How To Play Guitar With Small Hands (And I Should Know!)
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2023
- My Patreon Page: / omahs
Not all guitarists are made equal. If, like me, you have small hands, this video will give you some ideas on how to work around the issue.
Email: anthony@onemanandhissongs.com
My website: www.onemanandhissongs.com
Twitter: / 1manandhissongs
About me:
My name is Anthony Chisnall. I'm a musician & songwriter.
My channel is these things:
1. A place to share my songs - via various 'Back on Track' video series - in which you'll see each song idea evolve step-by-step, with me (hopefully!) improving my song-writing skills as we go.
2. An outlet for me to discuss all things musical - including technical break-downs of software and tools that I use, as well as more wide-ranging discussions of topics that interest me.
I play the guitar (electric, acoustic, and bass), and record all of my own synth-based sounds myself too, but I can't sing very well (huge understatement!), and so my wife, Pauline, who has a lovely singing voice, has come to my rescue. You'll hear her on all of my songs.
All of my music is written in Steinberg's Cubase.
I try very hard to make my videos PRACTICAL and no-nonsense - if I don't use a feature, I'm not going to waste your time trying to sound like an expert on it! This is the stuff I use day-to-day, so I think that's also what you'd like to hear me talking about.
Thanks to:
ThumbnailTemplates.com for their UA-cam template files.
Outro Template made by Grabster - / grabstertv
Everyone constantly saying "just stretch and you'll get there" made me feel like I'm either the worlds worst guitarist or I have the smallest hands to ever attempt guitar. Thanks for actually saying "No, you can't do that. Let it go" so I can move on and focus on other things instead.
I'm glad you agree! It's pretty frustrating to be told how to fix a problem by someone who's never suffered from it!
I measured my middle finger on the inside, less than 3.5 inches. I've tried to play classical guitar with much frustration. I used to able to play Lagrima and few other pieces but now I forget them all due to wrists issues. I still play the guitar and I'm thinking of relearn those pieces.
Thanks for the tut, nobody wants to talk about it.
You're welcome, thanks for the feedback :)
Great video ! It addresses many issues small hands come up against .
Finally someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. Thanks 🙏🏼 very helpful
I've very glad you thought so, thanks for the feedback!
This is incredible i figured out the twisting of the wrist by my own but the rest i had no clue. I feel like i stumbled on to some sacred knowledge. Thank you so much
You're very welcome, thanks for the kind feedback :)
SO reassuring to have some sense spoken on this subject. I didn't even know I had small hands until I started practicing the classic A minor pentatonic scale and couldn't understand why the UA-cam experts seemed to reach that 8th fret on the low E string so effortlessly with their pinky finger while I struggled (and still do). Thanks for demonstrating it can be overcome and it's just part of the journey.
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it :)
Thanks so much for telling me it’s O.K. to play the alternate chords. I have the exact same problem with my ring finger not letting my pinky hit the string.
You're welcome! The irony is that the "traditional" fingering for an F Major chord (just to use one example), isn't even close voicing, unless you skip the 2 low strings and just play FACF (1351) on the top 4 strings - which then makes the chord easy!
As a beginner with very strong but small hands, this video is gold. I would get annoyed with people in other videos not covering the reality that long fingered players have it much easier, it's not about strength. I also thought about trading in my guitar for a 3/4 so this is some great information to guide me for my next purchase when it may be.
Thank you sir, cheers!
I'm very glad you found it useful - thanks for the feedback!
I'd also consider getting a flatter radius fretboard. The flatter it is, the shorter the distance between the outside strings.
My first finger to thumb curvature length is only 16.5cm, and my pinky is only 5 cm! I have to say I cannot get the barre chord trick of pulling back with the fretting hand to work at all, I've tried over and over. I am really appreciative of this insight from someone who ACTUALLY has small hands. Great suggestions and I'll put them to use for sure. Thanks!
Thanks very much for your feedback, I appreciate it :)
Thank you so much, this was really helpful! My hands are even smaller than yours, by a centimeter or more on every finger. I’ve struggled so much with guitar and even piano because I physically can’t play the way it seems like everyone else does. My notes always end up out of tune because I’m either pressing too hard or can’t reach the string at all. I think I’m gonna have to bite the bullet and get a 3/4 guitar, so I can learn without being in pain.
You're very welcome! Yes, 3/4 guitars are definitely a solution. I've heard many great things about the Fender Jag, but never managed to pull the trigger on one myself.
Fender mini strat or ibanez mikro or jackson minion. Very small but comfortable as someone with hands close to yours.
Thank you so much for a realistic approach and some great tips
Glad it was helpful, thanks for the feedback!
I have pretty much the exact same hand shape as you. As a very new player I was really struggling. I stumbled onto what appears to be an acceptable guitar (Ibanez ASEZ31, 42mm nut 25" scale), which was just outright lucky. I've been asking around about hand position etc and nobody has been able to offer help until your video. Thank you, sir.
That's great to hear, glad I could help! Thanks for the feedback.
THIS! This is the video I needed to see.
Cool, glad you enjoyed it :)
What a wonderful lesson. I've been messing around for 9 months or so and can play several rock solos. Not always up to speed and sometimes not perfect but I feel good about where I'm at right now. My issues are chord changes and Barre chords. I really appreciate this lesson because my hands are basically the same siz3 as yours. I got a fender strat for my bday. Hopefully it's ok for my hand size. Thanks again!!
