ok, that isn't so tough to get right
you just have to practice.. practice and practice more...
6th string Barre chords usually come after a week or so of hard practice (it could take upto a month)
barrre chords starting on the 5th string (and if ur trying 4 string as well) take a bit longer
JUST PRACTICE :)

You just need more strength. A lot more strength. It will come with practice so practice these chords like crazy until they ring out right.

I have that problem too and my biggest downfall is practice. I try a few times and get frustrated and do something else. I REALLY need to focus!

I notice you play acoustic. There is usually little reason for a barre chord on an acoustic, but they do occur sometimes. Barres on acoustics are much more difficult than on electrics where they're used all the time. Practice and finger strength are key here.

I've played acoustic 12 string for over 38 years and I NEVER barre a chord for anything I play. (While the 12 string promotes more finger strength I still don't have it when it comes to a barre as the strings push back a LOT harder.) If I move to a 6 string, I can barre, and on electric, I play TOO hard, (being used to a 12,) and pull/push everything out of tune. It's not that I can't barre, it's that I don't find it useful on an acoustic. Full fingered chords sound like ass on an electric so barres are the way to go there, (which is why I do very little electric being so accustomed to playing full fingered chords on the 12.) Acoustic is a different world so you can get a great sound simply by using a different fingering instead of a barre.

I disagree that Barre chords are less likely on Acoustic.

When attempting barre chords for the first time, don't try to put so much pressure on the neck that your fingers are really tight and start turning red. Keep a loose grip and press down lightly but not too lightly. Next, let's say you're barring a F chord, with your index finger (indice) try instead of just placing it on the fretboard, put it on and curl or roll your finger back a little. This will give you more leverage/pressure to push down.

Also, try putting your other fingers on first before the finger that is going to barr the chord. This will make a little easier.

And of course practice, practice, practice and get a good nights sleep :)

I would have to say that this was my biggest problem for about a month. Besides being hard to do for me, because of cramping, I was haveing problems making a barr chord anyway. So I can relate. But all it takes is a tennis ball, for strength, and perserverance. It will take about a month to get where you can comfortable hold the barr down, but you'll get it. Also, I believe practicing on my acoustic with barr chords made me better at actually doing this in the first place.

Cool, thanks Xark :)

It's interesting to read that barre chords aren't used often on the acoustic as I had never given it much thought and use them all the time.

Most electric players will, because that how you learned to play. And since most players are electric players, or "dual" players, (who consider acoustic their "second" instrument,) you'll find that a LOT of people barre their acoustic playing. Electric is MY second instrument, so to speak, as I started with acoustic and stayed there for 30 years before ever picking up an electric! Electrics are a COMPLETELY different animal and I suck on them. I can rip it up on an acoustic, but if I try to play the same thing on an electric, it just sounds like ass.

I've yet to have an instructor push barres on my playing, or insist that they're a necessary evil on the acoustic side. My electric instructors, on the other hand, were incredulous when I told them I couldn't do barres. Much of that reason is my 12 string habit. Damned near impossible to barre, for me, on a 12 string.

Actually Xark acoustic is where I started and is still where my heart is, it just never occurred to me not to play them, hell I even bash them out on my 12 (that doesn't always work out so well), I do admit they are easier on the electric. I fear no chord on any guitar, but then I only know so many.

LOL... It's because of the 12 that I started looking for different ways to play a chord. As you know, barres on a 12 are a bitch! Especially past the 6th fret.

I discussed this with an instructor once and his view was that barre chords tend to limit the sound of the acoustic. If you rely on barres then you're also forcing the same harmonic intervals, so overall the sound is a bit less, "interesting," not as "full" as it could be and you don't learn as many chords in different positions.

Again, not saying that it's wrong, or shouldn't be done, just that you can make an acoustic rendition sound fuller using full fingered chords. Not an easy crossover for the electric player, so barres come into play. Also easier to learn to play something if you only need to know one or two forms.

When my brother and I play, we tend to play the same named chords in wildly different positions, often with completely different tunings. This really fills up the harmonic palette. He also started on acoustic, (classical,) and while I see him barre electric all the time, I seldom see him do it on acoustic either.

To each his own, but I'll stick with full fingered chords and use the ocassional barre to fill a quick change.