Barre chord technique

[NasalFloss]

When playing open chords I use my thumb to mute unwanted strings when strumming, but when playing barre chords I have difficulty preventing myself from hitting the low E when playing a chord that has its root note on the A string.

The only way that I can do it halfway effectively is by keeping my picking hand on the bridge. I do this all the time for power chords as I don't need a full range of notes, or to barre, but this method doesn't allow me to effectively hit all the required high notes in a chord and is frankly uncomfortable for me to play.

Does anyone have any pointers or methods on how they play? I'm a relative noob when it comes to playing and I am constantly on the lookout on how to improve my technique.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Leon Grizzard]

You don't need to get much thumb up there to mute the low E; just a reasonable touch. Look at Joey McKenzie in this video. You can't see him until about 1:15, but you can then see him hitting hard downstrokes on chords with A string roots, keeping the edge of this thumb up on the low E.

[Mark F]

I'm far from a capable player, and am practising barre chords at the mo, i've never been able to get my thumb around the neck properly to mute any strings (let alone fret some as some folks do), but when playing barre chords with the root on the A, i'll have the tip of my index finger muting the E string (the easiest way for me personally) by catching it enough to stop it ringing out...

[jbmando]

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but if it's a barre chord your thumb is most likely going to be helping your finger clamp down on the strings by being behind the neck, thus not physically able to wrap around the neck and mute the low E string. If I wanted to mute the low E on a barre chord such as 557775 D major I'd either raise my index finger a little to allow the E string to mute but keep the D on the A string fretted. Either that or I'd hit only the fifth through first strings with my pick.

[sacizob]

I mute the sixth string with my thumb, doesn't seem to be a problem.

[nvilletele]

I'm with jbmando . . . on a barre chord such as a D major on 5th fret, I use my index finger to mute the 6th string. Using the thumb when barring in that manner is quite awkward, if not completely unwieldy, for me at least.