Really glad you found it useful, thanks for the kind feedback!
I got the same problem. Very nice video from the person who knows how it is in real. Recently I bought Squier sonic mustang, low budget guitar but well made for the price, 24 inch scale length. The neck is a bit thicker than in my Yamaha 312( very slim ) , but feels awesome and my picking hand feels more comfortable. Palm muting is more natural , my hand feels in more natural position. You can check Squire bullet mustang, and other short scale guitars. Make a difference in my opinion. Regards Matt.
I've played (but not owned) a Mustang, and it did feel great to play. In this particular video I was approaching the subject from the perspective of playing a regular scale guitar, but I completely agree that buying a short scale is a great way to navigate the issue.
Very helpful! Thank you!
You're welcome!
Brilliant vid,,thank you
You're very welcome, thanks for the feedback :)
Thanks for this video. My limitations really hit me hard when I realised I couldn’t play the song that inspired me to buy a guitar. Orion by Metallica. I simply cannot stretch my fingers or curl them enough to play the inverted power chords with out muting other strings
You're welcome. yeah, it's a bummer when a physical limitation is the issue. It's a pretty hard stop. My solution when I can't play something "properly" is to start dropping notes until I can. Sometimes it's surprising how whole notes can be omitted and it still sound good - particularly bass notes if they're mirrored by the bass player.
Thank you for making this video. I have measured my fingers and they are very similar to yours. I get wound up when other UA-camrs say “…..and I have got small hands” and then Hendrix play. I have been trying for years. It can’t be done with small hands.
You're very welcome, I'm glad you agree! I do get the odd comment to this video saying some variety of 'just try harder', but I really do think it's very physically dependent. (I'm sure that even people with identically shaped hands will have different muscle & tendon structures that make a difference.)
Thank you so much!! I've gone back and forth on guitar so many times but always left so discouraged because of my tiny fingers. They're all either comparable to yours or smaller. Using the advice you gave here has helped so much with actually having good form and reaching frets I've never been able to
Awesome! I'm very glad you found the video useful. Thanks for the feedback :)
That was really inspiring! I have hands about the same size, and the F Chord in particular has been impossible, even on my current fave a Taylor GS Mini. Your tips on posture were on point too, I will now play with strap even sitting down. Subcribed!
I appreciate the feedback, thanks very much :)
Very comprehensive tutorial...my hands are exactly the same size as yours according to the dimensions on your thumbnail. What makes things a bit more complicated for me is that I'm left-handed....so the choice of guitars with the right conditions to accommodate small hands is somewhat limited. I play a Les Paul Tribute which seems to fit but I intend on searching for one that is even more suitable. Your video was very helpful....thank you!
I'm glad I was able to be of some help! Thanks for the feedback :)
My pinky is 1-7/8 inches. Tip of the thumb to tip of the index finger in a C shape is less than 7 inches. Fingers splayed, tip of the index to tip of the pinky is 5.5 inches. My fingers are tiny, and I do mean tiny. My pinky wears a baby's size 1 ring. I'm 56, so I don't expect a growth spurt in my future either. After much research, I got myself a Squier Mini-Strat - 3/4 size guitar, short scale (22.5 inches) - to learn on. Let them laugh at me. I can make chords, so I'm good. I can just never have what they would call a "real" guitar, not off a shelf anyway. One of those beauty Gibson guitars on my wall just isn't going to happen, ever. BUT, when I've earned it, I just might have a guitar custom built with all the bells and whistles... in 3/4 short scale, no skimping on craftsmanship or components... and with a tremolo to boot. I will want it to be a tiny beast of a music machine, the one great guitar of my life. I will call it The Baby. The industry should consider all shapes and sizes of adults. It doesn't. And most of the time, the instruments made for "kids" are not quality, rather bare bones and with the cheapest of everything, including finish. When I can finally play well, I will want an instrument I can be proud of, one that no one will have any grounds to laugh at. Then, let them whine that they can't play it... because their ape hands are too big.
That's awesome. You stick it to those yeti-handed oafs!
Great stuff! I had to give up playing for years as I suffered from DupuytrensSyndrome - an operation has alowed me to get back on the guitar, but with much less hand span. Thankfully, I have a couple of 24in guitars - Jaguar and Mustang which helps.
Thanks! I must admit to lusting after a Mustang.
don't force things that aren't meant to be. great advice for guitar. and life.
Never a truer word.
I had no idea that I should be looking for different ways to play a chord. I just figured that with time I could do it. Thank you for helping me see this. By the way. Your favorite F position- I right away heard Bread's "Make it With You" :)
I'm really glad you found the video useful, thanks for the feedback! OMG yeah, that is QUITE the tune - not listened to it an ages (but am doing so as I type)!
Anthony, I first thought '20 minutes?' Too long. But I couldn't turn it off... I was learning more from you than from the other videos I had watched. Focusing on the guitar and its attributes taught me so much, rather than all about finger positioning. Your video will make my finger positioning lessons more easily accommodated. I actually sat my 3/4 guitar down and just watched and listened to you, several times. I can't believe how useful this video is for me, learning about my arm, wrist, and body posture; it was unique. I understand my guitar better now. Thank you so much!
That's very generous of you to say, I really appreciate your kind feedback!
