C Chord and small hands

Hi All,

As an absolute beginner I have great difficulty in getting my fingers across the 3 frets to play, for example, a C chord. Does anyone know if there are any kind of exercises I can do which might help me :confused:

Thanks,

Paula

Hi All,

As an absolute beginner I have great difficulty in getting my fingers across the 3 frets to play, for example, a C chord. Does anyone know if there are any kind of exercises I can do which might help me :confused:

Thanks,

Paula

well your fingers will stech in time. but if u want to speed it up try doin this

get a can ok coke or sumthin like that and push it between your two fingers to force them open. dont do it so much as it hurts but gently, try and push the can a bit more each day. but remeber this will still only come with time.

Hi Paula,

Here are a couple of ideas for you.

First of all, if you are learning on a nylon string guitar, I think it will be much more difficult because generally speaking, a nylon string guitar has a neck that is wider and thicker than a steel string guitar. That being said and assuming that you have a steel string guitar, when making a C chord, keep in mind that the fingers are angled when on the guitar. Take a look at this example:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10758

Streets of Laredo at 00:13 seconds from the start

...perhaps is may help. You will see hopefully what is meant by fingers being angled.

Another idea is to place a capo on the guitar in perhaps the fifth fret and try to make your C chord there. The frets are closer together there and it may not seem as uncomfortable when you do this. I hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Bobby Howe

Welcome to the forum!

Please don't start a bunch of threads with the same topic. You then end up with replies spread all over the site. I've combined both of your threads, and moved it to the most appropriate part of the forum.

I consider this young lady to have small hands. You'll notice the wide neck that Mr. Howe mentions in this clip. There are some great close ups to study from. Pay close attention to her thumb placement, it will be of great help to your playing.
Her name is Li Jie. I believe she was 14 years old in this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98y0Q7nLGWk

Hi Paula, keep trying for a few weeks, but if it really is impossible - there is a company called ' Daisy rock ' , which make guitars especially for people with small hands - Xmas is coming - treat yourself !!!

Many thanks to you guys for the much needed advice and aplogies to the forum moderator for cross-posting, promise I won't do it again. Well! Not while I'm sober anyway :D

Paula

Also try doing some chromatic exercises, for instance try:

------------8-9-10-11------------7-8-9-10-
-8-9-10-11------------7-8-9-10------------

etc. alternate picking nice and slowly and move down the neck until you reach the first fret, make sure you are using fingers 1,2,3,4 and stop where you can't stretch to the 4 frets and go back up again. If the 8th fret is a problem shift up higher and keep trying, use all 6 strings, its a great warm up exercise and if you keep moving down 1 fret every week or so you'll be playing Vai licks in no time!