String gauges and barre chords

Bidley · March 2014

I'm having real problems playing barre chords on my acoustic. No matter how long I spend practicing my form, I always end up having to contort my fretting hand until I'm actually in pain.

Now, I'm using .13s on it. Would switching down to .12s help with this? I don't have nearly as many issues on an electric with .10s on. I do love how much acoustic sounds with .13s, but I could do with it being a bit more forgiving.

JAYJO · March 2014

Try using a capo. Maybe tune down and then apply the capo 1st fret this should help. I dont go higher than 12s. The lower action should help with your Barre chords.

ICBM · March 2014

Yes, try 12s.

bertie · March 2014

move to 12s and try using F barre if you can

RedRabbit · March 2014

You could just need the action lowering a bit.

I'd grown up thinking acoustics had to have a high action and be difficult to play but playing some decent, well set up acoustics changed my mind. It's never going to be as easy as an electric but it doesn't need to be as far removed as some people think.

That said I personally don't find there to be much difference between 12s and 13s so have been using 12s for years now. There's no point in making things harder than they need to be.

midlifecrisis · March 2014

I started this thread because my issue was buzzing and sloppy feeling of the bass strings,, moving from 50 to 56 which I think felt much better but the higher strings moving from 11 to 13 although noticeable wasn't that different in feel or tone. I think if you are having trouble with barr chords, then lighter strings will help that, and lowering the action.

midlifecrisis · March 2014

ooops sorry I meant the other thread re string gauges.

bertie · March 2014

lighter strings AND lowering the action isnt always a good plan..........try the gauge change first then see how you go.

over the years Ive found going from 12s to 13s isnt that noticeable, until you go back to 12s again.............then you appreciate the difference

ICBM · March 2014

I eventually settled on 11s for the same reason - I found there wasn't actually that much difference in tone, but there was a big difference in feel, especially on barre chords. (Although many sets of 11s come with a G string which is too light and does sound thin, so you need to be careful when choosing.)

It is also worth checking the set-up, especially the nut height - this makes a much bigger difference than you'd think even quite a long way up the neck, and is the most often overlooked part of a typical set-up. Fret each string at the third fret and look at the gap between the string and the first fret - if it's any more than a quarter of the string diameter (and preferably not even as much as that), the nut is too high.

Bidley · March 2014

Thanks gents, I've just ordered a set of .12s. I'll report back once I get them on.

zenzeypher · March 2014

As everyone said above really.

On my telecoustic thing I set it up like an electric and it still sounds sweet; I ended up using 10s, having the nut cut properly so they were as low as they could go without buzzing,

levelled and filed the frets and adjusted bridge nut by filling it down.. first time I went too far and it buzzed like hell.. replaced the bridge with a bone blank and now it's lovely.

action is low, sounds great and can barre on it all day long and my hands are weaker than a babies

bertie · March 2014

a telecoustic isnt really a built like a "proper" acoustic, its made/setup like an electric "off the shelf" and designed to be used plugged in with low gauge strings, like an electric - very easy to play. I very nearly bought one years ago........... great little 'arm-chair' guitars, but a tad lacking on the unplugged sound.................

ESBlonde · March 2014

It is possible to get a low action on acoustic but to a degree that precludes 'thrash' type strumming to a degree (plectrum technique will help here plenty). Heavy strings are only really required if you have to project the sound somewhat, the tone thing is (IMHO) overplayed but I wouldn't use 9s.
I do find that the neck profile makes a huge difference particularly in prolonged playing of full barre chords, the ache in the thumb syndrome for me after an hour or so.

zenzeypher · March 2014

bertie said:

a telecoustic isnt really a built like a "proper" acoustic, its made/setup like an electric "off the shelf" and designed to be used plugged in with low gauge strings, like an electric - very easy to play. I very nearly bought one years ago........... great little 'arm-chair' guitars, but a tad lacking on the unplugged sound.................

this is true; i've managed similar on my Ibanez acoustic.. not as nice but not far off.

It can be done

bertie · March 2014

sweepy · March 2014

I'd check the neck relief if you are having issues with barre chords ( assuming they are up the fretboard ), too much and it will always be an effort.

tonyrath · April 2014

There are other ways of voicing chords further up the neck so that full barre is not used ie drop 2 and drop 3 chords or partial barring or just the thumb over the top. Continual barring on an acoustic will lead to hand problems eventually and 12 is the max I would use.

matone · April 2014

Just gone down to 11`s from 13`s and it`s made my acoustic a much more friendly guitar !

Andyjr1515 · April 2014

I know its sacrilege, but I dropped to 10's because, nowadays, I get dreadful cramp with extended use of barre chords (I have a progressive arthritis problem). To my amazement, it made no noticeable difference to the tone. I'm sure it would, of course, with some playing styles and/or guitars

Andy

Grunfeld · April 2014

Bidley said:

Now, I'm using .13s on it. Would switching down to .12s help with this?

For years I had 12s or 13s on my acoustic cos blah blah tone blah blah.

I didn't play it. Because it was horrible for exactly the reasons you've said.

So I put 10s on it. And now I play it.

And I figure playing a guitar is more of a result than having an acoustic with great tone that I never play.

We're all different and I obviously like light gauges, 9s on my electrics. Just took me a little while to work this out for my acoustic too.

noisepolluter · April 2014

Andyjr1515 said:

nowadays, I get dreadfully camp with extended use of barre chords

"That's your actual F sharp, see… I've terrible trouble with me fingering recently but I had this big butch 'omme on Denmark Street take a varder at it, and now me action's absolutely fantabulosa".

(...Yes, our car is full of old BBC comedy tapes...)

viz · April 2014

It's the middle and low strings that cause the problem I think. So go for the lightest gauge you can that has a wound 3rd. I can't remember what i got but they're well light and very nice and full sounding.

Octahedron · April 2014

12-54 and lower the action just a touch. That'll make'er sing!

Bidley · April 2014

Yeah, I put a set of .12s on, dropped the action a nat's at the bridge and it's mustard.

Lodious · April 2014

As sweepy said, check the neck relief, a tweak on the truss rod can make a hell of a difference. If people can drop from 13's to 11's without needing to adjust the truss rod, then that probably means it wasn't' set right for the 13's.

Lodious · April 2014

...also, the difference in tone between 10's and 13's is tiny compared to the difference in hearing a guitarist who is comfortable, and one who is struggling to play, so if 10's is what makes you comfortable, I'd do it.

Gru · April 2014

If the problem is around the first three frets it could be a nut issue, try placing a capo on 2nd or 3rd and try some barre chords a little further up. Still have the problem.

I crudely adjusted the nut on my cheap laminate acoustic with a junior hacksaw blade, the B string had a 2mm gap above the 1st fret! Even with a small adjustment to all of the strings it plays an awful lot better, sounds better too. It probably needs more but I am treating myself to a new acoustic in the coming weeks anyway, and didn't want to risk taking it too far. It is scary how far it was off, purchased new about 14 years ago.

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String gauges and barre chords

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