I have small hands and limited range of motion in my wrists, elbows and shoulders. I’ve been playing for years, and I’ve learned a lot of tricks and workarounds. I play with my fingers, not a pick, which lets me substitute notes on non-adjacent strings when my fretting-hand fingers get tangled up. I play a lot of partial chords. And I use short-scale guitars - the Squier Mini and Epiphone Les Paul Express (but my favourite guitar is the Mustang!). I’ll never be a great guitarist but I have a lot of fun.
i snapped my wrist bad and have small hands.. i cannot rotate my wrist as much i used to..playing is difficult now..yes the mustang has popped up in the search for 'small hands with guitar..'
The limited range thing I can see being a real issue but hand size is not. It is a myth. I have super small hands that were even smaller when i started playing when I was 12 and I have never found a chord I couldnt fret due to hand size. Props on working through your disability. Also "partial chords" are what pros use. they are called triads and they cut through the mix. No pros use full cowboy chords with a full band.
All good points. Being a female player, I have smaller hands but being a pretty experienced lead player, I don't have any issues stretching 3-5-7 using these techniques, that I kinda picked up myself along my 30 year guitar playing journey. I do think that neck shape and thickness makes a difference, probably more so than scale length.
My left hand was shattered in a rollover crash in 2001. I actually rehabbed it by learning guitar. But after 4 plates, 27 screws and 2 surgeries, my pinky doesn't bend straight. So I'm always using the outside edge of it when playing. I've been called an "excellent guitar player" more than once, but it's still frustrating being limited. So don't drink and drive is the moral of the story lol.
Relaxing all the time is never stressed enough by instructors. People do it without thinking, guitar is finesse and not weightlifting. Always relax with everything, if you are being tense you are doing it wrong and will just hurt yourself. If you hurt yourself, you may lose the ability to play forever, so be careful.
I have small hands and two things that I need to do for anything like a stretch: wear the guitar higher, and angle the neck in a more vertical position. It doesn’t look cool, but it works. Also, having the guitar further over to my right side brings the neck closer to my body and easier to reach when the thumb is behind the neck. I used to play with it in the classical position between the thighs and lower cutaway on the left thigh instead of the right. It’s comfortable but puts the headstock further away. It’s great if you’re playing on the high frets but it’s a further reach for the lower frets.
I do the same things: guitar higher, angled neck, guitar body more to the right. I agree that it doesn't look cool but it's so much more comfortable for me.
Are you my twin? I'm the same. I feel like a goober with the guitar across my chest. Its that or near vertical. I'm 5'4 with short n skinny fingers. I play a Strat. I thought about trying a Mustang. I ordered a used mini strat today instead. It was under $100 so I pulled the trigger. We will see..
Less than a minute in and I'm already stoked for this video, my longest finger is less than two and a quarter inches. I can't go from frets 3 to 5 on my Les Paul with either the middle or ring finger without actually moving my whole hand, not just lifting my index finger. First world problems, but annoying nonetheless.
Great tips, Robert! As a player with smallish hands, I can validate that the lift/shift method works great. It’s all about adapting, anyone can learn how to play.
I have big hands and actually started on upright bass so stretching is no stranger to me, but I decided that learning New Standard Tuning was a good idea and that has 6 and sometimes 7 fret total stretching, this video gave me some inspiration and help with that!!! One of the first things I did was get a Mustang, I first did it on a Strat and OUCH
I was having problems with stretching my fingers. It really kind of bummed me out. Mainly because, my Dad played in a band 2/3rds of his life. My brother and daughter both taught themselves to play. I decided much later in life to start learning. I stumbled on the tip provided here on this video, where you play the note, and lift your finger so you can reach the others. It definitely works for those who are curious. In my case I never expected to have a finger stretching issue. But it can happen to anyone. I almost gave up. If you are learning, please don't give up. I am so glad I didn't quit. I just found alternatives to things at the beginning, and then over time everything started to fall into place. There are plenty of two finger versions of chords you can use to start off with until you can do the 3 finger versions. If you have more than one guitar you can set one up in an open tuning like Open G. I found with that, there are several songs you can do just by baring frets with one finger. Granted it's not conventional but you can make some great music, which will keep you interested in learning. I played a great 3 minute solo last night that I made up, just from sticking with it. There is so much information online. I watch a lot of videos from this source, Desi Serna Guitar, and a few others. You can find the ones who you feel comfortable with and things will start to fall into place eventually. Patience really is they key.
@3:42 stretchability - the capacity for being stretched. stretchiness, stretch. elasticity, snap - the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed;
Just raise your guitar (Angus Young, anyone?). I tried Fender Duo Sonic but found out that I like more narrower and thinner necks on 25,5 scale. 42mm at the nut, 43 is too much (go figure that(?) Jumbo and XJ frets help too because they allow lighter touch. Also string spacing is important. 15mm for me works. I also adopted my playing style and when I started to "cheat" the whole world opened. You work with what you got. I had a revelation after watching a documentary about Django Reinhardt. Shorter scale is also a good way to go. Remember, you are not disabled, you just need different approach and you might sound original, different and interesting to audience. It's music, not athletic competition.
So many have told me they stopped learning guitar because their hands were too small. I kindly mention that that shouldn’t stop ‘em as long as they are passionate they could adapt in a way that works for them. I have medium sized hands were the higher up I go on the fret board the more difficult it is to get my fingers in the smaller frets but I just angle them in a way that works. Thanx to this I now know what people are talking about, perhaps I was a bit narrow minded not knowing how difficult it can be with really small hands. The next time someone mentions they can’t due to their small hands I’ll simply refer your video or mention a few key points which will hopefully bring them around to try learning guitar again. Oh, I would have greatly benefited from that tip of advice about lowering my thumb. The first two months I was starting out I figured it out from my wrist being uncomfortable so I lowered my thumb and it made it so much easier. It is actually an important part in guitar first sucking for a while and then feeling amazing when you nail something.
