Tony, Thanks for the upload. You're way ahead of me with that damn A-form bar chord. I can't play them - my 3rd finger won't bend like that.
Daryl
I've said exactly the some thing to several people. I feel your pain. No I literally FEEL your pain (or something similar). I have a theory that people who have never really had too much of a problem making A-shape double barre chords probably started when they were pretty young and supple or pregnant (or both).
I've finally started to get serious about trying to break through because I feel like I'm missing out too much by not being able to play A-shaped barres.
I feel like I'm starting to make a little progress. Here's how I'm approaching it:
- nerve and tendon stretches. I need to do this for some other health issues I have and the more I do it the better my playing is too.
- hinging my fingers against my thumb one at a time while I'm doing something boring like sitting in a meeting or on the bus,
- hinging the third finger only on the fretboard without the first finger barre too, which I find even harder.
I'm starting to feel like I'm making a little progress because I can now hold three strings down with my third finger and get them all to ring properly. Believe me this is REAL progress for me. I'm trying the first finger barre simultaneously too, but I'm really not there yet.
Anyway Daryl. I thought you might like to try this approach too. The nerve and tendon stretches are really important I think.
Good luck.
Shel