[steveb263]

Hi all, I am new here and hoping help might be at hand. I have had a guitar for a couple of years now but still have not had any success with playing . My problem is that my hands are very large and I am finding it very difficult to hold a string down without touching another and due to the width of my fingers getting anymore than two fingers in a fret is impossible . I have read other threads on the site from people with similar problems but I can't see anyway of making my large fingers do the job . I am wondering if there is anything that can be bought to fit on your finger tips that would make playing easier . I really hope somebody (apart from a surgeon) can help as I have always wanted to play guitar .


Steve(steveb263)

[allthumbs]

I assume that you have tried classical with its' wider fretboard? A custom made guitar would fit your needs but, huge $$$$. The neck would have to be hand made as well as the fretboard. Have you considered taking up slide playing?
I met a guy who played lead in a blues band and all he used was his thumb to fret with. You can play using chord fragments and double stops. You just have to be a little more creative and really learn where the notes you want line up. Just some ideas.

I did a lesson for young kids that illustrate this point. You could catch the root with your index and the top 3 strings with your third finger since your hands are bigger and stronger. The notes are all chord tones so you can pick them in any pattern or double stops you choose. All the notes will sound right. You can then slide a finger up or down to catch notes outside that chord shape to add further interest.
A lesson for young kids.
Hope that helps. BTW. I have seen a couple of guys playing using their toes. It is a matter of will and thinking outside the box. Good luck.

[solidwalnut]

Welcome Steve. Wow, great advice Marty.

[si16]

Hi Steve.

[steveb263]

Thanx allthumbs , read your advice and am very thankful for it . I will give the lesson you have written for young kids a go first and see how i get on.

thanx again steve

[coldethyl]

Welcme along Steve!

[allthumbs]

I did a couple of quick jammin run throughs just to show you that you can get quite musical with just one finger. I did add a third finger here and there at the same time to add a bass note, could have used just one only moved it faster or a thumb over. I snuck up to the D chord at the 10th and hit an A7 on the way back down to the A minor chord. Fooled with the first 3 notes of the C chord down at the nut, passed through 2 notes of the D chord that lined up on the way back up to the G chord.

As you can hear, there are ways around your limitations once you know where the intervals are. It doesn't matter how many strings your fingers cover, one or four as long as they are the ones you want. Just don't pick the notes you don't need.
I could play through that 1/2 a dozen ways just adding different notes from different chord positions and supporting notes all over the neck without too much effort.

The notes are all there under your hand just waiting for you to find them. Look closely at the Caged system or pick up Kirk's book, Plain Talk. A fast way for you to map out the fretboard which is key for you since you will have to find your own unique way through a tune.

Hope this helps bro.