If his hands are small, mine must be tiny. Have you ever tried to play Kiss A Girl the "correct" way? (Meaning the way Keith plays it) Those stretches in the intro suck for me
@@tylercady3985 not really small, but more like average hands than you'd expect from the kinds of stretches he does, just saying its a good example of what Rob was saying, mastering making use of what you have, including your hand limitations lol.....
I have newer players go through "message in a bottle." It was something that took me a little longer to grasp compared to other things. It's easy in the sense that you're just moving a shape up and down, but you're stretching From 5th on the E string/ 7th A/ 9th D. I don't have long fingers and I was learning it on a Strat.
This was super helpful! I’m working through your course now and the stretches were getting me. If anyone is considering the courses they are great. Including tabs and videos. I highly recommend and the value for the money with this sale is fantastic.
Great tips man! I’ve got thin fingers and pretty small hands so these help a ton. The lifting up certain fingers part is gonna be super useful. Recently started using Fender Mustangs which are 24” scale so this makes it easier to stretch farther.
I have pretty small hands and play mostly a Strat. Good technique makes it fine for most things. The main problems are blues shuffles, stretchy jazz chords and thumb over neck rhythm guitar. I’m thinking about trying a shorter scale guitar.
most of us are playing the wrong scale guitar. Got a squier cyclone with a 24 3/4 scale and love it. Love the 25 scale on my PRS. the rest are fender scale and that's what I played for many years. I can play any scale length but I have a squire student start with 24" scale and I love it! such a difference. much more relaxed. sounds just as stratty as my standard length strats.
And here's me, the stretch isn't so bad, but the fact that the fret board is legitimately wider than my pinky down beyond the 12th fret is endlessly annoying. i did, however, just tune by ear successfully for the first time ever, so i got that going for me, which is nice.
I automatically put my thumb down low mostly to support the neck to keep it from diving lower. I generally play with my guitar neck angled UP at 45° angle, both sitting and standing. In this posture the guitar tends to dip down, I think the strap button location assumes a near flat horizontal playing posture.
I would say I am in the medium hand club with long fingers. Bur still need work on stretching my pinky, ring, and middle fingers to get that G chord change a faster and smoother transition. Such as Tom Petty's won't back down
1. Short scale guitars aren't always the answer. Most have a shorter top horn, which actually makes your first position reach longer. It would seem like guitars like the Les Paul, SG, and Tele would be better for a guy with small hands. A nice Super Strat will generally work better. Some can be custom ordered with a shorter scale length. 2. Get the guitar set up with the lowest possible action, keeping in mind that a dreadnought and shred guitar will require different setups and strings. 3. Give up on thumbover playing. Learn classical technique and posture. It goes a long way and I'm comfortable on a 35" scale 6 string bass. Remember that adjusting tech costs little to no money. Adopting classical technique allows me to play efficiently, comfortably, and opens the door for me to play all sorts of guitars and basses. Regardless of hand size, most guitarists don't know much about technique until they get injured by their poor technique.
Awesome advice! I have small hands, and I like to play the Barre Chords like Curtis Mayfield and Jimi Hendrix did, like the G5 I think it is called. I have a severed tendon in my index finger of my fretting hand, so regular Barre Chords are very hard, because I can't keep my index finder flat and straight. I have heard it said that you can't play the thumb over style of Mayfield and Hendrix if you have small hands, but that isn't true. While Hendrix had huge hands, and played in the thumb over style, so did Mayfield, and if you see old videos of Curtis Matfield playing, you will notice he has small hands. The thumb over style just takes a little getting used to, but it is super handy if you have small hands.
Great video. It makes a lot of sense. I used to find myself planting my thumb so that I couldn’t reach the low E with my pinky. We I stopped doing that I found it much easier for the flow of my fretting hand. Love your videos. You seem like a really cool dude. Keep the videos coming. Greetings from Texas. 🤠🎸🤘
Great stuff Robert! I have to use some of those techniques due to my pinky being short. I just purchased your 8 part bundle deal too. Can't wait to get started on it!😎🤟
Not for everyone but I find that if I angle my hand position and fingers slightly toward the headstock when on the lower frets it can take tension out of your hand.Its a case often that the pinky is a bit of a limiting factor and this position means the pinky gets a better,stronger arch.Other fingers can take care of themselves
Because of my small hands, there's a finger stretching exercise that I do before I play: I stand with my left arm extended in front of me, palm out. Reaching over with my right hand, using my pointer and middle finger, I place them between the pointer and middle finger of my left hand and slowly...slowly...open them scissor fashion until I feel resistance. Hold for a few seconds, release the fingers of both hands, then move over to do the middle and ring fingers, finally the ring and pinky of the left hand. Basically, you're opening and closing the left hand fingers in a Spock "Live long and prosper" kind of pose. You'll meet a lot of left hand resistance at first but over time your finger spread will become easier.
I can ascend 1st finger-ring finger-pinky no problem. It's the stretch from the 1st to second. I've been told I'm doing it 'wrong'.. Well, works for me.
I’m so guilty of the thumb over. I’ve been doing it for over 30 years and no one ever told me I was doing it wrong until I started taking video lessons during lockdown. Ugh it’s so hard breaking that habit
THANK YOU! So much! I’ve been told I’m “not doing it right” because of the small shifting I do. With small hands I had to adapt. I call it the typewriter effect. Haha.
