What's the best way to grow grass in large bare and hard soil in yard

Rake the soil, water, and put seeds in - continue to water.

apply top soil, lime ,grass seed for you area, starter fertilizer and top with peat moss

I moved from the North to the deep south in Mississippi and I had no grass in the back of my rented house. I had an OLD bag of grass seed. Okay, I called my 4 young sons to come. Grab a hand full and I told them to throw it like we were feeding chickens. Within' a week or so, with rain of course, I had grass growing. WE DID NOT water it, we just didn't sweat the small stuff. If it come up it did or didn't......We ended up with a full back yard of grass and they had to mow....:(((.......After livin' there 7 years, a Yankee gave a Southerner a back yard of grass. ;)))) The owner should of paid me for fixin' up her joint to begin with. ;))