[Moon64]

Hi all,
my problem is I am just beginning and I have little skinny fingers and can't stretch my fingers across the fret board to play some cords. Also with most tabs that I am trying to learn. I have a friend who can comfortably cover 7 frets with his fingers, but I can only just manage 5 (but can't hold it there long). Is there any help for me to widen my stretch or am I stuck.

ps. I'm 40yrs old, so I don't thing my hands will grow any more lol

[Live Stone]

Originally Posted by Moon64

Hi all,
my problem is I am just beginning and I have little skinny fingers and can't stretch my fingers across the fret board to play some cords. Also with most tabs that I am trying to learn. I have a friend who can comfortably cover 7 frets with his fingers, but I can only just manage 5 (but can't hold it there long). Is there any help for me to widen my stretch or am I stuck.

ps. I'm 40yrs old, so I don't thing my hands will grow any more lol

Moon:

I think you may be over-emphasizing your friends ability to stretch 7 frets. My fingers hurt just thinking about it. I find I stretch four frets comfortably with my pinky and has allowed me to play most songs comfortably. I think you will find after learning the open chords and Barre chords you fingers will loosen up a bit. None of those chords will require a 7 fret stretch thank God or I would have to quit and bust up my guitars for firewood.

Take it slow and one step at a time and in a very short time you will be making chords instinctually and your fingers will ajust to streching in time. Someone on this forum has some stretching excercises somewhere as I recall.

I used to be amazed at Roy Clarks ability on any stringed instrument. It looked like one of his fingers would cover all six strings.

Don't get discouraged and keep on strummin.

Danny

[SprayTech]

Here is Chelsea Constable ( used to be a Peavey sponsored guitarist ) here she is at 11 & little fingers

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ID=132723 271

And here she is now at 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF4A-C-Kios

At 12 she was playing Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption" flawless , that video of her used to be on youtube , but it has since been taken off

It just takes practice . my fingers have been bent , broken , jambed, ect & its finally paying off .

[justinthyme]

This video shows the importance of finger and thumb position in allowing maximum stretch:

YouTube - Beginner Guitar Lesson: Finger & Thumb Positions

HTH

[AX7221]

I remember when I was first learning to play guitar I had to really stretch to play a power chord. Looking back I can't believe it, however now I can play D shape and Dm shape bar chords, which maybe a year ago I was talking to somebody and said that they were basically theoritical (just illustrates you can raise each of the notes of a chord to get another chord...not actually playable) and now I can also play a G shape bar chord which I wouldn't even dream of when I said D and Dm shapes are just theoretical.

So basically how well you can fret difficult shapes isn't so much as the size of you're hand, but how long you've been trying to move 'em in ways that only a guitarist would.

Also I can fret the 1st and 6th frets, and the 7th and 14th but I've needed to.

[scotty_b]

Originally Posted by justinthyme

This video shows the importance of finger and thumb position in allowing maximum stretch:

YouTube - Beginner Guitar Lesson: Finger & Thumb Positions

HTH

To support what Ian said - I have little fingers, but I can reach as well as most guitarists with long fingers. The position of the thumb and precise finger placement are essential to allow for maximum reach. I am also subjected to cries of 'jazz wanker' at times when playing at gigs because I have my guitar up on my chest. This allows for me to compensate for little fingers, and it is far more comfortable and allows for better right-hand technique as well.
Time spent practising wisely will allow you to progress past this.

[Akirakun]

Just thought I'd post this... Arguably the finest guitarist the world has seen and just look how phalangelistically challenged the 'boy' is (was - god rest his soul)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG7y_CD9rMg

Do check out some of the other offerings...

[Birddog]

I have the opposite problem - fat tipped fingers. I have a problem covering too many strings at once. Usually when I try to fret a chord .Almost always have a dud string .

[jammerz4life]

Originally Posted by Birddog

I have the opposite problem - fat tipped fingers. I have a problem covering too many strings at once. Usually when I try to fret a chord .Almost always have a dud string .

x2

[Stratrat]

small skinny fingers don't seem to be a problem - check THIS little girl's playing.

Some people with fat, stubby fingers can play a little bit too - as you can see HERE.

A 7-fret stretch is unimportant and superfluous - the need to span that many frets is extremely rare. A 4-fret span will allow you to play 99.9% of chords, pretty much any scale you can think of, and plenty of lead guitar licks. I can span six frets, but the only reason I know that is because I just tried it.....I've never had the need to actually do it while practicing/playing.

The bottom line is that anybody who's willing to put in the practice and effort can play the guitar....it's not like all "good" guitar players are part of an alien race with perfectly shaped/proportioned, double-jointed fingers. The common denominator amongst good guitar players is that they've put excuses aside and practiced their butts off.

I think it was Henry Ford who said "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." That pretty well sums it up.

[Live Stone]

I once saw a guy with no arms playing the guitar with his feet. I guess any size fingers should be sufficient for playing.

Live Stone

[Hilch]

Tiny hands I have

Thanks for the post glad to know I am not the only one , finding small hands little fingers a bit trouble some I am 43 ..