Very relevant for me. 😉 Thanks!
You're welcome, thanks for the feedback!
Absolutely great video on guitar playing. As someone with small hands and who's struggling this showed great technique on all aspects of playing.
I'm actually looking at an Ibanez mikro 3/4
Thanks
Subscibed!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the kind feedback!
Old Fender Duo Sonics, Swingers and Musicmasters are also very short scale (22.5") if you ever want something vintage.
Really useful.
Much appreciated, thanks!
Many thanks!
You're welcome :)
Thanks for the advice really, my hands are even smaller than yours for a few mm and I truly agree the guitar with proper neck spec helps a lot. Also I am always struggle with Fmaj7 and people with big hands (my teacher and my boss who play guitar) always says stretch it and practice and you can do it, quite frustrating…
Yeah, they are talking absolute rubbish. I've had to put up with that nonsense from BigHanders for too long! No more, I say!
Thanks for a great video I subscribed immediately.
I have just gotten my first guitar at the age of 60 ( it’s an itch that had to be scratched) ..
Never played a note in my life ..
I can tell you I measured my hands against your dimensions and I’m only just a little 10mm bigger ..
I just can’t seem to get my digits in the right place without touching other strings and my wrist is bloody killing me ..
But anyway..thanks and keep up the good work.
You're welcome, and thanks for the support! It's surprising how small changes in position relative to your body can have a dramatic effect on your ability to fret properly. Try adjusting your strap to various heights and changing the neck angle to see if anything helps. I made a video discussing playing chords which might help too: ua-cam.com/video/oszsk1zk_R8/v-deo.html
Thank God for you!!!! My hands and fingers are almost the same size as yours and I have been having the worst time. Though well meaning the people with long fingers just don't get it. This is tremendously helpful. Thanks Again!!!
Very glad to hear that my video was useful, thank you for the feedback :)
Thanks for your tips, my fingers are even smaller than yours (my middle finger is only 6cm), and I've been on the verge of throwing in the towel out of frustration that even simple chords require ages to get right. Hopefully with this advice I can still continue on
You're very welcome - glad to add a glimmer of hope!
Thank you so much!! This video helped me. I’ve heard that schecter necks are good for small hands. What do you think?
You're welcome! I've never played a Schecter, so can't comment, although I believe their necks a quick slim, so that would make sense. I think too much emphasis is placed (generally) on nut width, whereas in fact there's far more distance to cover around the back of the neck than there is at the front!
I have played since I was really young, small hands . Don’t try to put your thumb on top like Hendrix as he said ! Get your thumb onto the back to secure your fingers . I can bar anything . In my 60s after taking bad advice for some arthritis , and rested them I regret it . I’m playing in shorter time increments and getting my stretches back . In the end some songs will just be harder got small hands and maybe revoice the chord position . I’m a jazz pianist by a miracle ! 😂
I've got smaller hands. And I've broken my left thumb and hand several times. I have to constantly keep this in mind (subconsciously) and I'm always trying new chord positions and voicing to compromise or make things work. I try to make it part of my sound/style and it works alot of times. But there are certain things I have to work out first before just jamming, and that's my favorite way to play...just free jamming. After awhile I figure out where I need to go instead of my 1st or 2nd thought, but it does take extra work/practice...just putting the time in, seeing what does or doesn't work and fixing mistakes. It is a PIA. But I have to hope it makes me better in the long run.
Also, I am constantly thinking of guitar specs. Trying to figure out what the optimal neck is that I can find out there. I really want to make my own. Maybe someday. Mustangs and shorter scales are cool but not always. I'd love a 24¼" scale neck...but they don't exist and I can't afford to find someone to make it for me. Someday, maybe...
I currently play alot of PRS guitars. An old 94 CE24, a Vela and an SE Hollowbody II (bigger neck, but somehow very easy to play). I have a SG w P90's that has a thin flat D neck I like but need more playing time on. A 24¾" 24 fret Ric style guitar with a great neck that needs a little bit of setup work and I'd like a new bridge for.
I have a Silversky that is really nice but I'm just not able to play for very long. An original Reverend Billy Corgan signature that I love so much, except for the 25½ scale....I'm turning that into a baritone essentially...like Ariel Posen does with his Mulecaster tuned to B with 17s.
I feel your pain.
I'd really love to design and build instruments that cater to people like us one day. I'm a tech and builder, and if I just could find someone to help design an optimal neck shape and scale length that's not traditional I'd certainly build it. People don't think so bit, there's a big difference between 24.5" and 24" scale lengths and I'd like to try and split that difference, and shape the neck in a way that a hand our size cradles the neck comfortably and easily.
You're collection puts mine to shame! Amazingly, I've never played a Mustang (there's one in a local shop that I'm looking forward to trying soon). Building your own bespoke guitar, though... that's next level :)
Thanks for the video! The only digit I beat you on is the thumb (2 1/4, and the least important finger). Approaching 70 and just started tinkering. Have a good ear for notes and fret placement. While I'll never be able to play entire songs, I challenge myself to figuring out certain licks and "playing single notes to the words/melody". And I love the calloused finger tips!
