Hand size and finger reach issues we`ve all had or still have.

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Permalink Reply by henry b on May 14, 2010 at 11:39am

Segovia had short stubby digits, .Sorry for being negative .

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Permalink Reply by Brian McHale on May 14, 2010 at 12:04pm

I have short fingers, but they're not "bony". There certainly are chords I simply cannot play because my reach isn't very good, but on the whole it doesn't cause me many problems.

If you really have restrictions and need a shorter scale, one guitar I would suggest you try is a CA (Composite Acoustics) Cargo. The company recently went out of business (though it's rumored that Peavey has purchased it, so they might be comping back). However, there are still stores that have stock and they can be found on eBay. The Cargo has a surprisingly full tone and a short (22.5" I believe) scale. For me the scale's almost too short; I put on mediums just so the strings aren't so slack.

I don't think there are many guitars with that short a scale that could compare soundwise.

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Permalink Reply by Ship of fools on May 16, 2010 at 6:40pm

I am not going to tell you to change guitars, that is to rediculous and to expensive for most.I was not blessed with extremley long fingers they are average length but I what I do have is practice and I had a good teacher ( A GOOD TEACHER ) is what you need 5 years of trying to do it yourself is commendable but you can also develope some bad habits and very few are blessed with the ability to pick up a guitar and learn it by themselfs, so in the interm look at getting some lessons even if its just to help you reach those strings.
If those kids on You-Tube can do it I am 100% positive that you can do it with the right help.Ship

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on May 19, 2010 at 9:29am

You just have to adapt and learn what you can and can't do. Django Reinhardt had hardly any left hand at all....

Jazz chords are frequently all-but-unreachable for normal hands. So, don't play the whole chord. Often, four notes sound fine and many jazz players do this. After all, tenor banjo and tenor guitar were popular chord-melody instruments back in the 30s and 40s...Only 4 strings.

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Permalink Reply by Coe Franklin on May 20, 2010 at 5:35am

Thanks for the replies, folks.
Mark, that`s the plan I`ve been using for quite awhile now, and I reckon I`ll stick with it.
The issue with reach isn`t really all that bad, but I just get the feeling that I`m slighting the tune that I`m playing when I have to bar to the fifth string rather than the sixth and trying to reach around with my thumb whenever I think I really need to.
I`ve been plugging away at it this long, so I don`t see any reason to switch horses now.
Thanks again.
Coe Franklin

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Pyatt on March 20, 2012 at 1:44am

Im also self taught 9 years in and ive got small bony hands. Ive just had to compromise to a point, because I completely understand what you mean about reaching around with your thumb, I gave that up a long time ago and still come away with a good sound.

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Permalink Reply by Archie Carreon on March 28, 2012 at 10:08am

Its all really about getting better at playing the way are. Jimi hendrix and john mayer both use their thumbs for the bass notes. Especially when they play chords like a D chord but use their thumb to play the F# on the low E string. It takes work and you shouldnt have to be stuck with only one type a guitar. There are so many wonderful guitars out there! haha

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