Thanks Robert! That really helps. My hands can’t stretch so much so this will definitely help. Thanks so much! Also, do we need to sign up again for other tabs if we want them?
I don't know if my hands are small or not. I guess yeah since i am 5'7, but i didn't really have trouble playing fenders, at the other hand i only had Strat so not like i had something to compare it to. Now i have a strat with Gibson neck, but what i find the best about it is the flatter radius especially on higher frets when i wanna bend.
The critical value of posture and address. An electric fire from your fingertips to the base of your skull that never goes out and there is no good treatment: RA. The imminent fate for all string musicians. If you get to play guitar your entire life it's because you paid attention to how to properly hold the guitar. Love the show, thank you for the tips!
Ive actually been lifting my index finger immediately after the note rings out and it helps me out a TON. I have small hands and I've had surgery on both wrists because of carpal tunnel. Playing fast, forget it, but I can play blues, oh and i can sing and whine about the blues too.😉😆😀
One thing you didn't mention is that for major scales you don't have to play 3-5-7 etc. I have short fingers and have always played G major scale as 3-5 (6th string) 2-3-5 (5th string) 2-4-5 (4th string) 2-4-5 (3rd string) 3-5 (2nd string) 2-3 (1st string). I use this pattern for all major scales, it is much less of a stretch and if you practice, not notably slower than playing the standard fingering pattern!
I have a 8 1/2" Wingspan from top of thumb to tip of pinky finger. I think that's just a tiny bit more then average but not big, just a bit above. I play a Stratocaster mostly however, when I play a Les Paul it is a bit easier. I'd say if you are below 7" I'd say a Les Paul would be easier.
The VH Ice Cream Man stretch was a problem, Ended up wearing the guitar high like George Harrison. using middle finger instead of ring also works good for the Chuck Berry rhythm. I play a telecaster, you can always find a way.
The 2nd part of what you were talking about how guys with smaller hands tend to use their pointer finger then ring finger and pinky and skip over their middle finger to play. I realized after awhile I do this. When I started to pay attention to my favorite guitarist Chuck Schuldiner, he would use the first 3 finger method to play but to me that was too uncomfortable to stretch my middle finger and skip a fret it felt like I was stretching my tendon too far. And plus I can play faster just using my 1st 3rd and 4th fingers like I can roll off the fretboard in one sweep that way compared to doing it the other way. And he also would play power chords by holding each individual string with a separate finger instead of just barring it with his pinky finger like I do. And I tried to play his way but it just felt so unnatural to how I play.
I have rather large hands and long fingers, but I still use some of these techniques and others. It’s all about economy of motion as well as injury prevention. Weird stretches are sure to cause injury over time, so taking the easy road is usually best.
Playing lead or single notes is not the issue. It’s the 4 fret chord stretches that are challenging. May be easier on a Gibson but 4 fret spanning high to low strings are tough to play for me.
A problem with what you are saying, and you may want to talk to people about this. If others, like me, have had troubles with their wrists, playing with the thumb on the back of the neck and bent wrist is a big problem. I used to do that, and I would have had to stop playing decades ago if I had kept it up. I had to learn to play with a straight arm, thumb at or over the top. So, for example, I play barre chords the Hendrix way by using the thumb to hold down the note on the low E. It also means that I can't do other things, it's just the compromise I've had to make to keep playing.
@@skidmark316 Nope, I'm in pain if I do that at all, so I learned to compensate. It has allowed me to keep playing when I otherwise would have had to give up.
I have shorter fingers, but I've been doing the same diatonic scales since the 80s. Those require you to use the 1st, 2nd and pinky fingers. I tuck my thumb under as well. I watch people play with big hands and am envious, 24.5" scale is easier but I have almost entirely super strats. So... just do it. Stretch and shred.
It took a couple days to get my middle finger to feel natural moving to the fret that I had ALWAYS used my ring finger for.... well damn. That’s good stuff. Thx
I have small hands, I did all that because it was literally the only way I could play 3 5 7 without feeling like I was tearing my hand between my ring finger and pinky. (It's also how I play Everlong without tuning down), also picking up the pointer finger sounds a lot like what Tom Quayle said recently in a legato lesson (about the lazy finger syndrome).
In my left wrist I have arthritis that is killer to me, if I do a lot of stretching for notes, chords etc.during playing I know later I'm going to pay for it. This will not get me to stop playing and/or practicing. So far I have not found anything that helps...Any ideas?? Heat doesn't do anything..
Playing slide. I've broken my left hand a few times and when I'm cramping up real bad I play slide. If you're a metal player probably not the best option but for blues rock and country it's cool.
I have arthritis in my left hand as well at the base of my thumb. I play my Hamer exclusively now ( 1/58” nut width, 24 3/4” scale length and a round profile neck shape strung with 9s). I can’t play wide/thin necks anymore because it puts too much pressure on the joint. I’ve also changed the way I voice some chords by emphasizing certain notes and use my little finger much more now than before. Hope that helps.
@@raybaumgardner Ray, yeah that does help. I have found myself not wanting to make certain chords or notes that I know is going to hurt. That's what makes me the most sad in this situation. still, I try to make everything work. I will not quit playing because of some pain. Strange this pain in my wrist also begins at the base of my thumb.
I am lucky in the fact that I have pretty good sized hands my problem is I am 51 yo and have done manufacturing for over 30 years and two hand surgeries but I keep playing cause I love it.