You're very welcome, and thanks for the feedback! Glad to hear you've caught the bug :)
I have super small hands and never found a stretch I couldnt do. Even the most abstract inversions. Look at the real chords for purple rain, Wendy does those stretches with small hands. There is no stretch that will ever be called for that anyone with any sized hands wouldnt be able to do with proper technique and practice. Sorry but I know this and refuse to think that i am somehow the exception as someone with SUPER small hands. EDIT: not trying to be a jerk but I know what I know from real life experience. I have been playing for 27 years though so maybe theres something to that but that just goes back to what I said. Practice and technique
Wendy Melvoin can easily play thumb over past the twelfth fret. She does NOT have small hands or short fingers.
What's more, there are other factors besides pure hand size. For example, if you have thick fingertips you have to fret the wound strings from a much higher angle than someone with thin fingertips which greatly reduces the distance you can stretch.
@@markuyehara7880 point is hand size finger size wont hold you back in any way. The fact that she can do that was my point as her hands are small relatively speaking.
@@childrenoftheabzu Point is that that's objectively wrong. Even with my thumb literally under the neck I can barely reach the top string without compressing the others
@@MotoGPForever4527 The point is small hands has never prevented anyone from being able to play the guitar and to be able to play anything except for the most obscure chord voicings. You just havnt learned/trained your fingers to stretch in the correct way. Stretches go in the horizontal direction or up frets. If youre having trouble stretching vertically from the 1st to 6th string it is 100% an issue of technique not related to hand size. Or it is a result of a disability which would prevent someone from being able to play. That is an objective fact.
Get out of here. Its about playing comfortably. Sure you can get that stretch, but most of us, casual players, won't even be conformable playing huge stretches just because of technique and time. Finger mounting on your hand plays another role. My pinky sits really low on my hand, so I can tell you its entirely different if you have fingers that are not close in heightMy pinky is at least 22 mm lower against my ring finger....How are you going to stretch something that is only 50 mm long to start with and make up the 22 mm difference in finger mount. height. even turned to the side my pinky will never be able to do it. its lukcy if its 100 mm index to pinky when turned. thats 4 short inches. I can do a bit better on a very short 22.5 scale guitars, but sometimes you CAN NOT beat physics.
I have large hands but I've never taken advantage of the thumb over the top, plays bass note position. Great advice for guitar players of all sizes. 🎸👍
Much appreciated, thanks for the feedback :)
Thank you. I have very small hands. I get that even kids can outplay me, but being comfortable as an adult makes a huge difference for wanting to play and not fighting the guitar. Scale length is also an issue for smaller players. . My pinky is only 50 mm so in addition to small fingers, they are poorly mounted. My index finger is 12 mm lower than my ring finger against the middle finger. and my pinky another 22 mm lower than my ring finder. It is not very uniform and makes many tasks harder that would otherwise be easier with fingers of very similar length.
I bought a junior strat 22.5 inch or so inches 560 mm or close to it. I found this small guitare easy to play, but then there is string tension issues and stability of tuning because they are cheap guitars for kids. I would love a nice mid range 700-1000 CDN- (500 pound or so) guitar that is better built than a kids "learning" guitar. Tried a mustang but the offset felt weird , SG seems like the shorter gibson scale still goes on for miles.
One day i will be able to buy a shorter scale well built guitar that I don't have to pay a custom shop thousands so I can play and learn easier.
I'd love an SG. If I ever buy another guitar, it'll be that. My main fear is that if a grow accustomed to the shorter scale I won't want to play my 25.5 scale guitars any more.
Some good tips! I have small hands and some damage from an accident.. thanks
Glad I could help, thanks for the feedback
My hands are almost exactly the same size as yours. I am killing myself trying to play F minor with the barre on the first fret. This is a great video and now all I have to do is unlearn some old habits.
We littlehands must stick together! Glad I could help :)
My advice is to buy a shorter scale length guitar. 24" or 24,75". There are also even shorter scale guitars of 22". His Ibanez has a "normal" scale length of 25,5". 24" scale guitar like Fender Mustang Duo Sonic are fun to play.
Thanks for the comment. I bought the Squire Mustang for that very reason when I started learning last year. Then i inherited and a Strat from my brother-in-law, which seems to work okay, for me now, but I still like the Mustang more. My problem is not so much scale length, but the width of the neck. Any way, I continue to work at it and I am having fun. I have abandoned barring all six strings to play a full F chord and just barre 5 and 6 which is working out pretty good.
Acoustic is a totally different game with small hands . I play my Gretsch and tele just fine . Both electric. Playing my Martin acoustic takes some serious good form . Open tunings like a Keith Richards stuff are are great . He never plays the bottom string lately . But I keep another good acoustic in standard tuning and if I am capoed up to play lstuff like here comes the sun etc . I get both . I don’t like capoing the true sound of my Martin .
I ordered a Fender Stratocaster with a 24 inch scale length. It's a Japan exclusive. Fender USA doesn't even sell them. Now, if you have small hands, a 24 inch scale length is going to seem like your fingers grew 2 inches.
You think your hands are small? My little finger is exactly 2 inches long. So playing a 25.5 scale length neck isn't easy for me. I can do it, but it's just frustrating to see other players play things as easy as falling off a log but I can't because my hands are small. Well, that 24 inch scale neck is going to level the playing field, literally.
Absolutely! If you can't play by the rules, re-invent the rules :) I'm in the fortunate/unfortunate position of loving both of my standard scale guitars, so developed these techniques to work around the problem, but I must confess I occasionally dream of a nice thin-necked SG...
