Truckermusic
Many people ask this very same question so you are not alone.
 
There are a couple of things that you need to do and they are very simple.
1. make sure your guitar is set up properly...If you are not sure about this then take it to a "Trusted" guitar tech. If you do not know one, ask around your area for recommendations......google them etc....but do some looking....It may cost you about $40 bucks or so but it will save you a LOT of frustration...
 
2. Learn a System ......meaning there is a very logical system any compentent guitar teacher or friend can show you....it all stems out of the 1st postion chords E, A and D.......learn the major chords, the minor chords, dominante 7th chord, minor 7th chords and Major 7th chords.......with these 5 qualities you should be able to play your way thru any tune....
Once you learn them in 1st position then push then up and down the finger board
 
3. The CAGED system is also a good system....
 
4. Now ....to the mix......
Contrary to popular belief and I know that I am going to get slammed here but this is the truth...and if your guitar is set up properly..........It does NOT take a lot of strength to play barre chords....I know that is how we all start our but.....in fact if the muscle between your 1st finger and thumb is bulging out in a few minutes of playing them.......then you are trying to man handle the instrumet....
 
What it takes is finess and technique......once aquired you can play your barre chords with out tiring....
rather than try to re type all this finess information please read this article.....
http://douglasniedt.com/Tech_Tip_Little_Jennifer.html
 
I know it is by a trained classical guitarist......but we can learn from it......cause it works.....
 
5. Lastly, if you do want to increase the strength of your hands Please DO NOT go out and buy one of thoese items that music stores sell that you push with your fingers.......or that other item body builders use to squeeze in their hands......
 
Why?.........you are only building ONE muscle in the hand and in the end you will injure it........
There are 4 muscles in the hand....why would you only want to exercise one muscle.....and leave the other three alone?????  does not make much sense to me....
 
Instead there is a product out called Power Putty and it is cheap $8.00.
http://www.rei.com/produc...0&msid=v49ni7BC_dc|pcrid|44272128400|&{copy:s_kwcid}
 
It comes with instructions that include exercises for ALL FOUR Muscle groups of the hand so you are encompassing a COMPLETE package so to speak.....
the soft is really soft.....the medium (Green) is a good starting point and the Blue med. hard is REALLY HARD.....you will do your self more good with the Green three times a week (like while you are watching the news) than anything else you can do..
but also if you over do it you can hurt yourself ....so be moderate in your approach....
 
anyway
that is my 2 cents to your question...
If you want I have an excel spread sheet outlining how to go from 1st position chords into barre chords and how to take it around the neck.....if you PM me I will send it to you ....
 
Also use the arm muscles and not the hand muscles....
 
Clifford

I think I mentioned this earlier but picking up a full sheet of newspaper (broadsheet) with one hand and crumpling it up into a ball is one of the best hand strengthening exercises out there. Another good one is to get a set of chime balls and learn how to rotate them. I used to have a large set (please, no jokes) and I got to the point where I could rotate them in both directions just using my fingers without the thumb. After a good five minutes of that your hands feel incredibly powerful.

Sometimes when I find something difficult to play on a 6-string guitar, I try playing the same thing it on my 12-string, which makes it even harder.  Then after returning to the 6-string it suddenly seems much easier.
 
 

If playing the whole chord is painful, just learn the triad on the top 4 strings and let the bass worry about the low notes :)
 
Incidentally, mixing your material might be easier too.

mettelus
Hey Dub, how is the class going? Is that one ending this week too?
 
Just to share that everyone is always learning.... I ran across this video of Brian Setzer last week, and didn't get too far into it before I started cussing... from 5:30-6:00 you can see how deftly he switches from picking, to finger picking! Half the time I try that stunt I end up dropping the pick. He even tucks it under his index finger moving back and forth off the tremolo! My hands are always dry, so I am not sure if that is all technique or if his pick has a truckload of "Gorilla snot" on it. I just wanted to share that... if you saw how many times I "squirted" the pick out of my hand you would be able to get a good laugh
 
I found I cussed even more trying to do that...

 
I got ultra busy and my courseload was overwhelming but i finished.  good beginner course.  i just need to practice more

dubdisciple
 
... i just need to practice more

I've been playing guitar for nearly 5 decades. I still practice nearly every day. It's what musicians do. 
 
Regards,

In my early days of learning guitar, I would hold up an acoustic guitar by the neck with my index finger across the entire fret board and my thumb against the back of the neck; like pinching the next with just those two fingers.  I would start at the highest fret (close to the body of the guitar) for a period of time or as long as I could.  I would then work my way down the fret board over a period of time...kinda like practicing scales or patterns.  So, at the lowest end of the fret board would be the toughest since you will be holding up the guitar with the majority of weight at the bottom.
 
After doing this (especially with a nylon/classical guitar) for a while, you will quickly find how easy it is to bar chords on an electric.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker