this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2023
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Small Hand Advice (self.guitars)
submitted 1 year ago by rei to c/guitars
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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.

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[โ€“] rei 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've thought about a shorter scale length but I'm really hoping to not have to go that route

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have small hands as well. But through the years I managed to get my hands flexibel enough.

But small scale length helps a lot. After 20yrs oft playing I bought my first fender Jaguar this year - with shorter scale length - and it is much more relaxing to play. Gibson scale lenght is also not as hard as the large Stratocaster scale. (Born to be wild or walk this way are good songs to test it)