Playing Guitar with Small Hands
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If you’re a guitar player with small hands, you know how frustrating it can be to try and play certain chords or scale patterns. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other guitar players out there with the same issue.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks for playing guitar with small hands. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, we hope you’ll find something helpful here!
Table of Contents
- Start by Picking the Right Guitar – (One with a smaller body and shorter neck is best.)
- Hold the Pick Correctly – (It should be between your thumb and first two fingers)
- Use Light Strings If You’re Just Starting Out – (They’re easier on your fingers)
- Don’t Press Down Too Hard on the Strings – (This will make them buzz and sound bad.)
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you play, the better you’ll get at it
- Playing guitar with smaller hands should be enjoyable
Start by Picking the Right Guitar – (One with a smaller body and shorter neck is best.)
When it comes to guitars, size does matter; not all guitars are created equal. For people with small hands or short fingers, guitars with smaller bodies and shorter necks make playing much more comfortable.
You don’t need to sacrifice sound quality either – guitars designed for small hands come with the same features and specs as guitars for other hand sizes.
Having the right guitar can make a huge difference in your playing comfort levels, letting you practice and play without constantly readjusting your grip. So, if you have smaller hands, take the time to find a guitar that fits you – it could be the best move you ever make.
Hold the Pick Correctly – (It should be between your thumb and first two fingers)
This may seem trivial but it’s essential for perfecting your sound. If you find yourself playing clumsily, start with the prime basics – like holding that pick!
Believe it or not, how you hold your pick makes a huge difference in the way you play. You want your instrument to make a beautiful sound, right? To achieve this with guitar, the most important thing is to hold the pick correctly.
Use Light Strings If You’re Just Starting Out – (They’re easier on your fingers)
If you’re playing guitar but have small hands, using light strings is a great place to start.
The lighter gauge of the strings makes it easier on your fingers too. Since playing with lighter strings generally entails less pressure from your hands, playing chords may feel more comfortable and require less effort as compared to playing on heavier strings.
Additionally, push down notes and switching positions can be made simpler by playing with lighter strings. So if you’re new to playing the guitar and want to make it a little easier on yourself, try out some light strings – you won’t regret it!
Don’t Press Down Too Hard on the Strings – (This will make them buzz and sound bad.)
Playing an instrument with small hands can present some unique challenges, particularly when playing the guitar.
When using your thumb and index fingers to press down the strings, one of the most important things to remember is to not press down too hard; this makes them buzz and produces an unpleasant sound.
Lightly touching the string should be sufficient to produce a clear sound when playing cleanly. With practice, you can learn how to use just enough pressure to stay in tune and strum clearly without playing excruciatingly loud notes.
Practice, practice, practice! The more you play, the better you’ll get at it
When it comes to playing guitar with small hands, practice really does make perfect! Don’t be discouraged by the fact that playing may come more difficult at first – all things that are worth doing take time, effort, and dedication.
This will pay off in the end – if you put in the work and practice your skills often, it will get easier over time. Put aside a certain amount of time each day to practice and before you know it, playing guitar with small hands will become second nature!
Playing guitar with smaller hands should be enjoyable
With smaller hands playing guitar may feel harder than playing with larger hands especially when there aren’t many guitar learning resources that suggest modifications for smaller handed players, but that doesn’t mean that playing the guitar needs to be a chore.
Depending on the size of your hands and playing style, there are different types of guitars that may work better for you. Try out a few different sizes of guitar to find one that is comfortable for you and take some lessons from an experienced teacher or online course.
Smaller hands playing guitar can give a unique sound and perspective when writing music, so try and see this as a opportunity to set you apart from the majority.
Author Profile
-
Daniel Johnstone is an English writer with a love for stringed instruments from around the world.
He shares his love for these instruments through his writing for folkstrings.com, a website dedicated to all things related to folk string music.
Daniel's passion for music started at a young age, and he has since become an accomplished musician, playing guitar, cavaco, and recently, the harp.
His dedication to learning and sharing his knowledge of stringed instruments is evident in his insightful and engaging blog posts. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a beginner, Daniel's writing is sure to inspire and entertain you.
When he's not playing music or writing, you can find Daniel exploring new instruments and seeking out new sounds to share with his readers.
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