Arubaduba

hi all - I am a newbie with only 7 months under my belt so far BUT - I am 69 years old. I’ve been a drummer since I was 14 years old but osteoarthritis has taken my ability to kick the kick and hi-hat away from me. Refusing to give up on music I decided to learn to play the guitar (electric). I’ve learned a lot but I just can’t seem to get my fingers to stretch apart or separate enough to be able to make 4 or 5 fret stretches and make barre chords correctly. I’m looking for advice from anyone who has overcome this difficulty with the how to do answers! Thank you very much. S S

Hey & welcome to GT! Are you working through the fundamentals courses? They have a lot of good material on how to ramp up to barre chords. For example you can start on power chords.

https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2

Originally Posted by: shsparrow1949

Refusing to give up on music I decided to learn to play the guitar (electric). I’ve learned a lot but I just can’t seem to get my fingers to stretch apart or separate enough to be able to make 4 or 5 fret stretches and make barre chords correctly

Sometimes the blues boogie rhythm is difficult in the lower regions of the fretboard. But there are effective substitutes for it & virtually any difficult stretch..

Having said that, the most effective strategy is simply repetitious practice. I have exercises on hand stretches here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1525

I have exercises on building strength & dexterity here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1829

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1292

Those can help you save time by practicing smarter. But in the end you have to be patient with yourself & go slowly to build technique.

Also, remember that there are a ton of songs that only use basic chords & fingerings!

https://www.guitartricks.com/songs.php?input=beginners

If you take the time to use the skills you've already acquired, it's incredibly rewarding. And it can help take the tediousness out of practicing of learning a new skill so you can play more complex songs!

Hope this helps. Please ask more if necessary & best of success. Have fun playing guitar! :)

Hi Christopher and thanks for the prompt reply. I have just begun the beginning lessons and will continue following in progression. I am probably a bit more impatient about this finger thing than most but because I’m 69 years old time is somewhat at a premium but I also firmly believe that music is the language that keeps us young and viable! I will peruse the links you sent and use anything within them which might be of some assistance.

Thank you very much for the input - S S

Originally Posted by: shsparrow1949

hi all - I am a newbie with only 7 months under my belt so far BUT - I am 69 years old. I’ve been a drummer since I was 14 years old but osteoarthritis has taken my ability to kick the kick and hi-hat away from me. Refusing to give up on music I decided to learn to play the guitar (electric). I’ve learned a lot but I just can’t seem to get my fingers to stretch apart or separate enough to be able to make 4 or 5 fret stretches and make barre chords correctly. I’m looking for advice from anyone who has overcome this difficulty with the how to do answers! Thank you very much. S S

Chris always has lots of great (awesome) info.

I'd add that as long as I've been playing, I've never had much of a fret stretch. Those Johnny B. Goode bouncy boogie rhythms have always been a challenge for me. I don't have the biggest hands so a good stretch ain't easy.

So the thing I'd add is that you find ways to get the job done. Patience is the key, like Chris said. Every guitar player has that 'thing' they have to work through. None of us have perfect hands for the guitar. So if you are like 'why can Dude X do it but I can't?' Well, there's probably something that Dude X has a hard time with.

Good luck!

And for the record, having been a spectacular air drummer (Rush-Tom Sawyer anyone??), out of necessity for my church, I started playng drums about a year and a half ago. I really only play weekly with no set at home (yet....My wife, God bless her, is very supportive of all my music-y things..like buying guitars! So she said I should get a set..electronic I figure with mesh). Anyway, I really enjoy playing and I have to say that I'm not bad...though Tom Sawyer on real drums would be a LONG ways away! ;)

Hi, I agree, time is getting very precious. I'm 78 and came back to the guitar three years ago after a nearly 40 year hiatus. Lots of luck with the osteoarthritis. I have it at the base of each of my thumbs and, too frequently, it causes me some problems while I play.

One possible solution, in many instances, to the barre chords or long stretches is to use a capo.