I never knew I had small hands, probably the world's smallest man hands IMHO so i never let that hamper my ability to do anything, if you let anything get in your way you probably shouldn't have started in the first place remember second place is just another term for the first to lose
Sometimes I find myself holding my guitar with my palms heel and fingers and my thumbs tucked against my hand doing nothing. It's just feels right when I'm in that place on the neck. I've always wondered what people who play also see me doing it while in a solo what they are thinking about my weird habit lol.
(relative to the "breakthroughguitar" ad at the beginning) - never received the "20 minutes" email with free training... sat through the entire promo vid (same ol' marketing technique everyone uses now). Price seems worth the risk, but how do I eval without that free lesson (I'm not going to believe "money back guarantee" BS.
It’s not just the scale length of the guitar, it’s also how the guitar sits with you or fits you, not just sitting down but also hanging from a strap. A Les Paul fits me like a glove, a Tele is too far of a reach and cramps my hand. An SG and and LP are the same scale length, but the SG neck feels like a mile away
This video is kind of frustrating. I have very small hands, and while these tips are important, especially dropping the thumb, a part of this is just physics. I have small hands - to the point I am unable to reach some of the stretches this dude is performing. Not even talking about a hand position that is fretable. Literally placing my hand parallel to the fretboard, and trying to stretch my hand as much as I can to see if it’s even physically possible - and it isn’t. Technique can only get you so far - at a certain point, the hardware is the ultimate limiter, whether it be the fretboard or the hand. I have a 24 inch scale, and I’ve been toying with the fact of getting a 22.5, so I can make some surf guitar stretches that are literally impossible for me. This guy has normal to large hands, and I can tell he just doesn’t understand what’s it’s like to truly be limited to small hands. Technique matters, and I certainly have room to improve on that front, but if my hand isn’t big enough to reach from fret 2 to 6, I don’t know what more I can do.
I'm in the same boat. I have tiny hands, I'm 5'8" dude and my hands are the same size as my younger sister, who is 5'3". I physically cannot reach for a lot of riffs I come across. Many people I notice claiming to have small hands don't even have truly small hands. Mine are 6.5" from bottom of palm to tip of middle finger, and the fingers themselves are stubby to boot.
I know this post is old but my problem playing with small hands is wide chords. Solo stuff is not a huge problem because you can play the same notes all over. And you can slide and all that. But wide jazz chords seem impossible. Help
I tried dropping my thumb below the center of the neck but I couldn't get enough downward force on the fretboard when trying to play. Probably doesn't help that I like to have an iron grip on the guitar
I need a hack on rock shuffles. I struggle to play Born To Be Wild and stuff like that. When I’m holding down root and fifth. I notice some people play root fifth with first and second and that seems to free up the pinky to stretch a little further or maybe release the fifth. Either way, that can be a very hard stretch
How much more difficult will it be to reach the first fret of a Ltd M-1000HT, while playing on a right lap (righ handed)? Now I have a Les Paul Studio.
I have small hands and limited range of motion in my wrists, elbows and shoulders. I’ve been playing for years, and I’ve learned a lot of tricks and workarounds. I play with my fingers, not a pick, which lets me substitute notes on non-adjacent strings when my fretting-hand fingers get tangled up. I play a lot of partial chords. And I use short-scale guitars - the Squier Mini and Epiphone Les Paul Express (but my favourite guitar is the Mustang!). I’ll never be a great guitarist but I have a lot of fun.
i snapped my wrist bad and have small hands.. i cannot rotate my wrist as much i used to..playing is difficult now..yes the mustang has popped up in the search for 'small hands with guitar..'
The limited range thing I can see being a real issue but hand size is not. It is a myth. I have super small hands that were even smaller when i started playing when I was 12 and I have never found a chord I couldnt fret due to hand size. Props on working through your disability. Also "partial chords" are what pros use. they are called triads and they cut through the mix. No pros use full cowboy chords with a full band.
All good points. Being a female player, I have smaller hands but being a pretty experienced lead player, I don't have any issues stretching 3-5-7 using these techniques, that I kinda picked up myself along my 30 year guitar playing journey. I do think that neck shape and thickness makes a difference, probably more so than scale length.
One thing that really helped me along with stretches is playing classical position, helps put your wrist and arm in a more ergonomic position.
Nice animals pfp
@@delisub2910 Thank
@@delisub2910 Nice Wish you were Here pfp
Yes! Brother this helps me too, it just feels natural and way more comfortable.😉
And what scale length are classical guitars? 😎
Hack for people with small hands: get a short scale guitar (like a fender mustang)! They’re awesome.
I’m huge (6,4) 210 pounds lengthy AF, and I have a mustang and a mustang pj bass. You don’t have to be small to enjoy nice guitars 🎸
I have a 2019 DuoSonic. Perfect for small hands!
Jackson dinky series are also good. I have two of them and they are perfect for small hands
@@scaredycat8685 yeah agreed! Those guitars are awesome for everyone
@@scaredycat8685 "you don't have to be small to enjoy nice guitars" - well put! But those with smaller hands can certainly appreciate shorter scale.
My left hand was shattered in a rollover crash in 2001. I actually rehabbed it by learning guitar. But after 4 plates, 27 screws and 2 surgeries, my pinky doesn't bend straight. So I'm always using the outside edge of it when playing. I've been called an "excellent guitar player" more than once, but it's still frustrating being limited. So don't drink and drive is the moral of the story lol.
some people learn best the hard way... I'm glad you're doing your best anyway. Keep rocking!
@@ikaros110 I think it's kinda reminder, or a curse I put on myself. Thank God I don't drink like that anymore!
