Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

[tellyc]

Not sure if this is the right forum but I currently own a couple of Jackson Dinky Reverse and a Gibson SG. I'm curious how people with smaller fingers deal with playing guitars that have larger frets & such. I've seen female players with smaller hands play smaller strats, but I'd like to stay with the "metal" guitars. Any tips for technique or any other advise is appreciated.

[Thoraby]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

The Kramer Nightswan has a 24 3/4" scale and a R1 nut. And it has a fairly thin neck. Also they play and sound great [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

Dunno about tecnique though

Edit: They also have medium jumbo frets [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[IommiChild]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

I have the same problem, man. I have tiny little girly fingers, and some stretches (3rd fret to 7th) are kinda tough for me. Its a world of difference when I play something shorter like an SG or Les Paul. I think as far as "Metal" guitars go with a short scale, Jackson used to make a short scale guitar; the Fusion.

[eaeolian]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

I have small hands, and I've found that I have to re-arrange the fingering of some things to do them. Curiously, though, I've pretty much always used 25.5" scale guitars. I never noticed the 24.75" making that much difference.

All mine have pretty big frets - and I usually play 7 string, too, and not the Ibanez paper-thin necks.

My main 6 string Dinky's neck is pretty thin, but the Zion I played for many years before that was a pretty good-sized neck...

So I guess my answe is I didn't compensate with the guitar, just technique.

Mike

[etaeniura]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

buy bigger fingers.

[Newc]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

Yeah get some Enzyte [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seriously, look at Rhoads. Small guy, small hands, normal guitars, no problems. Hand/thumb position has a lot to do with it. Practice with your hand in the position that is comfortable BUT also allows you to reach the farthest for long periods of time without cramping.

Also, try to score a 1990/91 Warrior Pro if you want a Metal shape and 24 3/4" scale.

Newc

[jgcable]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

Most players that complain that their fingers are too small play with too heavy of a fret hand. Don't anchor your 1st finger so tightly when soloing and it will free you up to stretch more. Float on the fret board. Unless you have a physical defect regarding hand size or finger length you should not have a problem shredding on any guitar from 24.75 to 25.5 scale. A thinner profile neck would help too. The Ibanez Wizard necks have a really shallow profile. I teach and I have never bought into that "my hands or fingers are too small" arguement. Sure, a 7 year old will have a problem with underdeveloped hands but not anybody from 13 years old and up.

[tigertailz]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

my sl4 is thin as fu*k compared to my jem and there not
jumbo sized. iv'e got what i'd say norm size fingers.
one of my mates has the same prob his fingers are prob a inch shorter than mine and he has a sg he loves it

[JacksonJuiceBox]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

I have very small hands, and play sl2h mahogany soloist, some stretches can be hard, but its all about where u put your thumb... Try spreading your finger with an open hand, then try and spread them in a claw position (try and touch your palm with your fingers) you can't spread them nearly as far.. so as you start shredding on the higher strings position your thumb on the bottom have of the neck.

[iced_earth]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

Count me in the small hands club. My best advice is to find a guitar that feels right for you. There are tons of different guitars with many different necks to try out. John Petrucci has relatively small hands and his signature guitar felt great when I tried it out. My other advice is practice practice practice! Don't let handsize be a mental handicap, your hands are not holding you back.

[SeventhSon]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

I have small hands as well. I bought a jag-stang for my daughter...it's a 24" scale length...and it's a lot of fun to play! Sounds like ****, but I can fly on the lower frets! Got me thinking about buying a custom order from Jackson. They don't actually list 24", but they say anything under 24.75" is like $120 extra. Maybe, I can get a custom Jackson ukelele! lol.

One side of me says, when you see pics of your guitar heroes doing impossible stretches, it's like no amount of practicing can overcome physical limitations...I'm going to adapt the instrument to me and get a shorter scale.

Then another side says, hey look at Django or Iommi...those dudes lost FINGERS (on their fretting hands no less).

Well, I'm no Django or Iommi, so I'll probably look out for shorter scales. lol.

[me wise majic]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

I have small fingers and find it difficult to stretch very far (big E 4,5-9 stretch). My nephew bought a refurb Peavey V-type which has a 24 fret/24.75" scale and a flat neck profile. I could fly playing his guitar. What I am doing and recommend is try practicing stretching and if you want or need to, buy a 24.75" scale. What I'm doing for stretch exercise now is playing 3rd-5th-7th and 5th-7th-9th with my middle, ring and pinky fingers only. It hurts and can cramp up quickly, but I stop when it starts.

[ranalli]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

Gibson scale length with a narrow neck....that's all I can say. Fat/Thin necks don't matter..just the distance between the frets and strings.

[toejam]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

[ QUOTE ]
So I guess my answer is I didn't compensate with the guitar, just technique.

Mike

[/ QUOTE ]
Same here. Since I've always found longer stretches hard to do, I usually compensate by sliding instead.

Jake E. Lee uses his thumb to fret notes and slide up with one of his other fingers to reach the higher notes quicker and easier.

[guitar geek]

Re: Guitar & Technique for Small Fingers

no technique here either, as well as small hands, really small hands. damn, even my pupil (girl, 16 yrs old, 1.70 meters long) as hands that are as big as mine (22 yrs old, 1.87 meters long). so I bought a charvel 750xl, short scale (24.75") and I noticed the difference immediately -> so get yourself a short scale

Harrald