It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:42 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 5:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:39 am
Posts: 13
This is my first time posting something here on the Fender Lounge, so excuse me if I do something wrong.

I would consider myself an amateur guitar player, and have been taking lessons for over a year. That being said, I have a question out of curiosity-Can your fingers ever be too big or too fat or too short to play a standard six string guitar perfectly?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:10 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Leslie West once claimed to have bratwursts for fingers yet he managed to leave a substantial set of footprints that rock guitarists continue to follow.

It's all in your technique and how you adapt to your physiology.

JMOOC......

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:39 am
Posts: 13
That's a perfect example; thanks for the reply.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:33 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:21 pm
Posts: 986
Location: moon base #9
They make all different size necks. You will figure out what works best for you. Also, there are pros and cons to hand sizes. Play on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

_________________
My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:35 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:39 am
Posts: 13
Thanks for the advice.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:41 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Then there's this guy:

Image

Andrés Segovia Torres, the most influential Classical guitarist of the 20th century.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:15 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:59 pm
Posts: 3439
Location: ohio
i have the opposite problem: small hands. i started taking lessons at age 6 (1960), and just learned to adjust. i can't do those 5 fret stretches, but when i play a guitar with a shorter scale length, it seems to help.

the advise above is right on. try a few guitars-you'll find one that fits


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 4:17 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:18 am
Posts: 3084
[quote="Retroverbial"]Leslie West once claimed to have bratwursts for fingers yet he managed to leave a substantial set of footprints that rock guitarists continue to follow.

It's all in your technique and how you adapt to your physiology.

+1 and patience with yourself

cheers :D

_________________
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting - paulo coelho


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 4:24 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:08 pm
Posts: 474
I don't know about guitar players..but it seem the bassists with the shorter fingers(particularily the plucking hand) seem to do better...like Dusty Hill.

But then I think of Jaco and Stanley Clarke.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:16 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
I've got small hands/fingers too. I started playing when I was about 10, or 11 I'm 56 now. the fingers on my left hand, are noticeably longer than my right.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 7:39 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:15 pm
Posts: 603
I used to bite my fingernails when young. The tips of my fingers are now very large. I have serious problems playing, so it does matter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:39 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:46 pm
Posts: 2041
I always thought Ricky Skaggs had pretty chubby fingers, but they never seemed to slow him down and that guy can play brilliantly on any instrument with strings!

And then there's always Roy Clark.

_________________
Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:48 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm
Posts: 2333
Retroverbial wrote:
It's all in your technique and how you adapt to your physiology.


+1

IIRC B.B. King has some whoppers for fingers, and it sure didn't stop him by any means.

My hands shake like a leaf, but 'grounded' to a guitar neck I'm just as able as anyone else.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 1:21 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:50 pm
Posts: 469
Location: TURKEY
A really easy to do exercise you can do for any finger size/length, (I've been doing it for years), is get two objects (salt and pepper pots for instance ), Place them as far apart as you can push them easily apart with your thumb on your left hand and your pinky

Then, set your hand so it is spider like , arched up and with your wrist vertical and the thumb and pinky in a straight line and THEN push as hard as you can to make the objects go further apart
You will find if you do this even twice a day, your span and grip will improve no end and eventually you will be able to do the "splits" with your hand , getting the palm nearly to the deck and will be able to do 12 bar with no problems and have a really strong pinky too

_________________
Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fingers too big?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:38 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:45 pm
Posts: 852
Location: SoCal323
Never stopped Bo, and he knows diddley. 8)

Image

Image

_________________
Its a lifestyle.....

Image


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Fergyuk and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: