Spider legs warm-up

i cannot physically stretch my fingers wide enough to play the pinky finger notes without pulling my index finger off the fretboard doing the spider legs warm-up exercise. Is this normal or am i doing something wrong?

Originally Posted by: kmzee

i cannot physically stretch my fingers wide enough to play the pinky finger notes without pulling my index finger off the fretboard doing the spider legs warm-up exercise. Is this normal or am i doing something wrong?

It not necessarily wrong. Depending on your fingers & the guitar you are using, on some of the lower frets sometimes it's necessary to lift a lower finger just to get to a higher position. Just try to make sure you aren't pulling your index finger away too far. That's wasted motion.

In general it's a good idea to work toward the most efficient motion possible.

At first it takes a lot of pressure & strain to do anything with guitar. However after you build some strength & dexterity, you'll find it doesn't take as much pressure & strain. If you keep practicing, slowly & consistently you'll find that you gradually get a little more control over your fingers.

Are you working through GF1? How long have you been playing? What kind of guitar are you using?

Thanks. I am working my way thru the beginner lessons. I'm a 59 year old beginner. I learned a few chords years ago but just recently rekindled my interest. My current guitar is an Alvarez electric acoustic