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Struggling with String Buzz & Playability – Need Advice on Guitar Fit
Hey everyone,
I’ve been part of this community for a while and have been struggling with my playing because my guitar doesn’t seem to fit my hands properly.
Every time I try to play, my Yamaha APX-10D produces unwanted string buzz, and I’ve had difficulty getting clean notes. I suspect this is due to my finger shape and guitar size mismatch, rather than technique alone.
My Hand & Finger Profile:
– Fingertip Widths: Wider-than-average (middle finger: 11/16”).
– Finger Lengths: Shorter-than-average (middle finger: 2.75”, pinky: 1.375”).
– Palm Width: 3.5” across knuckles.
My Guitar & Issues:
– Yamaha APX-10D, which has a 1.69-inch (43mm) nut width. It was a gift, I didn’t series this guitar.
– I frequently accidentally mute adjacent strings, especially when forming chords.
– My shorter fingers struggle to stretch, especially in barre chords.
– I experience constant string buzz, even when trying to adjust technique.
What I’m Looking For:
– Does anyone else with shorter fingers and wider fingertips have experience switching to a different nut width?
– Would a wider nut width (1.75” to 1.8”) help with my string buzz and fretting issues?
– Any recommendations for guitars that fit my profile better?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s dealt with similar challenges. Thanks in advance for any insights you can share!
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5 Replies
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I wound up buying a different guitar. I came to terms that my Yamaha guitar (which was a gift chosen for me, not my selection) was a poor fit for my large hands with short fingers and broad finger tips. My Yamaha had a narrow neck width at the nut (~43mm) a neck shape that, for me, lead to chronic discomfort and inability to cleanly play each string.
My new guitar is a Martin 000-10E that has a 44.5 mm neck width at the nut and a neck taper that is way more suitable for me. I’m actually looking forward to playing now, whereas in the past it was just too frustrating to be tolerable.
Props to my Nashville-based singer/songwriter daughter, Kylie Dailey, who took her daddy (me) to a local music store and encouraged me to try all the guitars I wanted until I found one that fit. What a difference a good-fitting guitar makes. 🙂
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Fantastic – happy New Guitar Day!! There’s nothing worse than a guitar that you dread playing, and nothing better than a guitar that inspires you to play. WIN WIN!
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A setup is a good idea for any guitar. New or old. Hopefully the store did that for you when you bought it. They don’t always do that and it may have solved your problem with the Yamaha too.
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Assuming that you are fretting correctly (as close to the frets as possible), I would think a setup would help with the buzzing.
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