on the subject of stretching - try the first bit of the Petrucci warm ups - play with your fingers on strings A,D,G & B on frets 7 ,8,9 & 10, and just stretch fingers across until you eventually end up playing the strings on frets 6,8,10 & 12, then switch it around....

I didn't explain that very well.... I recall a tale from a guy who wanted to be the greatest piano player, and used to sleep with something wedged between his fingers to stretch them. End Result? He isn't the greatest pianist in the world, the story goes that he now can't play at all. It may be cobblers, but I wouldn't chance it....