Tips for Small Handed Players?

[obrienp]

Hi,
I just wondered if anybody else suffers from the handicap of small hands and short fingers and how you get round this in your playing? Any tips/coping techniques for poor reach would be gratefully received.

On standard acoustics, I find choice of instrument can help: for instance I have a Gibson J-45, which has a shorter scale than the equivalent Martin D-18; hence the fret intervals are slightly shorter. Counter-intuitively I find it easier to play a guitar with a slightly wider 1 3/4" nut width (e.g. my J-45) than something like Martin's standard 1 11/16th", or the even narrower Ovation 43mm.

I haven't come across a short scale reso though. Even in open tunings this can present quite a challenge. Take for instance the way Robert Johnson (and others) played the IVth chord riff in Crossroads, Terraplane Blues, Stones in My Passway, etc, where you bar at the 5th fret and do a trill between the 8th & 7th fret on the first string (probably haven't explained that very well). I wear the slide on my pinkie and I just can't get my third finger to do the stretch. I end up using the slide to do the trill, which makes a nasty clonk and just doesn't sound as clean as fretting with fingers. I tried wearing the slide on my third finger but then I find I keep hitting the strings with it when trying to use my pinkie to fret.

Anyway I would be interested to hear if there is anybody else coping with this problem and, of course, if you know of any famous/accomplished players out there who have small hands. On the other hand (pun intended), should I just accept that there is a physical limitation to how good a player I can be?

Keep on sliding!
Pat

[Michael Messer]

Hi Pat,

I understand your Robert Johnson 4 & 5 chord dilemma. You can make these chords without barring across all the strings. As an example, have a look at how John Hammond makes these chords. I think Eric Clapton also plays them in this way. I am sure YouTube will oblige...

I don't think you need a short scale resonator guitar, but if you do, check out 1950s National Student Model 1133 guitars and Busker Cannon guitars.

Let me know how you get on

Shine On
Michael.

[slide496]

Hi Obrienp,

John Miller is an example of someone with small hands or short fingers and I believe the way he holds his guitar and the angle of the neck is something he's done to adjust the equipment. Toby Walker is small as well.

I do have small hands and I did have issues with holding the slide and doing chord fragments which have improved but I think that could be hand strength no matter whether or not you have small hands. I can now do some chording whereas originally I could not lift the slide. Just practicing slide throughout songs and easing into it.

Peace,
Harriet

[obrienp]

Wow! Thanks for the lightening quick responses Michael and Harriet! I will check out the artists you mentioned and see if I can borrow their techniques. It's really encouraging to get these tips. Sometimes I get a bit despondent watching films of the old country blues guys who seem to have hands like shovels and no doubt the grip-strength of a vice!

I agree with you Michael: it would have to be an exceptionally good reso that would make me want to part with my MM Blues; short-scale or no! But I will keep an eye out for the National you mention: I suspect it might be a touch on the rare and expensive side. I think Busker have discontinued the Cannon but there might be one kicking about 2nd-hand.

All the best and please keep the tips sliding in folks.
Pat

[pete1951]

Much of Robert Johnsons stuff his guitar was tuned high, very high. Maybe a capo on the 2nd fret would not only get you `in tune` but also give yoyu a shorter scale ?
PT

[gaucho]

I have similar issues stemming from small hands and limited flexibility/mild arthritis. One option is to experiment and find different ways to play a similar line in a song. I'm a firm believer in taking what the masters did and making it your own by playing it the way you hear it (and have the ability to play it). This is partially because I don't want to takes someone else's song and play it note for note and partially because I don't posses the skills to pay some things note for note! It also makes it really fun, trying to come up with your own ways to play things.

[Bottleneck John]

An option might be the short scale Highway 61 from Republic guitars. Small resonator guitar and the neck is narrower than a regular reso-neck. I'm sure that would be cool for smaller hands!!

[slide496]

@ BJ -
First let me take the opportunity to say how much I admire your playing.

I have one.the 3/4 size, which I don't think are made anymore, and wanted to comment on my experience from the perpective of one small hand player, myself.

That size was comfortable but with the neck being narrower I had to be more careful about single note sliding on 3rd and second string which slowed me down, so it might be a trade off.

I like the recommendation of cannon size or similar as it has the wideness of a normal neck and a shorter scale, but I haven't played one so don't know what, if any issues there might be.

Peace,
Harriet

[Stevie]

Hi Harriet,
Not so far from you in Maryland lived Danny Gatton. By his own admission, he had short fat stumpy fingers.
But this is what he was capable of....



I know that there is always going to be an "exception that proves the rule", but I offer it as encouragement for all those with smaller hands.

Although my hands (as an ex sheet metal worker) are not exactly small by most standards, I struggle when I pick up my mandolin so I do have some affinity with those having small hands. Good things come in small packages!

[slide496]

Hi Stevie,

Thanks.I couldn't access the link but I checked out him a little on youtube. Awesome.

Any example of a small handed player is interesting to me so thanks.

Here's one of Little Toby Walker on a National Tricone:



Peace,
Harriet

[Bottleneck John]

Jan 28, 2013 21:11:56 GMT slide496 said:

@ BJ -
First let me take the opportunity to say how much I admire your playing.
I have one.the 3/4 size, which I don't think are made anymore, and wanted to comment on my experience from the perpective of one small hand player, myself.
That size was comfortable but with the neck being narrower I had to be more careful about single note sliding on 3rd and second string which slowed me down, so it might be a trade off.
I like the recommendation of cannon size or similar as it has the wideness of a normal neck and a shorter scale, but I haven't played one so don't know what, if any issues there might be.
Peace,
Harriet

Thanks Harriet!! I didn't know they might have stopped making the 3/4 size. Too bad if that's the case because I really dig it! I use mine much as a travel resonator, and though my hands aren't small in any way I have no problem with the neck size. Takes a little while getting used to it but then there's no problem for me.

I just figured it'd be easier to reach around the smaller, narrower fretboard.

Obrienp, hope you find a good solution!!

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I recommend playing the piano - to stretch those fingers.

I've got fairly small hands yet can get around a vintage National neck and a NRP neck not too bad.

I put that largely down to playing lots of boogie woogie piano for the last 25yrs, where I'm playing a full octave span in many tunes, on the left hand (as well as the right hand). I can now manage more than an octave span on my right hand. I can reach from the Bb on my thumb, up past the next Bb, to C with my pinky, andindex finger in the middle, on G. Great chord, in the key of C (the 7th, the 5th and root on top)- trill those notes for an Otis Spann vibe, on a slow blues !

As a student, in a pub sitting with a large group of girls and some guys, one of whom was over 6 foot, the girls were all giggling together and eventually asked all us guys to show them our hand spans. Apparently, hand span is a good indicator of something else ! I had the smallest hands BUT largest hand span ! Nothing like boosting your confidence !

Seriously, think about it - play the piano !

Bit off-topic perhaps !