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Short fingers
I am approaching the end of my third week. Never really played before. I am really struggling with chords and changing. It feels that I have these “baby” fingers. In reality they are probably normal. Tips on dealing with short fingers especially with the G and C chords. Please don’t tell me it is just practice.
Thanks
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8 Replies
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Ok, I won’t tell you. 😀
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Seriously, this is a common issue with beginning guitar players. I would recommend doing some finger stretching exercises, Tony has a couple in the Skills Courses.
It does take time, it took me 5 months to get the C-chord comfortably, so don’t beat yourself up that you can’t do it after only 3 weeks,
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Hi, you may balk at this, but I say cheat, and don’t feel bad about it, just get the job done……. If you go on YT Lauren Bateman (a brilliant teacher) encourages her newbies to start with 2-finger chords until they get the fretting flexibility for the full chords.
I have never been able to play a barred F Chord, so I use a 3-finger alternative that’s easy to play….. It sounds identical to the real McCoy, to my untrained ear.
If you look for Lauren on YT she’ll be able to give you easy viable alternatives, until you get more experience.
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I neglected to thank you for the reference to Lauren. Super helpful and I like her teaching style. Between her and Tony I think I am learning something.
Thanks again.
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Short fingers are as much and advantage as a disadvantage. some things you will do better and some things you will have to work around. Your mindset is the most important of all. Now, for me, having fat fingers….I have yet to find their advantage. Fortunately while being last in the musical talent line I was first in the determination line. It is a mindset.
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I’m with you – but I have short AND fat fingers. And I’m struggling with C and G and even D because my fingers are so crowded. But this isn’t deterring me from practice and trying to get them to fit. Each time I strum and hear the dead spots, I work on fixing each one as best I can. So far my G has been the first to come around. It’s a real challenge but I WILL overcome! 😎 (6 weeks so far!)
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Thanks to you all for your responses, encouragement and tips. Really encouraging.
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You’re welcome! Justin Sandercoe of Justin Guitar has some brilliant YT videos too; I was looking at major keys and barre chords today and his explanations are very clear and easy to follow, he assumes minimal theory knowledge. I’m concentrating on TAC and the 30-day course, but so far it is revision for me; right now I’m just getting used to Tony’s method, but I’m open to good teaching wherever I find it.
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