I just started my lessons and I've been really struggling with properly holding down strings without muting neighboring strings. My hands are on the large size and I feel like I have to really arch my fingers to play chords or notes properly.
Is this something I'll get adjusted to over time? It almost feels uncomfortable the way I have to arch my fingers. Or do they make guitars with more spaced out strings? Currently using a Epiphone Les Paul Studio.
Thanks for any advice you guys can give
Hey there, different guitars do have different string spacing, but unless your guitar neck is unusually tiny, I think this is probably just a problem that's inherent in learning guitar. We all struggle with this one.
For some chords you really need to get your thumb back behind the neck, push your elbow out, and come straight down at the strings with your fingers to be able to avoid muting adjacent strings. Different chords will require different arm postures like that. Over time it tends to get a lot easier and you won't have to bend yourself around so much. :)
There are many legendary guitarists with huge hands, Steve Vai for example, and he has found ways to make it work.
That said, I do like the feel of wide string spacing... my hands are probably average size, but it just feels better to have some more room.
-Carl.
Carl King
Director of Content
GuitarTricks
Los Angeles, CA
