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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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[–] phant 3 points 1 year ago (4 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 2 points 1 year ago (3 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 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.

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