this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2023
9 points (90.9% liked)

guitars

3860 readers
1 users here now

Welcome to /c/guitars! Let's show off our new guitar pics, ask questions about playing, theory, luthier-ship, and more!

Please bring all positive vibes to the community and leave the toxic stuff elsewhere.

Banner credit

Rules:


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Hello, I am new to guitar (3 weeks) and I am practicing every day (a bit too much some days which could be exacerbating) and I have pretty small hands. I think my middle finger measures about 3 inches.

I played a lot over the past few days and my left hand (fretting hand in my case) is sore not in a good way I don't think. I kind of have to contort my hand if I am up near the head stock fretting 1 and 4.

I am not discouraged. It seems like all youtube videos just say don't give up with small hands, not exactly helpful. I'm plenty motivated and want to keep going but I don't want to injure myself.

So all that to say any advice on being able to fret well by the headstock with small hands? I also think my wrist is not in a healthy position but I can't reach my fingers far enough apart without doing some hand yoga.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] phant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What kind of guitar do you have? There's a big difference in neck size between say, a classical guitar and an electric.

[–] rei@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I didn't even think to include that, I apologize. I have an electric guitar, I don't know what the neck profile or scale length are off the top of my head but I can find them if I need. I think its maybe a 9.5 in radius?

[–] phant@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

All good. Just wanted to check you weren't trying to play some beastly classical and thinking "what's wrong with me?!" when the neck is a mile wide haha. You'll probably be fine with most electrics, just give it time or refer to the other advice in the thread. You could go to a guitar shop and try a short scale guitar like a fender mustang/Jag - see if it makes a world of difference or not.

[–] DickPuncher@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What does it say on the neck of the guitar?

[–] rei@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Like the model of the guitar?