Tip: for those with small hands
This tip is for players with small hands (or those who think they have small hands). We start off with a letter and then my response follows. I hope you get something from this.
Hello Darrin,
My name is C. and I am just beginning to play the guitar. I know some beginner chords but would like to go beyond that. I was wondering if hand size has anything to do with playing the guitar. It seems impossible for me to put my index finger on the first fret, middle finger on the second fret, ring finger on the third fret and little finger on the fourth fret. I am also considering some lessons to help me along.
Please write back. Thanks.
[Here's my response:]
Hi, C. Thanks for your message. First, I definitely recommend lessons for you at this stage - but not with just any teacher. Look for a classical teacher, because he/she will be better able to show you the proper technique; this is really important when hand size is an issue, because as you are looking at your hands and saying “No way are my hands going to be able to do THAT,” the teacher is looking at the same thing and will point out things you had no idea were important; these things will prove you can play, and that you can get your hands to do what they need to do.
The scale length of the fretboard is an issue. Get a smaller guitar. There are such guitars made for adults, not kids, with small hands. Not every great guitarist had great hands.
Highly recommended: go to groups.google.com - make sure its Groups in there, not regular Google - and enter this search phrase exactly as written here;
“small hands” group:*guitar*
From the results of that search you’ll learn a lot about playing with small hands. More important, I think, you’ll be encouraged.
Also highly recommended: the book The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar. See Guitar Principles.
Good luck.
Darrin
Thanks again for reading.
Copyright © 2008 Darrin Koltow
This first appeared in the Guitar Noise News - December 15, 2006 newsletter. Reprinted with permission.
Jim Lawrie on May 24th, 2008
Darrin, I’m a classical guitarist and guitar teacher. For a male, I have very small hands. I started playing when I was about 20, but didn’t get serious until I was 26 years old. That was back in 1974. A couple of years later, I noticed my left hand was about an inch longer than my right hand. The difference in my hand spread is also quite considerable.
I mentioned my age (26) because children’s hands are more malleable than adults. But still as an adult I’ve adjusted to the demands required for playing the classical guitar.
Many beginning students often express anxiety over their basic equipment. I stress upon them that the guitar is not an ergonomically friendly instrument. In fact, it’s a rather perverse thing to do to your hands. But through correct practice and over time, we reach that stage where playing the guitar becomes, if not a perverted thing, then at least a semi-normal thing to do with your hands.
One final comment: over the years I’ve noticed many female students with small hands often have considerably more stretch than guys with huge hands. I mentioned this observation once in a class. A student who was a nurse responded by telling the class that it’s the presence of estrogen in women that causes that elasticity. During this time I was giving private lessons to an OB-GYN doctor. I asked her if what the nurse said was correct. She said it was true, but if a woman really wanted to improve her stretch she should have a baby!
I don’t know if “C” is a woman, but if she is, pass this suggestion on to her.
jrldev on July 1st, 2008
My personal experience with guitars ( I play classical guitar) is that the first rule in choosing
the guitar is to consider the instrument’s scale length just like when you buy a pair of shoes
your feet size is the one consideration. Sadly most (not all) mass-produced guitars (both nylon and steel-strings) are made to a “standarized” scale-length size around 25.6″or 650mm.
A prospective buyer should check various instruments to find the right “fit” before investing in
an insrument that will turn out not conducive to ease-of-playing due primarily to the wrong scale length for the player.