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Finger Stretchers
Does anyone have any experience with these devices? I have short fingers (especially the pinky) and hands on the smaller side, despite being 6’2″. I do all the TAC stretching exercises every day before I attempt to play and they help.
Growing them longer would be nice, but that technology doesn’t exist yet (: I have seen these finger stretchers on Amazon and other places specifically for guitar players. They seem to have mixed reviews than are all over the place. Can’t tell if they are helpful or just another gimmick.
Just wondering if anyone here has used them and did they help?
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6 Replies
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I think they are a gimmick. Tony’s exercises on the other hand are useful and like you, I use them routinely. If it is a real problem perhaps a smaller guitar might be in order. I see the kids on YouTube with little hands just burn a fretboard up on parlor guitars?
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Thanks for the suggestion @albert_d. Guitar size really has no impact. I have no problem with the Dread size etc. Scale length, nut width and neck design do indeed impact. I had and older Seagull S-6 which had a scale length of 24 7/8″ and it helped a little, but not enough to really make a difference.
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Yes, it says I made a comment. I took a chance and changed ONE word that made my comment easier to understand. And bang, gone! I love TAC. I love Tony’s help and instruction. I love the design of the new platform. But I hate this problem, whatever causes it.
Anyway, I don’t have experience with the “finger stretchers” sold on Amazon. And I don’t give a hoot.
My “biggest” problem is I didn’t start playing as a kid when my body was developing.
But, it turns out, that’s not really my biggest problem. My biggest problem is thinking I need to keep learning when I already know enough to play the guitar well enough to entertain myself and others.
So lately, I’ve gone back to basics. After all these years, it turns out I can make my chords more precisely more often. I can work on chord transitions a lot more than I ever did. I can work on timing, using a metronome. I can work on rhythm, learning to be intuitive with new rhythms. I can work on adding space, which not only gives interesting variety to my playing, but makes getting to chords easier. I can learn new chord shapes. I can learn to play partial chords. I can learn new picking patterns, whether I finger pick or flat pick. Oh, yeah, I can do both finger picking and flat picking, not just one or the other.
That’s not even an exhaustive list. All of that and more can help me be a better guitar player… without changing my anatomy. 😄
MG 😀 (This time, I’m gonna proof read BEFORE I hit the “post” button.)
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@ChuckS I bought one of those thing-a-ma-jigs years ago, thinking it would make my fortify my fretting fingers…. But it only fortified the bank account of whoever makes them, LOL!!
I think the best thing-a-ma-jig for improving your finger strength and dexterity is your guitar!!
If you practice regularly and pay attention to posture, body mechanics and ergonomics (Yes they are extremely important) you will automatically be training your entire body to be able to master the more difficult chords and pieces.
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Thanks for the response @Carol-3M-Stillhand. Based on responses here and also on “The Acoustic Forum” I have concluded these things are a waste. My problem is not dexterity or strength, but rather reach. Will just keep stretching every day and go with it.
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@ChuckS if it helps to inspire you, try watching some videos of musicians like Muriel Anderson- she has very small hands and yet her perfect technique allows her to play extremely difficult pieces. There’s also a YouTube video out there of about 6 kindergarten age kiddos, all playing full size guitars together. Their hands are sooooo small yet they are still able to play very intricate technique… Another great artist to take a look at is Ana Vidovic. Just watching how the pro’s do it, is a workshop on ergonomics and economy of motion. As well as a motivational treat!! Best wishes in your guitar journey!!
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