Guitar question...

I'm a self-taught guitar player who's finally hit an impasse, and I need some advice. I've been playing for over 10 years now, using funky self-made chord shapes to get around using true barre chords. I do understand the basic concept behind a good barre shape - pinching with the thumb, playing slightly to the side of the meaty part of finger, keeping finger straight, leaving space from web of hand to neck, all that good stuff. However, I have pretty pronounced hyper-mobility in all of my joints, (some people refer to it as being double jointed) and cannot get my finger straight to save my life. I can lay a straight finger on the strings (barely), but lose all the tension when I add the other fingers in. Picture your index finger held straight, then flex the top joint back at a 60 degree angle. (Yes, it's weird looking). That's my problem.

Are there any "double jointed" guitar players here who can offer some insight? I think I'm maxed out on what I can learn on the guitar if I can't master this.

Try on a guitar with super fat frets,... Like a bc rich... Some times you can "smash" the difference out in the shape of your finger...... If that makes any sense

Fatter frets/ loose action should help. Also...... POWER CHORDS! LOL I find a loose action and high quality strings help me, I've got small hands and I find loose action make playing so much easier. You dont have to "kill" the strings.

ELectric or acoustic, and what size strings are you using? It might be easier if you switch to lighter strings.

Banjo.

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Originally Posted by Bitter Clinger

Fatter frets/ loose action should help. Also...... POWER CHORDS! LOL I find a loose action and high quality strings help me, I've got small hands and I find loose action make playing so much easier. You dont have to "kill" the strings.

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Agreed - I have one guitar strung with 10's which I use for most of my "just strumming" songs, and one strung with electrics (can't remember what gauge) that has a nice sloppy feel for hammering. Can't bar on either. lol.

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Originally Posted by Rucker61

ELectric or acoustic, and what size strings are you using? It might be easier if you switch to lighter strings.

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Acoustic. But even on my electric (which has strings like dental floss ;-) ) I can't make the shape properly. If I bar correctly with the index finger, the remaining three fingers "snap" back at the end joint, and I get a lot of dead notes.

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Originally Posted by Dingo

I think I'm maxed out on what I can learn on the guitar if I can't master this.

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Impossible. Sweep picking? Legato runs? What about learning to play in non-western modes? How about learning how to play techniques like Tommy Emmanuel, Erik Mongrain, Justin King or Don Ross? There is ALWAYS something new to learn and master on an instrument. Sorry...it's always bugged me when people say that.

On topic though, I don't think barre chords are necessary to learn. I'm sure you already know how to play the open versions of all of the standard barre chords (major, minor, minor 7, etc), so if you can't do the shape physically I wouldn't worry about it. There are some jazz chords that I just don't have the ability to stretch that many frets to make so I just do without. No biggie [Beer]

Splint your fingers while playing. Problem solved. You're welcome.