@@OneManAndHisSongs The Jake E. Lee signature ESP has a 24 inch scale neck. It's a full size Strat body. You can actually make one, you just have to move the bridge back so that from the nut to the center of the bridge pieces is still 25.5 inches. Get the guitar body and have it pre-drilled (or drill it yourself) to fit the type of bridge you're installing. I can tell you, the "short scale" Strat is just so much fun to play now. The body is 6 percent smaller than a full size Strat, but you can hardly tell. I changed the pickups and put a set of Wilkenson High Output Alnicos in it and it just sings now. I also put a brass nut on it and a Wilkenson bridge because I'm not a fan of the "screw in" tremolo arms. The Wilkenson has a grub screw like the Paul Reed Smiths. ZERO arm slop. Nice and firm.
For someone with small hands why struggle with a 25.5" scale guitar? Even Gibson scale 24.75" type guitars are noticeably easier to play and there are many choices these days for even shorter scale instruments.
It's a reasonable question, and an equally reasonable solution, but the purpose of my video was to suggest ways to play a regular scale guitar rather than equalise the playing field itself.
@@OneManAndHisSongsGood info you have on the subject here, just saying that mentioning scale length along with would be further help to people as many may not even realize it's a thing.
I get that some will just want the sound or look of a full size Tele or Strat but the 25.5" scale length of those are going to be the toughest for people with small hands.
Warmoth and I think Musickraft have conversion necks to make Strats and Telecasters into 24.75 scale that simply bolt on and take care of the issue without having to move the bridge or do anything else major to the guitar besides a setup.
Thank you for mking this video. I am still a relative beginner but have found there is not much useful information for those of us with small hands. I specifically want to ask about guitar choices. I am looking to upgrade and am considering a 1960's style les paul standard with the slim taper neck. What specific year and model Ibenez do you use? I have heard the tones are not as good with Ibenez. Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks for the feedback. I've owned very few guitars over the years, so don't feel qualified to give advice on multiple options. It's certainly going to benefit you generally to go for a slim neck. I've never found a Les Paul that fit nicely for me, but I'm sure that's entirely personal. (I find the body just too damned big!) If I was going to buy a Gibson I'd go for an SG (in fact it's something I'm seriously considering at the moment). My Ibanez is a 2012 JS-1000 Black Pearl with original Edge bridge. They get a bad rap for lack of tone but honestly I love it, and think it holds its own against my American Deluxe Strat. Besides, it plays like an absolute dream!
Thank you for the information. Glad that I’m not the only one with smaller hands dealing with these challenges. This all makes so much sense. As a young teenager I played an Ibanez 540 R LTD but sold it in my early 20’s and started playing Teles and Strats. Nothing ever felt as comfortable as the Ibanez to me but I shrugged it off for decades. Now at 47 years old, I’m starting to realize how seemingly minor specs on a guitar can make such a difference cumulatively. What are your thoughts on fret size?
The vast majority of guitars are at or around 25.5" (i.e. standard strat design), so availability and budget are real considerations. To be honest I bought my two (yes, I only own two) electric guitars before having my own epiphany on the stuff I discuss in this video, so I've learned to work with what I have. If I was ever going to buy a third I'd probably get an SG... just to help out a bit. It all matters.
Right on. I’ve owned a few Gibsons, SG Standard and a late 70’s The Paul; both 24.75 scale length. I’d like to say the scale length was a bit more comfortable for reaching frets but the neck profile on both guitars was cumbersome. I’m actually taking the steps to build a 7/8 size guitar with a 24.75 scale length, and a 42 mm nut. Still researching what size fret wire would be the most suitable. What is your other guitar?
Fender Strat American Deluxe
Interesting stuff.
I have small hands and struggle to play my Gibson SG, but my guitar hero Angus Young doesn't seem to have a problem, there's no way his hands are bigger then mine😮
Equally my Squier Strat and my Jet JS300 are a dream to play.
Neck width and total profile are as important as scale length I think. Angus Young defies most of the laws of physics... :0
Can't wait to watch this, hope there are some good pointers that I haven't heard yet. But, for the record, my middle fingers are 2 3/4 inches long. I wish my fingers were as long as yours. lol
This is complicated by the fact that my fingers are fat, so narrow string spacing is out.
I am about 3 months into my guitar journey and can only get 4 chords without muting strings. Still working on it though.
Yup, you got me beat there! I hope you find something useful in the video :)
Don’t give up!
@@dwstoeckel4740 I am not, I am figuring it out! thanks for the encouragement
I can identify. I have short fingers with fat tips. The window I can fret notes at without hitting other strings is really small.
Also, I see some people asking about Mistangs and Jaguars. They are cool. But not for everything.
I would recommend trying one of the Squier Bullet or Sonic Mustangs. I have 3. They are inexpensive and not bad at all.
Oh, I'd forgotten about the Bullet! A friend of mine once owned one and I loved playing that. Yeah, I should definitely give that a try.
Any one with small hands the fender mustang might be a good option shorter in scale. I'm going to have to try one.
Yup, I should have made more of a point of suggesting that as an option. Thanks for the feedback.
Great video. My hands and fingers are even smaller. It looks you are sometimes using barre chords in place of the wide stretch finger chords. Is that correct?
