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Finger separation
Hi All
Loving Tony’s 30 day challenge! I have done the stretching course which helped. But I’m still having troubles of separating my fingers when I do scales. Especially my pinky which is the biggest problem. It curves into my ring finger. All any advice?
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14 Replies
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My only advice is, don’t force it. Last thing you need is an injury. Just keep trying the best you can. You could always throw a capo on and move up the fretboard where the frets are a bit closer together. Practice there for a bit and then remove the capo. My pinky also curves towards my ring finger as well.
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This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by Skyman911.
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This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by
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I hear ya. I still have trouble stretching the fingers. You mentioned your fingers basically having a mind of their own. I remember that frustration with the fingers refusing to work independently there’s two sets of fingers I think that are attached by tendon so that’s why it seems like they always move when the others do I think it’s the ring in the pinky and the index in the middle but I’m not sure
@Skyman911 brings up some good points. You don’t want an injury from trying to stretch too far take it for me it’s not worth it hi was playing a song a couple years ago and a required a lot of stretching for one cord and I kept practicing and stretching and I ended up getting tendinitis and tennis elbow and so my hand and arm were and so much pain from the tendons there’s nothing you can do by massage or you know anything it takes rest. Time away from the guitar. Possibly physical therapy. I received injections in my elbow, and I want to acupuncturist for several months. Don’t play through pain or injury.
Using a capo so that you practice on a higher fright is a great suggestion put the cap on three or five and the frets are a lot closer so it’s not as much stretch on your fingers.
There is a finger exercise that I did at the suggestion of my guitar teacher at the time. Start with your index finger on the eighth fret. It will be stationary ther fore th3 entire exercise. With your middle finger, place it on the 9th fret, then lift it and place it on the 10th fret, then return it to the 8th. Lift it and place it on the 11th fret (don’t overly force it. It is okay to use a little effort to stretch to it, but never force it. If you are able to stretch 3 frets out, then go back to the 8th and try going to the 12th.
You will then use your ring finger and repeat the exercise. Then the pinky. If you do it daily, I think you’ll see great improvement in thestretch, as well as improvement in the independence of your fingers. It’s retraining your brain, tendons, muscles, and tendons need to stretch, or they atrophy. It really does work, I suggested for anyone.
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There is five day challenge here that targets what you are seeking.
https://tonypolecastro.com/courses/finger-stretch-5-day-challenge/
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Thank you all for the feedback very helpful. I will implement them throughout the days.
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Loraine introduced me to the Chinese steel hand exercise balls. I’ve used a therapeutic squeeze ball for a few months and that does help strengthen the tendon in the forearm that can become painful especially after picking a lot of barre chords. The Chinese exercise balls seem to help strengthen and stretch the fingers of each hand. I’ve started using them today so don’t have any data yet but from what I have read about them they do strengthen, help coordination and stretch the fingers. Google them and check it out. any thing that helps is appreciated.
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Thank you so much for the feedback. I will definitely look into this.
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I’m have a very difficult (if not impossible) time just fretting between my index finger one the second fret and my ring on the fourth fret on the E string, unless I move my arm. Could my guitar be too large for me?
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Greg, when I was learning the fundamentals of guitar picking. I did buy a couple of smaller bodied and shorter scale length guitars that I used for lessons while learning to stretch my fingers to another fret. I still use My Taylor mini guitar which has a 24 inch scale length and a great tone for a small bodied guitar. You can go to a music store, realizing that there job is to sell you guitars, lessons, etc. You could also try a parlor size guitar. You will find as your technique improves that you will probably want the fuller sound of a larger body and longer scale length. If you are on a tight budget just gut it out until your fingers stretch out. Older guitar players that have some disposable income are always looking for a different guitar. Old guitar players say the next guitar they buy will always be the perfect guitar for them.
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Thanks. I did order a 3/4 acoustic which should be here next Tuesday. BTW, I’m left handed as well, so when I search on line for left handed 3/4 guitar, the selection is very limited.
I wonder if a right handed guitar can be changed to a left? Curious about that.
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I’ve been using the Steel Chinese hand exercise balls for a week now and have started to gain some control over them. Left hand clockwise direction makes me definitely feel like a beginner and my palm, thumb and fingers have much more to learn about each other before it will a be perfectly smooth exercise. The same with the clockwise direction of the right hand. I am doing a 100 revolutions in each direction in sets of 3. So 300 clockwise and 300 counter clockwise for each hand. both hands are exhausted after I complete those exercises. Last night was the first time I did that many reps. It definitely has to help build something up and hopefully will help with hand/finger co-ordination.
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I think Jimmy Hendricks played a right handed guitar using left hand techniques, Didn’t he?
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Common problem, I too have this issue, on some of the scales I just have to move my hand a little to make the reach and I am approaching 20 months since starting to play and over 15 months in the TAC program at 95% (which means I am 5% short of playing 365 days a year). Most days I play 3-5 sessions, I am sure that I average 3 daily which makes up for those few occasions where I only play 1 or 0 times.
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You must be retired. 🙂
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Yes, but I had a part time job up until June this year. Since moving I have not been working.
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