barring finger completely flat in order to bar the chord correctly. Watch the short video above to see this technique in action, and with that, you can finally play all those songs you've been putting off!