@@mrredritehand awesome glad to hear it! Rock on man!
Hei mark, are you ok?
@@usoda6974 Cannot complain buddy
Relaxing all the time is never stressed enough by instructors. People do it without thinking, guitar is finesse and not weightlifting. Always relax with everything, if you are being tense you are doing it wrong and will just hurt yourself. If you hurt yourself, you may lose the ability to play forever, so be careful.
I have small hands and two things that I need to do for anything like a stretch: wear the guitar higher, and angle the neck in a more vertical position. It doesn’t look cool, but it works. Also, having the guitar further over to my right side brings the neck closer to my body and easier to reach when the thumb is behind the neck. I used to play with it in the classical position between the thighs and lower cutaway on the left thigh instead of the right. It’s comfortable but puts the headstock further away. It’s great if you’re playing on the high frets but it’s a further reach for the lower frets.
I do the same things: guitar higher, angled neck, guitar body more to the right. I agree that it doesn't look cool but it's so much more comfortable for me.
If you watch Randy Rhoads playing Crazy Train live with Ozzy, you'll see that he angles the neck vertically at times for some of those stretches.
Are you my twin?
I'm the same.
I feel like a goober with the guitar across my chest. Its that or near vertical.
I'm 5'4 with short n skinny fingers.
I play a Strat. I thought about trying a Mustang.
I ordered a used mini strat today instead. It was under $100 so I pulled the trigger.
We will see..
Fender Mustang, Jaguar and Duo-Sonic have a 24" scale length, which is even shorter than Gibson's
Less than a minute in and I'm already stoked for this video, my longest finger is less than two and a quarter inches. I can't go from frets 3 to 5 on my Les Paul with either the middle or ring finger without actually moving my whole hand, not just lifting my index finger. First world problems, but annoying nonetheless.
Big Same! I'm a dude who has to buy women's extra small gloves and even those are sometimes too long in the fingers!
I feel your pain dude!
same.. do you have a short scale guitar that you would recommend? like mustang is ok but still a bit too long
Great tips, Robert! As a player with smallish hands, I can validate that the lift/shift method works great. It’s all about adapting, anyone can learn how to play.
I just started using this. Fretting with small hands and arthritis is near impossible if you keep all fingers down. Happy days :-)
I teach 60 lessons a week. I say drop your thumb a hundred times a week.
I have big hands and actually started on upright bass so stretching is no stranger to me, but I decided that learning New Standard Tuning was a good idea and that has 6 and sometimes 7 fret total stretching, this video gave me some inspiration and help with that!!!
One of the first things I did was get a Mustang, I first did it on a Strat and OUCH
I was having problems with stretching my fingers. It really kind of bummed me out. Mainly because, my Dad played in a band 2/3rds of his life. My brother and daughter both taught themselves to play. I decided much later in life to start learning. I stumbled on the tip provided here on this video, where you play the note, and lift your finger so you can reach the others. It definitely works for those who are curious. In my case I never expected to have a finger stretching issue. But it can happen to anyone. I almost gave up. If you are learning, please don't give up. I am so glad I didn't quit. I just found alternatives to things at the beginning, and then over time everything started to fall into place. There are plenty of two finger versions of chords you can use to start off with until you can do the 3 finger versions. If you have more than one guitar you can set one up in an open tuning like Open G. I found with that, there are several songs you can do just by baring frets with one finger. Granted it's not conventional but you can make some great music, which will keep you interested in learning. I played a great 3 minute solo last night that I made up, just from sticking with it. There is so much information online. I watch a lot of videos from this source, Desi Serna Guitar, and a few others. You can find the ones who you feel comfortable with and things will start to fall into place eventually. Patience really is they key.
Omg, I never could figured out an easier way to play Every breath you take. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
@3:42 stretchability - the capacity for being stretched. stretchiness, stretch. elasticity, snap - the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed;
Just raise your guitar (Angus Young, anyone?).
I tried Fender Duo Sonic but found out that I like more narrower and thinner necks on 25,5 scale. 42mm at the nut, 43 is too much (go figure that(?)
Jumbo and XJ frets help too because they allow lighter touch.
Also string spacing is important. 15mm for me works.
I also adopted my playing style and when I started to "cheat" the whole world opened. You work with what you got. I had a revelation after watching a documentary about Django Reinhardt.
Shorter scale is also a good way to go.
Remember, you are not disabled, you just need different approach and you might sound original, different and interesting to audience. It's music, not athletic competition.
So many have told me they stopped learning guitar because their hands were too small. I kindly mention that that shouldn’t stop ‘em as long as they are passionate they could adapt in a way that works for them. I have medium sized hands were the higher up I go on the fret board the more difficult it is to get my fingers in the smaller frets but I just angle them in a way that works.
Thanx to this I now know what people are talking about, perhaps I was a bit narrow minded not knowing how difficult it can be with really small hands.
The next time someone mentions they can’t due to their small hands I’ll simply refer your video or mention a few key points which will hopefully bring them around to try learning guitar again.
Oh, I would have greatly benefited from that tip of advice about lowering my thumb. The first two months I was starting out I figured it out from my wrist being uncomfortable so I lowered my thumb and it made it so much easier. It is actually an important part in guitar first sucking for a while and then feeling amazing when you nail something.
Keith urban is a good example, he actually has smallish hands but can do incredible reaching appregio solos
If his hands are small, mine must be tiny. Have you ever tried to play Kiss A Girl the "correct" way? (Meaning the way Keith plays it) Those stretches in the intro suck for me
@@tylercady3985 not really small, but more like average hands than you'd expect from the kinds of stretches he does, just saying its a good example of what Rob was saying, mastering making use of what you have, including your hand limitations lol.....
