Hey & welcome to GT!
Originally Posted by: kennethineI've just started learning the guitar and I'm really struggling with the spider legs exercise.[/quote]
If you are brand new to the guitar, you probably just need to be patient with yourself. If you haven't yet, I strongly encourage you to work through the Guitar Fundamentals courses. They are the best place to start to build you skills. If you practice regularly, then you will gradually build the strength & dexterity to do those exercises more effectively.
https://www.guitartricks.com/beginner.php
The spider legs (or any physical exercise) can help, but only after you start to build a basic foundation of technique. It's definitely a feedback loop. Learn a few skills, practice them a lot, gain a little dexterity, learn a few exercises, practice them a lot, gain a little more dexterity! :)[br][br]But when you first start you should only be worried about using a couple of fingers at a time, playing simple chords or a simple melody. Those spider legs exercises require all four fingers & a bit of stretching. That's simply beyond an absolute beginner's grasp. They are for after you've learned a few skills, to get you using all your fingers.
Take it one step at a time!
[quote=kennethine]I'm worried about whether I'll ever be able to do it or maybe the guitar isn't for people with fingers that don't stretch enough
It depends on how much physical dexterity you bring to the learning process & how much you are willing to do the repetitious practice.
In general, anyone with functioning hands & a reasonable amount of practice time can learn to play the guitar! So, with enough determination & practice, you can do it! And you can even get those fingers to stretch & do things you didn't think they could do.
Best of success!
