Are my fingers too short?

Hi, I've just joined GuitarTricks. First post here, nice to meet you all. I'm just starting out on the Core Learning System and I have a question.

I'm up to the lesson Lesson 2, 'Look Mom, Two Hands!', 'Spider Legs Warm-Up Exercise'. In this lesson, Lisa McCormick says to practice the scale, but she says make sure to keep all the fingers pressed on the frets as you go up the scale. Don't let go of the first finger when pressing the second finger, don't let go of the second finger when pressing the third finger, and so on.

Now, when I see Lisa do that on her guitar (which she said was a Grand Concert sized guitar), all her fingers, including the pinky seem to cover the first four frets easily.

When I try on my guitar it's a real stretch. I was feeling pain in my wrist from all the twisting I was doing. My posture was all ruined because I had to slouch so much to reach.

Now I'm sure part of the reason is I'm just starting out. And this is the 6th string, which requires the most reaching in.

But could it be that my fingers are too short to ever reach the fourth fret of the 6th string without discomfort?

My guitar is a dreadnought size (Alvarez AD30CE). My hand measures from thumb to pinky at exactly 8 inches. Maybe I should have gotten a smaller guitar?

I guess your problem isn't in your reach.. My reach is 6 7/8 " from center of to center. That's with out warm up..

I don't know your exact body anatomy, but if I had to bet $100 on whether it's your hand size or not, I would definitely say no. Just about everyone, even people with extremely small hands, can reach four frets in a row. Most people can even skip one or two. If you hold your hand out in front of you and spread your fingers out, they should be more than wide enough to cover four frets.

So I'm not even really sure how you could be having a problem with this. Make sure your thumb is behind the neck so your hand can come up from under the neck.

You should not be feeling pain. if you are stop and find a way in which pain does not occur. To continue playing like that could give you problems.

As said before your palm should not be contacting the back of the neck your thump and fingers should act as a clamp.

Also keep in mind that if you are just starting out. This is going to take allot of practice to get your fingers to bend in the ways you need to form certain chords. Take it slow, work through the lessons and start practicing a couple chords at a time, easier one that don't require such a finger "Work Out". Once you have those move on to another.

Your fingers will become more flexible over time. Good luck and happy playing.

This is serious. What i suggest you do ,before you pick up the Guitar you need to stretch ur arms,fingers. Get the blood flowing in your hands. Run warm Water on your hands ,then do some finger sretches and arms too . It will help .

Originally Posted by: sycleeHi, I've just joined GuitarTricks. First post here, nice to meet you all. I'm just starting out on the Core Learning System and I have a question.

I'm up to the lesson Lesson 2, 'Look Mom, Two Hands!', 'Spider Legs Warm-Up Exercise'. In this lesson, Lisa McCormick says to practice the scale, but she says make sure to keep all the fingers pressed on the frets as you go up the scale. Don't let go of the first finger when pressing the second finger, don't let go of the second finger when pressing the third finger, and so on.

Now, when I see Lisa do that on her guitar (which she said was a Grand Concert sized guitar), all her fingers, including the pinky seem to cover the first four frets easily.

When I try on my guitar it's a real stretch. I was feeling pain in my wrist from all the twisting I was doing. My posture was all ruined because I had to slouch so much to reach.

Now I'm sure part of the reason is I'm just starting out. And this is the 6th string, which requires the most reaching in.

But could it be that my fingers are too short to ever reach the fourth fret of the 6th string without discomfort?

My guitar is a dreadnought size (Alvarez AD30CE). My hand measures from thumb to pinky at exactly 8 inches. Maybe I should have gotten a smaller guitar?

You do not have to have your fingers planted dead center between frets. For example, most guitar players when making a barre chord place their index (barring) finger close to the fret. Key is to hit solidly between the frets. It doesn't matter where between the frets so much.

shawn lane had tiny hands.

he was, and still is the fastest guitar player ive ever seen. nobody covered the neck the way he did.

just gotta stretch. you'll get there.

Hallo everybody and hello from the Netherlands and I can tell you that F and B are impossible too do. Altough I just carry on as if- note - as if the notes are all purely played. If I had to stop everytime I hear a string crying like a cat I might just as well stop. I hope that by playing my hands will eventually stretch and or get more souplesse and I will be the best lady gitarist this side of the road. Haha my friend said maybe your nails are too long " too long I said if I cut them any shorter I can say look ma no hands at all." Just a joke everybody I am sure we all struggle and all beginners have short hands and we all struggle in the beginning some are born guitar players and some are just guitar players and then there are the ones that could have been great guitar playerd if they didn't quit so soon. So okay I will not quit today but I will speak to you again next week. Cherio
Ps let's do some yoga for hands. xxx