It sounds like a good advice to use your bicep , but then you ' ll need to add an appropriate counter force with the arm of your picking hand . This will inhibit your ability to pick fast or strum fast , or make it tiring to do so not to mention adding undue stress on your guitar . It seems like pulling with your bicep , might just shift the problem from your left hand to your right . My best advice , it sucks but it ' s guaranteed , get a nicer guitar . Seriously , a 300 dollar Yamaha acoustic from Guitar Center , even if professionally setup will be a pain to do barre chords try picking up at least a 400 series Taylor and strumming a few chords on it . There are generally two things governing fine instruments , they sound good and they play well . If your instrument is lacking in either of these two things , it ' s probably not a good instrument . Of course this isn ' t always the case , Classical guitars typically roll with high actions hard to play , to offer the performer a larger range of volume , which is critical in classical music the more wobble in the string , the louder it is , and the more clearance it will need without buzzing . But , there ' s a huge difference in sound from a Sunlite nylon and a Redgate nylon . If all else fails with your acoustic , keep it around and use it to learn slide guitar . Budget your pennies , it may take a couple of years and discipline , but soon enough you ' ll be able to afford a 2000 dollar acoustic and it ' ll be much more appreciated when you do get it .