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  • Brand new to guitar

    Posted by NW7 on July 3, 2021 at 6:15 am

    Hello! Rank beginner question: I started the first video for the Blues shuffle and I couldn’t help but notice that Tony’s hands appear to be wider than mine, or perhaps his fingers are longer. When he moves between the frets with his index and ring finger he doesn’t seem to have to move his hand at all. I have to slide my hand to place my fingers at the right spot.

    I just want to make sure I’m getting off to the right start and confirm that this is why our technique looks different, or am I doing something wrong?

    MrsWoodfin replied 3 years, 7 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • That_Guy

    Member
    July 3, 2021 at 6:54 am

    Tony has spider legs for fingers. Try doing the same pattern but shift it over a few frets where they are closer together for now and over time work on moving back to where its supposed to be

    • NW7

      Member
      July 3, 2021 at 9:04 am

      Makes sense! Thanks!

  • Bill_Brown

    Member
    July 3, 2021 at 7:39 am

    Hi @NW7 , welcome to TAC👏👏 As a true beginner, you’re likely not used to stretching your fingers that far apart. With time (and practice) you’ll eventually be able to play it the way you see Tony do it in the video. So no, you’re not doing anything wrong.

    There are guitar “exercises” you can do to try to help getting used to stretching those digits. A good one to try is (I’m going to call it Finger Assignment), starting with the lo E string, the index finger will be on the 7th fret, the middle finger at the 8th fret, ring finger at the 9th fret and pinkie at the 10th fret. Notice that the fret spacing is much closer together at this part of the neck. Play each note individually, starting with the index, and continue through to the pinkie – just keep repeating that sequence, then try moving that pattern up to the A string, then the D string etc. Eventually you can try moving that whole pattern down 2 frets where the index finger is starting at the 5th fret of the lo E string etcetera. You will notice that the space between frets is increasing. Then try doing it from the 3rd fret and eventually starting at the 1st fret.

    Hope that what I’ve described above makes sense to you and even more so, that it helps! Good luck with your journey👍

    • NW7

      Member
      July 3, 2021 at 9:05 am

      Awesome! Thanks, I will give that a try!

  • MrsWoodfin

    Member
    July 5, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    @NW7 I am a beginner too and was literally feeling the same way during my practice last night. I’m glad I’m not alone in this feeling of having to move my hand to reach the fourth fret. @Bill_Brown thank you for that exercise. I’m going to give that a shot tomorrow. 😁

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