I have newer players go through "message in a bottle." It was something that took me a little longer to grasp compared to other things. It's easy in the sense that you're just moving a shape up and down, but you're stretching From 5th on the E string/ 7th A/ 9th D.
I don't have long fingers and I was learning it on a Strat.
This was super helpful! I’m working through your course now and the stretches were getting me. If anyone is considering the courses they are great. Including tabs and videos. I highly recommend and the value for the money with this sale is fantastic.
bmg special from brian may guitars is a 24" scale. and a killer guitar.
Great tips man! I’ve got thin fingers and pretty small hands so these help a ton. The lifting up certain fingers part is gonna be super useful. Recently started using Fender Mustangs which are 24” scale so this makes it easier to stretch farther.
I have pretty small hands and play mostly a Strat. Good technique makes it fine for most things. The main problems are blues shuffles, stretchy jazz chords and thumb over neck rhythm guitar. I’m thinking about trying a shorter scale guitar.
Dude, you are a fantastic teacher. Your students are lucky.
Sign up for the boot camp. It’s fantastic.
Thanks Mr Baker
most of us are playing the wrong scale guitar. Got a squier cyclone with a 24 3/4 scale and love it. Love the 25 scale on my PRS. the rest are fender scale and that's what I played for many years. I can play any scale length but I have a squire student start with 24" scale and I love it! such a difference. much more relaxed. sounds just as stratty as my standard length strats.
Thanks for addressing this issue!
And here's me, the stretch isn't so bad, but the fact that the fret board is legitimately wider than my pinky down beyond the 12th fret is endlessly annoying. i did, however, just tune by ear successfully for the first time ever, so i got that going for me, which is nice.
congrats on the ear tuning bro :)
@@0megalul309 nah, pretty much mail order only where i am. Next time im in a major city i'll check out some other options tho :)
I automatically put my thumb down low mostly to support the neck to keep it from diving lower. I generally play with my guitar neck angled UP at 45° angle, both sitting and standing. In this posture the guitar tends to dip down, I think the strap button location assumes a near flat horizontal playing posture.
I would say I am in the medium hand club with long fingers. Bur still need work on stretching my pinky, ring, and middle fingers to get that G chord change a faster and smoother transition. Such as Tom Petty's won't back down
1. Short scale guitars aren't always the answer. Most have a shorter top horn, which actually makes your first position reach longer. It would seem like guitars like the Les Paul, SG, and Tele would be better for a guy with small hands. A nice Super Strat will generally work better. Some can be custom ordered with a shorter scale length.
2. Get the guitar set up with the lowest possible action, keeping in mind that a dreadnought and shred guitar will require different setups and strings.
3. Give up on thumbover playing. Learn classical technique and posture. It goes a long way and I'm comfortable on a 35" scale 6 string bass. Remember that adjusting tech costs little to no money. Adopting classical technique allows me to play efficiently, comfortably, and opens the door for me to play all sorts of guitars and basses. Regardless of hand size, most guitarists don't know much about technique until they get injured by their poor technique.
what do you mean by shorter too horn?
@@bangkokskater Spelling error (corrected). Short top horn like Teles and Les Pauls compared to something like a Strat.
@@spade2you right. I'm getting a 24.75" ESP LTD
Thanks Rob more great info from one of the masters. This definitely helps
Another trick is use a capo at 2nd fret and tune down to D (2 semitones).
Awesome advice! I have small hands, and I like to play the Barre Chords like Curtis Mayfield and Jimi Hendrix did, like the G5 I think it is called. I have a severed tendon in my index finger of my fretting hand, so regular Barre Chords are very hard, because I can't keep my index finder flat and straight. I have heard it said that you can't play the thumb over style of Mayfield and Hendrix if you have small hands, but that isn't true. While Hendrix had huge hands, and played in the thumb over style, so did Mayfield, and if you see old videos of Curtis Matfield playing, you will notice he has small hands. The thumb over style just takes a little getting used to, but it is super handy if you have small hands.
I am 48 with bad arthritis. I have big hands, but I have lost a lot of stretch and speed, but I still love to play. Going to try some of these tricks.
Great video. It makes a lot of sense. I used to find myself planting my thumb so that I couldn’t reach the low E with my pinky. We I stopped doing that I found it much easier for the flow of my fretting hand. Love your videos. You seem like a really cool dude. Keep the videos coming. Greetings from Texas. 🤠🎸🤘
Just got your 8 course pack and can't wait to get to it tomorrow morning :D
Youre great, keep rocking!
Great stuff Robert! I have to use some of those techniques due to my pinky being short. I just purchased your 8 part bundle deal too. Can't wait to get started on it!😎🤟
Not for everyone but I find that if I angle my hand position and fingers slightly toward the headstock when on the lower frets it can take tension out of your hand.Its a case often that the pinky is a bit of a limiting factor and this position means the pinky gets a better,stronger arch.Other fingers can take care of themselves
Because of my small hands, there's a finger stretching exercise that I do before I play: I stand with my left arm extended in front of me, palm out. Reaching over with my right hand, using my pointer and middle finger, I place them between the pointer and middle finger of my left hand and slowly...slowly...open them scissor fashion until I feel resistance. Hold for a few seconds, release the fingers of both hands, then move over to do the middle and ring fingers, finally the ring and pinky of the left hand. Basically, you're opening and closing the left hand fingers in a Spock "Live long and prosper" kind of pose. You'll meet a lot of left hand resistance at first but over time your finger spread will become easier.