I'll do literally whatever it takes to play the notes I want with as little discomfort as possible... and if it hurts, play other notes instead :) Since I don't play other people's songs, I have the luxury of being able to pick and choose what I play.
Started playing young when you think everyone else is the same. Only later on did I notice that my fingers are short and I became very self-conscious about it. I started noticing that people with long fingers would always bar a cord with their finger at an angle whereas I could bar properly. Lol!
I don't often hear small-handed people advertising advantages! Good for you :) I, however, consider it a curse ;)
Sounds like I need a smaller guitar. If I tilt it like that my arm doesn't reach the angled part of the body and the sharper edge of the guitar digs into my picking side forearm (Ibanez RG550).
Thomas Dolby got it right when he said "SCIENCE!".
Great video! I thought I had small hands but my fingers and thumb are on average 11% longer than yours. So maybe I have moderate-size hands? I've been playing fender strats all my life.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I'll try not to seethe too much at your unfair advantage ;)
Thanks for this. I made the mistake of buying an Epiphone les paul to start playing again (played a lot from 8yrs-14yrs old on a 3/4 size guitar) am now 25 so figured my fingers would be fine. My hands are similar size to yours and so I was very wrong haha. Am now looking to sell it but struggling to find a guitar I want to replace it with.
I started on a early 2000s Gibson SG and was having trouble. I have small girl hands with arthritis 😅 I recently got a ESP LTD EC-256 and I really like it! Much easier to play, thinner neck, less wood in your hand, made it easier to play for me. They sound amazing clean and dirty and pretty decent prices. I'd highly recommend them. I picked up one on Amazon for nearly 50% off because it was a returned one still in the box with box damage 👍
@@Tiffany-Rose Thanks so much for the detailed response, appreciate it very much!
The thickness of the neck is so often sadly ignored in these conversations. I totally agree that it's critical. (That's why I favour my JS-1000 - it's so thin.) I'd love to be able to play a Les Paul, but it ain't happening.
@@ItsssBez I almost got discouraged because I didn't think the neck size would make that much of a difference but it really does! 👍
@@Tiffany-Rose Seeing pics of your ESP LTD EC-256, it seems to be a similar shape to the Les Paul, and same scale-length (24.75"), but what about the neck size and feel (width AND thickness (Anthony would be proud of me!)) compared to a Les Paul? I also made the mistake to get a Epiphone Les Paul and now want a more "smallhander-friendly" electric guitar! (my acoustic guitar is a 23"-scale "Little Martin LXK2" which I love)
Thank you for the almost scientific explained infos. Have you tried Fender Mustang or Jaguar? I think these are especially for small handed guitarists. Iam thinking about one.
Currently I have a LP. Its not that bad.
You're welcome! I have seriously considered those shorter scale guitars, but the stars have not aligned in that direction to date. I'm actually very happy with my JS-1000, which is dreamy to play, and as for the rest of it I find ways to make do.
Thank you! What about your Fender Player Jag? You said good things about that guitar, I was very impressed.
I think you must be confusing me with someone else :) The only Fender I own is an American Deluxe Strat (which I do love), but at the moment I always seem to pick up the Ibanez. I've never owned a Jag.
Try them. As Brian May has shown, there's nothing inherently inferior about the tone of a 24" scale guitar.
Compare - I have a 45mm thumb, 55mm pointer, 64mm middle, 63mm ring, and 45mm pinky.
You got me beat (ahem) hands down ;) (I'm here all week...)
It is nice to see someone who actually lives in the real world on this issue. I must say that electric is way, way easier than acoustic. There are many more options and many more places to hide. On acoustic, for example-at least when accompanying yourself-the bass notes often are essential. My two keys there are: (1) Recognize that there are lots of things you’ll never do that others can, but that there are still many ways to get to a serviceable sound. It’s a palette, and we just have fewer paints than those with larger hands. Still lots of colors to use. (2) Within reason (and here’s where I disagree with you a bit), push the envelope with stubbornness and practice. I can do a reasonable F barre, even when fingerpicking (I might muff a note or two), and I think my hands are smaller than yours. Yes, I have to be WAY more precise and quick than a person with larger hands, but it works, mostly. I’ve done hundreds of shows, played on commercial radio, and recorded three records. Am I a great player? Not close. Good enough? Yep.
Thanks for the feedback, and, of course, you're absolutely right. The handicap is real, but if I practiced harder my ability to reach those nearly-notes would improve.
@@OneManAndHisSongs By the way, I checked, and my middle finger is a bit under 3” 😂
I guess that should be an inspirational story for small-handed guitarists. I have had a long, wonderful guitar journey, playing full-size guitars. Though I am mainly a singer-songwriter, I did once even play lead in a band (Les Paul/PRS) for a few years. And it has little to do with height-I’m 6’2”!
Last thing: Given your useful attitude and approach, you might want to do a “Part II” on how this affects the *strumming* hand/any tips. (Never seen that anywhere, but the struggle is real.) Among other things, makes palm muting much harder (precision, again!), eliminates some muted strum techniques (at least for me), makes it impossible to anchor your picking hand with your pinky whilst fingerpicking, and-most challenging-requires a less secure pick grip (I can’t bend my finger to hold the pick against the knuckle as generally recommended). Then maybe your hands are big enough to avoid those things 😉
That's an interesting idea. I'll add it to my 'to-do' list. I'd honestly never considered why I had such difficulty palm muting. It makes complete sense now that I think about it. (I actually play almost exclusively without a plectrum, and never considered that hand size might have been a contributing factor in that.)
