what do you suggest for some good exercises? i've been trying to barre every fret with my first finger, attempting to play each strings note cleanly and it gets real hard for me around the 9th fret. i feel like i have to strain my hand. is this normal or is my technique bad?

As long as you're barring with the side of your finger, you're most likely correct.

i do it diffrently if the stretch is long with the rest off the fingers i kinda rool over, but i juse to do it "flat fingered" if the tretch is long and if its regular chord like a regular F Chord i have the finger on the side.

Edit: Sorry just noticed i may have got this conversation absolutley wrong well hang in there!.

This post was edited by LinkToMyProfile on Jul 1 2010 05:10pm

A little discomfort is normal. If you feel any kind of sharp pain, stop immediately.

i can barre well on an electric but not an acoustic.

That's typically how it goes. Acoustics have thicker strings. It's weird you have problems barring around the 9th, it's usually easier to barre further up the neck, and hardest close to the nut.

its weird. all my strings ring clear except for the g which sounds muted. its really frustrating.

The G string is the biggest cunt of them all. Always causing trouble with sounding off, flat, sharp, dull, muted or just not playing at all.

I am not sure how far into guitar technique you have learnt - but I would suggest using the "rolling" technique used in Sweep Picking.

Barre the 5th fret.
As you play each note, "roll" the pressure in your finger from the Low E, to the next, and on and on until the High E string.

So you have a full barre on the chord, but the pressure will be highest where you are about to play. If you try and roll the pressure up and down your finger as you play the strings, you may start to find a slightly more comfortable position.

If this doesn't make sense i'll make a video

i get what your saying. is this a common technique used by guitarist? i must practice.

It's common practise with sweep picking rather than all round guitar playing. Although, learning to do it well and add it to the right parts can really add alot of fluid-sounding playing to an improvised solo for instance. I certainly recommend improv over Iron Maiden as the galloping power chords make easy improv