I can ascend 1st finger-ring finger-pinky no problem. It's the stretch from the 1st to second. I've been told I'm doing it 'wrong'.. Well, works for me.
I’m so guilty of the thumb over. I’ve been doing it for over 30 years and no one ever told me I was doing it wrong until I started taking video lessons during lockdown. Ugh it’s so hard breaking that habit
THANK YOU! So much! I’ve been told I’m “not doing it right” because of the small shifting I do. With small hands I had to adapt. I call it the typewriter effect. Haha.
Big thanks from Smallhand Florida!
Thanks Robert! That really helps. My hands can’t stretch so much so this will definitely help. Thanks so much! Also, do we need to sign up again for other tabs if we want them?
Thanks for the tip it's working for me....
I don't know if my hands are small or not.
I guess yeah since i am 5'7, but i didn't really have trouble playing fenders, at the other hand i only had Strat so not like i had something to compare it to.
Now i have a strat with Gibson neck, but what i find the best about it is the flatter radius especially on higher frets when i wanna bend.
Great instruction! Thanks!!
The critical value of posture and address. An electric fire from your fingertips to the base of your skull that never goes out and there is no good treatment: RA. The imminent fate for all string musicians. If you get to play guitar your entire life it's because you paid attention to how to properly hold the guitar. Love the show, thank you for the tips!
Ive actually been lifting my index finger immediately after the note rings out and it helps me out a TON. I have small hands and I've had surgery on both wrists because of carpal tunnel. Playing fast, forget it, but I can play blues, oh and i can sing and whine about the blues too.😉😆😀
What great ideas, thanks Robert!
One thing you didn't mention is that for major scales you don't have to play 3-5-7 etc. I have short fingers and have always played G major scale as 3-5 (6th string) 2-3-5 (5th string) 2-4-5 (4th string) 2-4-5 (3rd string) 3-5 (2nd string) 2-3 (1st string). I use this pattern for all major scales, it is much less of a stretch and if you practice, not notably slower than playing the standard fingering pattern!
I have stumpy fat little sausages and when I was a kid I did finger stretching exercises for the longest to improve my reach.
Mhh, fat little sausages... 🤤
@@bunny_the_lifeguard9789 don't be droolin on my neck 😁😁😂😁😁
I have a 8 1/2" Wingspan from top of thumb to tip of pinky finger. I think that's just a tiny bit more then average but not big, just a bit above.
I play a Stratocaster mostly however, when I play a Les Paul it is a bit easier.
I'd say if you are below 7" I'd say a Les Paul would be easier.
Great stuff as always Robert!! Gonna drop that thumb!
The VH Ice Cream Man stretch was a problem, Ended up wearing the guitar high
like George Harrison. using middle finger instead of ring also works good
for the Chuck Berry rhythm. I play a telecaster, you can always find a way.
The 2nd part of what you were talking about how guys with smaller hands tend to use their pointer finger then ring finger and pinky and skip over their middle finger to play. I realized after awhile I do this. When I started to pay attention to my favorite guitarist Chuck Schuldiner, he would use the first 3 finger method to play but to me that was too uncomfortable to stretch my middle finger and skip a fret it felt like I was stretching my tendon too far. And plus I can play faster just using my 1st 3rd and 4th fingers like I can roll off the fretboard in one sweep that way compared to doing it the other way. And he also would play power chords by holding each individual string with a separate finger instead of just barring it with his pinky finger like I do. And I tried to play his way but it just felt so unnatural to how I play.
I have rather large hands and long fingers, but I still use some of these techniques and others. It’s all about economy of motion as well as injury prevention. Weird stretches are sure to cause injury over time, so taking the easy road is usually best.
Playing lead or single notes is not the issue. It’s the 4 fret chord stretches that are challenging. May be easier on a Gibson but 4 fret spanning high to low strings are tough to play for me.
I have huge hands, but you're still the man. Thanks for another great video! 👍
Now that I'm older and have arthritic hands ✋ I have to do many more stretching exercises than ever before. I really had to adapt.
Thanks for the tips!
A problem with what you are saying, and you may want to talk to people about this. If others, like me, have had troubles with their wrists, playing with the thumb on the back of the neck and bent wrist is a big problem. I used to do that, and I would have had to stop playing decades ago if I had kept it up. I had to learn to play with a straight arm, thumb at or over the top. So, for example, I play barre chords the Hendrix way by using the thumb to hold down the note on the low E. It also means that I can't do other things, it's just the compromise I've had to make to keep playing.
@@skidmark316 Nope, I'm in pain if I do that at all, so I learned to compensate. It has allowed me to keep playing when I otherwise would have had to give up.
I have shorter fingers, but I've been doing the same diatonic scales since the 80s. Those require you to use the 1st, 2nd and pinky fingers. I tuck my thumb under as well. I watch people play with big hands and am envious, 24.5" scale is easier but I have almost entirely super strats. So... just do it. Stretch and shred.
I don't have small hands but have a hand injury I think this video helped thx
Thanks Robert.
Thank u Robert, I’m a girl and this vid gives me confidence🇫🇷🍒👍🏼
It took a couple days to get my middle finger to feel natural moving to the fret that I had ALWAYS used my ring finger for.... well damn. That’s good stuff. Thx
I have small hands, I did all that because it was literally the only way I could play 3 5 7 without feeling like I was tearing my hand between my ring finger and pinky. (It's also how I play Everlong without tuning down), also picking up the pointer finger sounds a lot like what Tom Quayle said recently in a legato lesson (about the lazy finger syndrome).