@@OneManAndHisSongs Yep. I love palm muted, percussive strums with fretted chords. Unfortunately, I can only do a limited number of these, and only the simplest. My right hand isn’t large enough to mute the necessary strings whilst getting far enough away from the strings to smoothly execute the strum. A “floating” hand whilst Travis picking is also challenging, especially if you’re singing over it. A final thing: Absolute precision is essential for some things, but sometimes that requires looking at the fretboard (for corrections or to save something). That’s a no-no when performing, and actually interferes with fluidity and rhythm (I believe). Thus, live (acoustic anyway, what I do these days), I keep bells and whistles to an absolute minimum, and try to win folks over with my songs, looks, and winning personality 😉
Ironically I prefer Travis picking with a floating hand. When I use an anchor it feels jarring and clumsy. (Not that I'm any whiz at the style, but it's interesting what feels comfortable to different people.)
Just found your channel. I have small hands and find it hard to fret the 6th string with my thumb. My favorite guitar is a Fender Strat with a 7.25 neck.
Yes, I struggle with that too. As I describe in the video, there are real practical hurdles in the way, particularly when it comes to thumb-fretting. If the stretch is physically too big, then a narrower/thinner neck (both equally important) is the only way to go, sadly.
More rounded fretboard are harder for smaller hands to play. As the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, the more radius there is, the longer the distance.
I do feel your pain. I have a brilliant PRS Silver Sky with a 7.25 but it's much harder to play than my guitars that are 12 to 20 degrees.
Struggling with playing the A string and D string fret 2 and 4 and stretching to fret 2 and 6. Reaching that 6 is a stretch, lol.
Oh yeah, that's an absolute non-starter for me. The old Johnny B Goode stretch. I'm done with that particular muscle pain :)
Your guitar needs to come up just a little more for your straight wrist situation. I think your guitar looks a bit low. That said, all the cool guys like Slash sling it low. I prefer it up. I have very small hands and always wanted a Les Paul. I found a couple cheap chinese guitars with a fantastic neck profile for my small hands. Fender modern C profile works for me, but their fret work is awful. I need to try an Ibanez. I like a couple of my Schecters pretty well for neck profile. Shorter scale length helps also. I see you are at 25.5. 24.75 allows me a little more reach without strain. I wonder if Ibanez makes a wizard neck with a 24.75 scale?
I have played with the guitar higher in the past, but found it was less comfortable further up the neck, so my current position is a compromise. I've often thought about buying an SG with the shorter scale, but never quite pulled the trigger, so I'm left to find the best way to play the guitars I own (which both happen to be 25.5 as you say).
I liked the first half of the video. Yes, buy a guitar with a narrow neck and smaller frets (you can go to a guitar tech and ask him to grind down your jumbo frets that come with almost every guitar today), also nut width and scale length are important for comfort. I love the advice about ergonomics, I never considered it before.
But the last part where you say “don’t do a bar F” or “don’t add a higher 7th to an Am7 chord” I really don’t agree with. I have the same measurements of fingers as you, and I promise you can do an F or an Am7 comfortably in any possible shape. Don’t limit what you play or not play because you have a bit smaller hands, and do train for flexibility and grip strength. This is coming from a guy with a thick necked, 25.5” scale length fender telecaster
Fair enough. In my defence, I struggled for about 30 years with hand pain playing an F before I gave up. I tried every warm-up technique and alternative fingering I could find, too, and none of them helped.
I got way smaller hands and fingers than you, and I play acoustic guitar.
I've had to come up with my own ways of how to mute strings that I can't reach to be able to voice my chords differently.
I can't (don't like to) play the standard key of C as I can't hit that bass note with my thumb on the F chord.
I got a guitar designed for me with a thin neck, but still struggles.
I do have quite a good ear and good tone on my playing. So I get away with that. I just have had to be content playing mostly Key based.
I stick to key of E, D, G Avd use capo to hit the other keys.
(I can't play much with bar chords due to my small hands. And I don't like the sound anyways)😅
Interesting to hear you say that you don't like the sound of bar chords - I've never really thought about it in those terms but I actually agree with you - they always sound dull to me.
It's not the length of the fingers that matters..... it's the proportions. The closer your fingers are in length the better off you are. My pinky is about the same size but my middle finger is about 10mm longer. Just gotta work with what you were given.
Well I'd be happy to compromise that they're both important! But, yes, completely agree that starting with what you have and going from there is the only way.
@@OneManAndHisSongs I'm Sorry I didn't mean to imply you don't have your own issues. You gave alot of great advice that most teachers don't say.
Most say "keep working at it your hand will stretch"..... I think that can be okay advice for kids maybe when there hands are still growing. But I'm an adult and have to face the reality that there are things that just ain't gonna happen.
Fortunately on a guitar there are several different ways to play all the different chords. But most teachers don't tell ya that to a beginner.
Well my fingers are a bit longer than yours, but my palm is shorter, so all in all my span is barely longer than yours. Is it a bad idea to carry on playing my classical guitar ?( its neck is large of course)
I'd never recommend stopping! All I'm trying to say in this video is that it behoves us to acknowledge that we have a disadvantage, and adopt our playing style to accommodate that unavoidable fact.
