I’ve been playing (or at least trying) acoustic guitar for about two years now, and I still can’t play a single song from start to finish. I just can’t press hard enough or play fast enough to get the songs right. This mainly happens with bar chords, and I can’t move my fingers fast enough either. It’s so discouraging. What’s the problem here?
It sounds like it could be an issue with your guitar. What kind of guitar are you playing on? Has it been properly set up by a guitar tech?
Here’s the thing: you shouldn’t need to press hard on the strings at all. If you press too hard, the notes will sound sharp. It should only take light pressure to fret a note.
Maybe go to a guitar store and try out a couple of decent guitars to feel what it should be like to press the strings?
I’d suggest everyone get their guitar checked or find someone who knows how to play well and ask them to check it for you. It might need a setup (it probably does).
Can an acoustic guitar have the action height adjusted? I’ve only seen it done on cheap guitars and one really expensive one.
I’m not an expert, but I think it can be adjusted. It’s just a little more permanent on acoustics than electrics. They may shave down the nut and saddle to lower the action.
My first guitar was unplayable because it was so poorly set up. My parents didn’t know much about guitars and thought I was just being picky because my 9-year-old fingers couldn’t handle the high action haha.
While you’re there, ask about getting some really good strings to help too.
Maybe your guitar’s action (the distance between the strings and the frets) is too high. This makes it hard to press the strings down. Check out some videos on the proper action for your guitar or take it to a music shop to get it adjusted if it’s too high.
What guitar do you have?
Acoustic guitars are harder than electrics. I ended up giving up on acoustic.
If you want to give it another try, keep these things in mind: Acoustic ‘light’ strings are usually 12s. Try stepping down to 10s with a wound third string. Also, make sure your guitar is set up properly and doesn’t have any issues at the nut or bridge.
Post a video so we can see what’s going on. We can’t help without seeing the guitar or your playing.
A bar chord isn’t about squeezing with your wrist. It’s more about stabilizing your hand with your forearm muscles and pulling back a bit with your arm. It’s crazy, but once someone pointed that out to me, I realized my whole arm was engaged. It’s harder if your posture isn’t solid.
Assuming you’re doing it right, it still might take time. It might not click in a day or even a week, but practice every day until you’re mentally exhausted and then try again the next day. The key is to build your neurons, not just strength. After a full night’s rest, the movement will be easier, more automatic.
You don’t need tons of force, just speed. You only need to press down on the string that’s being played when the note is ringing. This dexterity will take some time to develop. And it’s harder to do if you’re not already automatic with the picking hand. Practice with a song, not just the bar chord alone.
Also, make sure your guitar is set up. Many people give up after buying an expensive guitar and not having it properly set up.
Can you play songs that don’t have bar chords all the way through?
Your practice might be the issue. There’s no reason this should last for two years if you’re practicing properly.
Find your weak spots, work on them, and move on. Just sitting there frustrated won’t help.
I used to practice just pressing my hands on the strings a few times a day to build strength. Try that and let me know if you feel stronger.
Look up ergonomics and practice that. You shouldn’t be holding the guitar up with your muscles. One of the best tips I got was to get pressure from pulling back with my shoulder instead of pressing down with my fingers or wrist.
You could try tuning your guitar down half a step or two, so the strings aren’t as tense and are easier to press. Also, lower the action if you haven’t done that yet, so the strings are closer to the fretboard.
Get your guitar set up.
There’s a finger strengthening tool on Amazon. They come in four different strengths and cost about $15.