24" guitars... Jaguar, Mustang, Duo Sonic... And then there's lots of mini strats these days, travel guitars, etc.
But the tone is shit.
What pickups are in that guitar...? (it's not in your guitar collection video)....
Excellent sound...!
Don't know if it was mentioned in another comment, but the "Santana PRS SE" is 24.5" scale length also.
In my left wrist I have arthritis that is killer to me, if I do a lot of stretching for notes, chords etc.during playing I know later I'm going to pay for it. This will not get me to stop playing and/or practicing. So far I have not found anything that helps...Any ideas?? Heat doesn't do anything..
oxy 80s
@@lkkjhg45 now that's an idea I hadn't thought of.....
Playing slide. I've broken my left hand a few times and when I'm cramping up real bad I play slide. If you're a metal player probably not the best option but for blues rock and country it's cool.
I have arthritis in my left hand as well at the base of my thumb. I play my Hamer exclusively now ( 1/58” nut width, 24 3/4” scale length and a round profile neck shape strung with 9s). I can’t play wide/thin necks anymore because it puts too much pressure on the joint. I’ve also changed the way I voice some chords by emphasizing certain notes and use my little finger much more now than before. Hope that helps.
@@raybaumgardner Ray, yeah that does help. I have found myself not wanting to make certain chords or notes that I know is going to hurt. That's what makes me the most sad in this situation. still, I try to make everything work. I will not quit playing because of some pain. Strange this pain in my wrist also begins at the base of my thumb.
Gibson Byrdlands have a 23 1/2" scale. All Peavey Wolfgangs are 25 1/2".
I am lucky in the fact that I have pretty good sized hands my problem is I am 51 yo and have done manufacturing for over 30 years and two hand surgeries but I keep playing cause I love it.
Great info!
Squier Mustang, Fender Duo-sonic are 24” scale
Thanks for the tipps. I'm having always a hard time learning Hendrix, Frusciante or Mayer songs with heavy thumb action.. :(
I never knew I had small hands, probably the world's smallest man hands IMHO so i never let that hamper my ability to do anything, if you let anything get in your way you probably shouldn't have started in the first place remember second place is just another term for the first to lose
Sometimes I find myself holding my guitar with my palms heel and fingers and my thumbs tucked against my hand doing nothing. It's just feels right when I'm in that place on the neck. I've always wondered what people who play also see me doing it while in a solo what they are thinking about my weird habit lol.
Main finally someone tells me that!!! Love your shit man and your courses . So sweet
Why would anyone down arrow this? Very insightful and helpful. Thx.
(relative to the "breakthroughguitar" ad at the beginning) - never received the "20 minutes" email with free training... sat through the entire promo vid (same ol' marketing technique everyone uses now). Price seems worth the risk, but how do I eval without that free lesson (I'm not going to believe "money back guarantee" BS.
It’s not just the scale length of the guitar, it’s also how the guitar sits with you or fits you, not just sitting down but also hanging from a strap. A Les Paul fits me like a glove, a Tele is too far of a reach and cramps my hand. An SG and and LP are the same scale length, but the SG neck feels like a mile away
What's a small hand and what's a big hand? I have no idea. Answers please
I have trouble reaching my pinky to the 9th fret while trying to do a blues rhythm riff using a A barre
Thanks
This video is kind of frustrating. I have very small hands, and while these tips are important, especially dropping the thumb, a part of this is just physics. I have small hands - to the point I am unable to reach some of the stretches this dude is performing. Not even talking about a hand position that is fretable. Literally placing my hand parallel to the fretboard, and trying to stretch my hand as much as I can to see if it’s even physically possible - and it isn’t. Technique can only get you so far - at a certain point, the hardware is the ultimate limiter, whether it be the fretboard or the hand. I have a 24 inch scale, and I’ve been toying with the fact of getting a 22.5, so I can make some surf guitar stretches that are literally impossible for me.
This guy has normal to large hands, and I can tell he just doesn’t understand what’s it’s like to truly be limited to small hands. Technique matters, and I certainly have room to improve on that front, but if my hand isn’t big enough to reach from fret 2 to 6, I don’t know what more I can do.
I'm in the same boat. I have tiny hands, I'm 5'8" dude and my hands are the same size as my younger sister, who is 5'3". I physically cannot reach for a lot of riffs I come across. Many people I notice claiming to have small hands don't even have truly small hands. Mine are 6.5" from bottom of palm to tip of middle finger, and the fingers themselves are stubby to boot.
thanx brother
Although I've got big meaty claws, this was very neat to watch.
I know this post is old but my problem playing with small hands is wide chords. Solo stuff is not a huge problem because you can play the same notes all over. And you can slide and all that. But wide jazz chords seem impossible. Help
I tried dropping my thumb below the center of the neck but I couldn't get enough downward force on the fretboard when trying to play. Probably doesn't help that I like to have an iron grip on the guitar
I have small hands tried to use my thumb over the top and for the life of me it just won’t wrk !!! Frustrations of playing guitar
My wife is 5'3" & she has bigger hands than me.
Red Volkart! Small hands…monster player!
I need a hack on rock shuffles. I struggle to play Born To Be Wild and stuff like that. When I’m holding down root and fifth. I notice some people play root fifth with first and second and that seems to free up the pinky to stretch a little further or maybe release the fifth. Either way, that can be a very hard stretch
Only a real man can admit he has short fingers.
Well, im a real man then, and a very honest one too.😉
Good tips
How much more difficult will it be to reach the first fret of a Ltd M-1000HT, while playing on a right lap (righ handed)? Now I have a Les Paul Studio.