@@OneManAndHisSongs Thank you, it was because I like the sound of my classical way more than my acoustics, though its neck is definitely wider and more difficult to play.
Dude...your hands are perfectly normal size...
Ya your not going to use your thumb for the bass notes. Bar chords are no problem but the pinky is a huge problem when hilding a chord and then stretching.
Indeed, no bass thumb for me! I never try to stretch to play any chord. Instead I'll either cheat, and record the part in multiple takes, to create a "layered" chord, or find somewhere else on the fretboard to play the same chord with different positioning. One of the great things about the guitar is how many ways there are to make equivalent (albeit not identical) sounds.
❤❤❤❤❤ thanks,,me small fingers 🤞😊😊😊😊
You're welcome!
I just recently started to look at other guitar players' hands and noticed such humongously large thumbs some people have. Not sure how much of an advantage that would be though.
Then there seems to be the issue that if we want to play an instrument, it has to be a guitar.
Why not a violin e.g.? There it can be an advantage to have smaller hands!
In my case I play both.
I'm aware that an electric guitar is generally portrayed as a more exciting instrument to play, and ought to be the choice if you want to be popular, but is not necessarily easier to play.
And then there was a man named Segovia...Check out the hands he had...And also he played only classical guitar, which has a 51 mm nut width...(If my memory serves me right)
Huge thumbs are useful if (like Jimi Hendrix) you use it to press down the low string fret (in fact Jimi was able to fret multiple strings!) I think there are several practical reasons why the guitar is as popular as it is. There aren't that many instruments that allow for modulation (vibrato and tremolo), can self-harmonise (it being very easy to play 6 different notes simultaneously), and are also cheap to build. Similar, I suppose, to why soccer is the world's most popular sport. All you need is a ball.
My longest finger is 2.75”… 😢
Same! Small palm, short fingers, extra short pinky.
Your guitar has actually a long scale neck (25,5"). I think shorter scale guitar would suit you better. 24,75" or 24".
It's the same as a strat, so I think that pretty much defines it as 'standard', but, yeah I know guitars with shorter scales are out there. There's no specific reason why I never tracked down a Jag or some such, one just never crossed my path. The thing I love about the JS is how thin and silky smooth the neck is. (The nut is also 1mm narrower than a strat... it all helps).
The scale also has to do with arm reach and short hands.
Great tutorial, my hands are slightly smaller , and my ring finger is as flexible as a pencil .
Lol, thanks for the feedback, I'm glad the vid was useful :)
So you may have smaller hands but they aren’t “small”. Every finger is longer than mine by 5 mm, some even more. You’re points are well taken but it I had an extra half centimetre it sure would be easier to play. You just gotta work and think a little harder.
That sounds like a fallacy of relative privation, but I'm happy to accept that you have it even harder than me. Hopefully something in the video was useful to you
I wish i had your hand size your hands are bigger than mine. I play strats because of it. You want a narrow nut too. Im amazed with people with basket ball hands that play skinny strats. I dont think you can put a ibanez neck on a fender strat. I think Ibanez makes the skinniest necks. The shape of the neck matters like c shaped or d shaped or v shaped
Part of the reason I love my JS-1000 is the thinness of the neck. It helps a lot.
@@OneManAndHisSongs the only problem is I don't want a Ibanez sound I want a fender strat sound . I play single coils and like fender pickups. I play some Hendrix songs sometimes it goes well sometimes not . There is a police song where you really have to stretch I never even attempted. It might be message in a bottle but I forget. Some songs you have to stretch so much it's even hard for people with somewhat big hands the ac dc guitarist had super small hands .there are various famous guitarists with small hands. Ya for laughs look at a video on how to play message in a bottle and every breath you take.
Yes I've seen Andy Summers do that stretch. I wouldn't even attempt it! I used to be similarly depressed watching Eddie van Halen with his huge tapping stretches, but I got over all that when I stopped covering other people's music! (I know, a massive cop-out, but it works for me :))
Since I have small hands, I finally found my perfect guitar! 1974 Gibson SG. 24 3/4" scale length, and a very narrow nut width of 40mm. The neck thickness at the nut is super thin (thus why the headstocks break off) These guitars are getting expensive today ($2500) but if you think of your comfort while playing, and as an investment, you'll enjoy playing a great instrument, with resale value that's only increasing.
The Angus Young SGs are also fantastic for small handed players, but their as rare as hen's teeth, and cost a mint. I wish Gibson would reissue them.
Phew, a '74 SG. Very, very nice indeed.
Your hands are Gian compared to mine.
Sorry!
Bruh, his hands are huge. The fact that he can even play an Ibanez means he has big hands. I'd like to show you what its like to have truly mall hands and play guitar.
It’s the best brand for small hands…
Small hands? Lol nope. My thumb is half the size of yours. I still play a Strat. Little eight year olds have bigger hands than me and I'm 53.
Yep, you got me beat!
I have played since I was really young, small hands . Don’t try to put your thumb on top like Hendrix as he said ! Get your thumb onto the back to secure your fingers . I can bar anything . In my 60s after taking bad advice for some arthritis , and rested them I regret it . I’m playing in shorter time increments and getting my stretches back . In the end some songs will just be harder got small hands and maybe revoice the chord position . I’m a jazz pianist by a miracle ! 😂
Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!