Hi Matt,

I'm so glad to hear you experimented with the way you were holding the neck of the guitar. That can make a HUGE difference!

Also, absolutely no need for forcing anything. Rather, you want to ease into it. Treat your fingers like you are their benevolent sports coach. Ease them into their new skills rather than throwing them into the deep end of the pool.

If you can only accomplish 2-fingers worth of the Spider Legs exercise at first, no problem. Eventually you'll add the 3rd finger. And then maybe someday, the 4th finger.

The exercise is meant to be adapted to the upper edge of your comfort level - in the sense that you challenge yourself, but never hurt yourself.

Hoep this helps! - Lisa