The small hand issue

i know this is a topic that has arisen before but i have small hands and want to start to play the guitar, my middle finger is barely 3in, and i find it so hard to just position my hand... should i just give up, maybe try to learn to play bass with 4 strings?...what should i do??
# 1

just find a guitar that fits. neck on a guitar range from vewry slim to very fat and skinny to very wide.
i have a les paul youd love it has a very skinny neck. if you look around a lot of steel string acoustics have skinny necks. just go to a guitar store and pick every one up. bring a tape measure or a ruler and finds whats right.
i have a les paul youd love it has a very skinny neck. if you look around a lot of steel string acoustics have skinny necks. just go to a guitar store and pick every one up. bring a tape measure or a ruler and finds whats right.
They say the END is near, but I'm Tired of waiting.
# 2

At first I was thinking, wow what kind of a freak has only a 3 inch middle finger, thats so short!.....then I measured mine and its exactly 3 inches :p I have the same problem as you. You kind of get used to it, but its still hard to play certain things. Frets 1-5 are hard to play for me because I really have to angle my wrist in a weird position. Kinda sucks, but I still get by. I advise you to not give up. It gets easier, but don't expect it to be as easy as a person with what I call "guitar fingers" (aka normal/long fingers). It's not impossible though.
Just look at Michael Romeo from Symphony X. He has smaller than average hands and hes amazing.
Just look at Michael Romeo from Symphony X. He has smaller than average hands and hes amazing.
# 3
You'll find a way. I've got big shovel hands, but that makes it difficult for me to play up past the 17th fret - you just end up adapting your technique to find something that works.
Django Reinhardt only had 2 fingers on his fretting hand, Toni Iommi lost the tips of all his in a machine press... keep at it, you'll be fine...
And welcome to GT... :)
Django Reinhardt only had 2 fingers on his fretting hand, Toni Iommi lost the tips of all his in a machine press... keep at it, you'll be fine...
And welcome to GT... :)
Check out my music, video, lessons & backing tracks here![br]https://www.renhimself.com
# 4

You got my curiousity aroused. I measured my middle finger and from the lower crease to end of my finger tip is exactly 2 3/4". This is really starting to feel weird! I know I had the same concern when I started many years ago. I must say, I really haven't thought about it lately. Like the others said, I think you get use to it and adapt. I think one thing I do is I keep my thumb a little below the centerline of the neck and curl my hand much more than other players. I notice some sort of rest their thumb on the top edge of the neck. I couldn't do this.
Also, when playing some new chords that require a lot the stretching and a large spread of the fingers are very difficult. Those are the chords I work on the hardest and in time it becomes easy.
There are smaller neck guitars, but it may limit you to what brand or sound you want especially in an acoustic. I think if you just practice and adapt you can play any guitar. I'm not a professional or even a big performer, but I can play (at least so far) any guitar. There are some that are more comfortable, but like we said, you adapt.
Good Luck!
Also, when playing some new chords that require a lot the stretching and a large spread of the fingers are very difficult. Those are the chords I work on the hardest and in time it becomes easy.
There are smaller neck guitars, but it may limit you to what brand or sound you want especially in an acoustic. I think if you just practice and adapt you can play any guitar. I'm not a professional or even a big performer, but I can play (at least so far) any guitar. There are some that are more comfortable, but like we said, you adapt.
Good Luck!
# 5

# 6

All of my fingers are exactly 0.65 of an inch. :confused:
# 7

Originally Posted by: earthman buckAll of my fingers are exactly 0.65 of an inch. :confused:[/QUOTE]\
Your saying each of your fingers are only about 1.5 centimeters long?
[QUOTE=ren]Django Reinhardt only had 2 fingers on his fretting hand, Toni Iommi lost the tips of all his in a machine press... keep at it, you'll be fine...
Actualy Reinhardt had all his fingers. His ring and pinky were partly paralyzed due to a fire, but he still used them for some simple chords. He did however mainly play with only 2 fingers which is amazing when you see him do it.
Check him out here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zD6ZD1Igxr0
Watch around 2:30 in. Good stuff.
Iommi only lost the tips of 2 of his fingers (ring and middle I belive). He made his own "thimble" type finger caps to play with.
# 8

My advice is to keep at it man. I love it, and I have learned to adapt to my smaller hands as well, being a younger guitarist. Just remember to have fun and dont "fret" lol....wow that was really stupid...
# 9

If you decide that you will never be able to reach with your little hands - there's a company called ' Daisy Rock ', which make smaller guitars
if you always take the lazy route
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
# 10

i have already posted in this thread i think but there is something i would like to add.
try using a different playing position when you play. i usually play sitting down and rather than using the standard electric guitar playing position i play in the classical position (the bottom of the guitar inbetween the lower bout and the horns over the left leg rather than the right.) this raises the neck into a more natural playing position the the other way. so rather then the neck being paralle to the floor is angled to about 30 - 45 degrees.
just try it.
try using a different playing position when you play. i usually play sitting down and rather than using the standard electric guitar playing position i play in the classical position (the bottom of the guitar inbetween the lower bout and the horns over the left leg rather than the right.) this raises the neck into a more natural playing position the the other way. so rather then the neck being paralle to the floor is angled to about 30 - 45 degrees.
just try it.
They say the END is near, but I'm Tired of waiting.
# 11

Originally Posted by: BrokenJerai have already posted in this thread i think but there is something i would like to add.
try using a different playing position when you play. i usually play sitting down and rather than using the standard electric guitar playing position i play in the classical position (the bottom of the guitar inbetween the lower bout and the horns over the left leg rather than the right.) this raises the neck into a more natural playing position the the other way. so rather then the neck being paralle to the floor is angled to about 30 - 45 degrees.
just try it.
This is an excellent point. I too prefer playing in the seated position. Also, when standing, you might want to adjust your strap higher instead of trying to play it low as most.
It's up top you, but I would not go with a smaller guitar. This will limit your to playing to just down-sized guitars and if you are like me, you'll want to play very guitar you happen to see. You will adjust, just keep at it. This problem isn't anything new.
Keep at it and have fun!
# 12
I'm with the others on this. You will find a way. Finding the right sized guitar will be a big help. And you will adapt for whatever issue you may have like small hands, "shovel hands" (Hey Ren, does that make you second cousins with Edward Scissor Hands? :rolleyes: ), too short, too tall...whatever.
When I start getting discouraged, which happens from time to time, I think about Reinhardt or Iommi and that some of the best of the old blues players were blind! If you're driven to play and passionate about it, nothing is out of reach.
Welcome to GT!
When I start getting discouraged, which happens from time to time, I think about Reinhardt or Iommi and that some of the best of the old blues players were blind! If you're driven to play and passionate about it, nothing is out of reach.
Welcome to GT!
[FONT=Tahoma]"All I can do is be me ... whoever that is". Bob Dylan [/FONT]
# 13

The problem I have with the classical seating style is that it puts the neck further off to the left. If you have short arms/fingers, you have a hard enough time trying to reach and angle your wrist to play, and putting the neck 1 ft further down just makes it even harder.
# 14