Grateful Dead Music Forum

...Just a quick question. When you play the A-form barre do you use all three fingers to cover the front three strings, a la A chord or do you just barre them with ring finger?

My guitar teacher says to use your ring finger. It helps if the distal joint on that finger can bend somewhat backwards. I made the mistake of using my pinky until the teacher pointed out the fact that I need to keep the pinky free to play other strings.

bodiddley wrote:My guitar teacher says to use your ring finger. It helps if the distal joint on that finger can bend somewhat backwards. I made the mistake of using my pinky until the teacher pointed out the fact that I need to keep the pinky free to play other strings.

+1 bent ring finger

either or, depending on what voicing you like, if you want to hear the high E, play it with all your fingers. otherwise, do what you like