So glad I found your site. 5 months into my lock-down project (learn guitar) I can see this is forever (the guitar not the lock-down I hope) so must reassess/correct my homegrown 'technique'. It fails me when I get to the barre chord in Mrs Winter's Jump, but now I know what to practice, along with all the other exercises in your essential technique book. Huge thanks for being such a good teacher, and good luck with the house.
Thank you. This is the only good barre advice video on all of RUclips. I was stuck on barres and couldn't play them reliably at all. Your comment about only applying pressure in the barre to the specific note you're playing is what fixed it for me. They're still difficult, but they're doable now. No other advice video on barres mentions this.
Just wanted to say I'm so glad I found this video! I've played electric guitar for years and have got into classical as something different to do during lockdown. I've challenged myself to learn Cavatina and it's really highlighted some looseness in my technique, particularly with some of the wide barre chords. Been doing this exercise for about 10 minutes before every practice session and I've seen a measurable improvement so a big thank you is definitely in order :)
That was very helpful. I’m decent at barre chords, but I tend to be a “vice gripper” and my hand wears down quick. I’m definitely going to try the isolated barring!
Thank you so much! I'm just getting started with barre, and it's been a frustrating and painful introduction so far. I hope it will be less so with this information and the exercise! Looking forward to the day I can use them without much of an effort... XD
I find this extremely helpful. To expand on the section with respect to arm weight, I have found that adding a slight pull emphasizes the effect. Do you think that will cause problems for me?
Hello Brad, do your exercise books contain any practice routines specifically for barres in the higher positions, say from the 7th position onwards? These are a challenge for me and I was wondering whether there is anything in particular to do to improve here. Many thanks, David
My main technique book goes through a progression of barre techniques from easy to more difficult. You can move all the exercises to whatever fret you want. That said, if you are tackling a specific kind of barre issue 7th fret and above you might have to create your own exercise based on the piece of music you are working on. Not sure what level you are at so hard to say if my stuff will help. wernerguitareditions.com/products/classical-guitar-technique-essential-exercises-scales-arpeggios-pdf
Thanks for the response, Brad. I just ordered a hard copy of your book through Amazon.co.uk. The specific barre I’m struggling with is the 9th fret six string barre in the 16th measure of Carcassi’s Etude no. 3. Even more precisely, I am having trouble sustaining the C on the sixth string while playing the G on the second. If I make one of those two notes sound good, the other doesn’t. I’ll also discuss it with my teacher at the Geneva conservatory as classes have started for the new school season. I figure your book will be useful for many other things as well.
There are page numbers in the video lesson list on the purchase page, just scroll down to find them: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/classical-guitar-technique-exercises-scales-arpeggios/
Hi from London UK Sir. Love the channel and your great Teaching. VERY frustrated at the moment with a particular Barre position, I have tried EVERYTHING! This is the problem, by the way, I guess I may be at intermediate level, I've studied Carcassi for around 3 years. My problem is Spanish Romance, I play through the whole Minor part quite well, BUT... that stretch with the barre from fret 7 to 11 with pinky! Basically the B string always buzz's, when I stretch I cannot hold it down, I've tried moving the barre finger up and down slightly, just cant do it, please, any help much appreciated.
Basically find your left hand thumb position for that chord. And wrist position. Index finger placement too. It is subtle thing but many things could be wrong ha ha. Bach Chaconne has half Barre chord which is impossible for me to hold. I cheat and play it arpeggio not with chord. It is first position chord with index finger over four top strings. And you have all left hand fingers used. Very hard.
Difficult to say without seeing your technique but how are your barres in other pieces? Do you practice barre regularly? CubingFTW is correct, the left side of the finger is less fleshy so that might help. I usually find that students barre are not straight and close to the fret when they do that stretch in Spanish Romance. Make sure to place your barre very carefully and let the stretch with other fingers be secondary to the the barre technique. Yes, thumb position is important too, I need mine quite low down the neck for that stretch.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Hi, Thank you again for your advice, I think I've solved it! Just as I make the stretch to fret 11, I lower my thumb slightly, it works, I will keep practising this method. Many Thanks
You have a natural talent for teaching. As well as for the guitar itself. Great lessons
I appreciate that, Thanks!
So glad I found your site. 5 months into my lock-down project (learn guitar) I can see this is forever (the guitar not the lock-down I hope) so must reassess/correct my homegrown 'technique'. It fails me when I get to the barre chord in Mrs Winter's Jump, but now I know what to practice, along with all the other exercises in your essential technique book. Huge thanks for being such a good teacher, and good luck with the house.
Thank you. This is the only good barre advice video on all of RUclips. I was stuck on barres and couldn't play them reliably at all. Your comment about only applying pressure in the barre to the specific note you're playing is what fixed it for me. They're still difficult, but they're doable now. No other advice video on barres mentions this.
