Recently I came across barred chords and realized I have a huge problem trying to get my index to barre all the strings, I basically need to squish my neck so tight I feel I might break the poor thing.

I'd like to know what kind of suggestions you guys have that could help me, get proper technique and relax my hand so that I can apply proper pressure without cracking the neck in two pieces.

Thanks guys :D

Curve your index finger slightly and rotate it so you use more of the side than underside of your finger and see how you get on.

what stewmunny said.

And also important for these barred chords is: practice, practice, practice.
Rotate your finger (it would be best to use the left side of it when looking down onto the fretboard) and report back if you still got problems :)

I've been having a bit of progress lately ! I turned my finger as you guys said and it's working better. I need to put down more force. I was suggested to exert force on the strings using the base of my finger and not the thumb or tip the finger.

Now need to practice to make it really fluid!

Hey mate good to hear you are making prgress....it takes time but you'll look back in time a think wow what was all the fuss about barre chords they are easy. BUT....you'll have somehting else to replace it with that will keep you just as occupied...I know cos sweep picking is still annoying the hell out of me lol

Stew

I am not bad at sweep if you are talking about the pick doing a sweep motion and forgetting about the part where you have to play arppegios making sure each note sounds alone in a rapid succession :P

LOL Avenyr mate its the left hand that is problem...remember the song the "hip bone's connected to the thighbone...the thigh bone's connected to the knee bone" lol...well my laeft hand ain't connected to any other part of my body it is like wobbly jelly at times :P

This reminds me of practising E 22th fret bending, I thought my fingers would break haha.

Its just a matter of practise, nothing more nothing less. Building up strenght in your hand and fingers. After a while you play Barre-chords very easily and u dont really think about it anymore ;)

I've been working at it slowly, it's not so bad but I still need to find the proper positioning and get more strength in my finger.

I'm also trying to stretch my fingers through exercises.