B Chord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Page 2 of 2)

Whoa, all this talk of using your pinky?
I use my index and ring finger....
Am I missing something? We are talking about the A-Shaped barre-chord version of the "B-Chord" at the 2nd fret right?

Was I supposed to be using my pinky all this time...lol?

Dm

Guys and girls, a few comments to reinforce on previous posts:

Clean sounding barre chords are difficult to impossible if the action on your guitar is set too high - a good set up by a good technician is really worth the money and can really push your playing on;

Not everybody's ring finger can flex enough at the top knuckle to stop the D, G and B strings at the 4th fret without dampening the top E - mine sure can't - so don't worry, play the A shape with fingers 3, 4 and 5 and barre with the index;

Many have said it - you just have to put in the practice time to get results. In the long run any short cuts or "easy" fingerings that cut the chords short will hamper your development as a guitarist and reduce the fun you can get out of what is surely the greatest of musical instruments.

My grandfather is 85 and he still plays the yuke and banjo.  He's constantly spreading his fingers on his left, fret hand by ramming two fingers from his right hand between his fingers.   To look at his hands, the right fingers are all twisted and athritic but his left hand is still perfectly formed and well equiped to get into any position.

This shape is alot easier to play.

e---2---
b---4---
g---4---
d---4---
a---x---
e---x---

(Hope the above rendors properly)

I would only use this as a temporary measure. Because although difficult, the B chord is useful.

I hate it too by the way and I've been playing for a long time now.

Hope this helps.

Daomor

p.s. Also try playing the full shape at the 5th fret to get use to it (D major). It might be easier for some there. Then you can move it down as you get more confident.