Glad I could help!
Just wanted to say I'm so glad I found this video! I've played electric guitar for years and have got into classical as something different to do during lockdown. I've challenged myself to learn Cavatina and it's really highlighted some looseness in my technique, particularly with some of the wide barre chords. Been doing this exercise for about 10 minutes before every practice session and I've seen a measurable improvement so a big thank you is definitely in order :)
You are an amazing teacher, thank you!
Thank you! 😃
Perfect timing!
Hope it's helpful!
That was very helpful. I’m decent at barre chords, but I tend to be a “vice gripper” and my hand wears down quick. I’m definitely going to try the isolated barring!
Glad it was helpful!
Great, really had trouble with a barre on X fret, while playing on XII-XIV.
Thank you Bradford.. truly great.. my exhausted 'vice' grip thanks you grandly!
Ha, you're very welcome. Turn that vice grip to soft butter!
Thank you so much! I'm just getting started with barre, and it's been a frustrating and painful introduction so far. I hope it will be less so with this information and the exercise! Looking forward to the day I can use them without much of an effort... XD
Just make sure to add it to your daily routine, just a few short minutes a day.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar I certainly will!
I find this extremely helpful. To expand on the section with respect to arm weight, I have found that adding a slight pull emphasizes the effect. Do you think that will cause problems for me?
Just be careful to not over do it or cause strain. First sign of strain just stop and take a break.
Hello Brad, do your exercise books contain any practice routines specifically for barres in the higher positions, say from the 7th position onwards? These are a challenge for me and I was wondering whether there is anything in particular to do to improve here. Many thanks, David
My main technique book goes through a progression of barre techniques from easy to more difficult. You can move all the exercises to whatever fret you want. That said, if you are tackling a specific kind of barre issue 7th fret and above you might have to create your own exercise based on the piece of music you are working on. Not sure what level you are at so hard to say if my stuff will help. wernerguitareditions.com/products/classical-guitar-technique-essential-exercises-scales-arpeggios-pdf
Thanks for the response, Brad. I just ordered a hard copy of your book through Amazon.co.uk. The specific barre I’m struggling with is the 9th fret six string barre in the 16th measure of Carcassi’s Etude no. 3. Even more precisely, I am having trouble sustaining the C on the sixth string while playing the G on the second. If I make one of those two notes sound good, the other doesn’t. I’ll also discuss it with my teacher at the Geneva conservatory as classes have started for the new school season. I figure your book will be useful for many other things as well.
Hi where this excercise in your technique excercises which I have, classical guitar technique
There are page numbers in the video lesson list on the purchase page, just scroll down to find them: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/classical-guitar-technique-exercises-scales-arpeggios/
@@Thisisclassicalguitar great thank you, I'm using your method and loving it :-) thanks for the great videos and input
Hi from London UK Sir. Love the channel and your great Teaching. VERY frustrated at the moment with a particular Barre position, I have tried EVERYTHING! This is the problem, by the way, I guess I may be at intermediate level, I've studied Carcassi for around 3 years. My problem is Spanish Romance, I play through the whole Minor part quite well, BUT... that stretch with the barre from fret 7 to 11 with pinky! Basically the B string always buzz's, when I stretch I cannot hold it down, I've tried moving the barre finger up and down slightly, just cant do it, please, any help much appreciated.
Basically find your left hand thumb position for that chord. And wrist position. Index finger placement too. It is subtle thing but many things could be wrong ha ha.
Bach Chaconne has half Barre chord which is impossible for me to hold.
I cheat and play it arpeggio not with chord. It is first position chord with index finger over four top strings.
And you have all left hand fingers used. Very hard.
@CubingFTW Thank you very much for the reply and your expert advice, I will try this in today's practice.
Difficult to say without seeing your technique but how are your barres in other pieces? Do you practice barre regularly? CubingFTW is correct, the left side of the finger is less fleshy so that might help. I usually find that students barre are not straight and close to the fret when they do that stretch in Spanish Romance. Make sure to place your barre very carefully and let the stretch with other fingers be secondary to the the barre technique. Yes, thumb position is important too, I need mine quite low down the neck for that stretch.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar Hi, Thank you again for your advice, I think I've solved it! Just as I make the stretch to fret 11, I lower my thumb slightly, it works, I will keep practising this method. Many Thanks
I’m playing in positions now, 5 and 7 but my fingers on right hand seem drunk and get lost. Is that normal when learning?
Do you have a technique routine that you practice everyday?
@@Thisisclassicalguitar no, I have your excessive book so maybe can use that
Start with 5-10 minutes of the open string right hand exercises everyday.
@@Thisisclassicalguitar thankyou