Beginner guitar - fingers too small?!

BlackandGold

Hey guys, I'm trying to teach myself how to play the guitar, and have always avoided playing F chord. I find it such a stretch to get my fingers across, and holding a bar chord. Are my fingers too small?! I've been trying to switch between C and F7 and the strings are cutting into my fingers. Sometimes it's hard to get a crisp sound from my chords - it's like I'm only half pressing them.

Chords I know so far: G, D, C, Em, Am, and possibly E7. Trying to do F also. Had a look at all guitar chords and there's HEAPS of chords there - what are they all for!

Any general tips for someone learning the guitar? Any good websites for learning online? I don't have the money for lessons [or the motivation] - I'm just doing it as a little pastime for myself.

hulkey

barre chords are tough when you're starting out, very tough. Small hands, big hands it doesn't matter, try playing the F without the low F (1st fret, low E/Deepest string) you'll get most of the sound of the chord in there, and it won't sound wrong.
It will help ease you into playing barre chords

But keep trying to play the full chord and you'll get it eventually

This is probably in the wrong section too by the way:D

Dangerous Man

Hi there,

No - your fingers are not too small. What you're experiencing is essentially a rite of passage that all guitarists must go through. It is relatively easy to play open chords such as C, G, D etc. To barre a chord is a different matter entirely as it requires much more coordination and technique. Your index finger must get used to gripping something in a different way than it ever has before. There aren't really any easy answers to your problem however; you must continue to practice and eventually you'll get where you want to be. There are a couple of things you can do such as reducing the string gauge; that will make it easier on your hands - particularly since you're using an acoustic. You could also use the 'bad' barre which is where you create the barre across the first fret (assuming we're talking about F) by using both your thumb and your index finger. Your index finger only holds down the e and b strings at the first fret while your thumb holds the low e on the first fret. This is called a 'bad' barre as it's not technically a barre chord and is often viewed as demonstrating bad guitar technique. You can use this technique as a means to an end - i.e. learning more songs but you should not use it as a substitute for barre chords as you'll soon run into difficulty.

A good way to practice would be to hold the barre position and try to slowly pick out the notes with a plec, starting from the low e all the way though to the high e. Anywhere you notice dead notes or buzzing you should readjust until the note rings clear, and then start again. In time you'll have it down - the trick, like anything, is to stick at it.

Best of luck.

DMan

BlackandGold

Thanks for your help.

How can it be the wrong section - didn't know anywhere else suitable to post it!

Good to know my fingers length won't impact upon playing! Will practice and see how it goes, thanks again

Teferi

The way I learned to play barre chords was first on an electric and then apply that to an acoustic. It's easier to play them on an electric at first (I found) which will give you a greater motivation to learn to play them on an a acoustic.

docmol

Have a look at this! Her world respected guitar teacher told her that her fingers were to small!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H36vL3MzQDU
Enjoy her proving him wrong.
I found that if I tuned the guitar to an open chord, and only played the bar, I could knock out a few songs that way.
You could also use a capo to drop the action a little and make things easier.
You will find that ,after lots of practice, it will just happen.
Then you'll discover scales!
Lots of free instruction videos on youtube.