7 Tips For Guitar Players With Small Hands Or Short Fingers (To Reach More Chords!)

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This guitar lesson is for guitar players who have short fingers or small hands.

I taught dozens of people with small hands, whether they were kids or adults, so I had to find many tips to help them get more reach on the fretboard and play chords they once thought impossible to play.

Today, I'm sharing with you 7 ways that you can reach more frets, play more chords and work around this limitation of having undersized hands.

Remember: stretching is a technique like any other. You can improve it. You can do this!

0:00 Intro
0:14 Why should you listen to me?
0:55 Tip #0
1:41 Tip #1
4:15 Tip #2
5:57 Tip #3
7:38 Tip #4
9:59 Tip #5
11:50 Tip #6
13:13 Tip #7
14:32 Recap
15:16 Free course (gift)

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[jelliemish]

Cursed combo of small hands and short fingers: I am in the position where I can't even reach with my index finger on the 1st fret to my ring finger on the 3rd in the 'correct' technique. It's been so frustrating cause I can't even do the 'easy' beginner things. But the playing sideways seems to work there! And also doesn't feel like my tendons are about to rip. Thanks for the tips!

[onedominant]

I'm 56. My hands are so small that I was told my whole life not to even bother trying to play guitar. That didn't stop me from wanting to. I'm almost 5'8" tall, but my hands and fingers are super small. My pinky is 1-7/8 inches fully stretched and wears a baby's size 1 ring. I've also reached the age where arthritis is setting in. But, I still want to play. So, I got hold of a Squier Mini-Strat. Scale length is 22.5 inches. It's about perfect for me, and I'm on with my learning. Playing guitar (especially as the proverbial "old dog") has enough challenges without having to worry about injury. After all, this is supposed to keep me out of trouble when I retire, so I want to be able to keep at it for many years to come. I can always haul this little thing into a shop and have components upgraded to make it a better instrument (not so "kiddie"). But, I have to earn that luxury through demonstrated progress as a musician. Then, I'll reward myself with better pickups and pots, maybe some better tuners. Those seem to be the weak points of this guitar. Wish the industry would make "adult" instruments in my size. Guess there's just not enough demand... yet.

[donnacolwell]

Excellent tips. My hands are small, but in proportion to my small stature. I'm going to put your suggestions to good use.

[TheAwesomes]

My hands are only 6 inches long and my longest finger is 3 inches. My guitar arrives today, so hopefully these tips do me some good. Whenever I feel discouraged, I go watch 9yos shred to pump myself up.

[Ningishzidd]

Really good tips, my hands are average size, and none of the stretchy examples in this video were challenging at all, precisely because I was already applying yours tips. But when I was a beginner, I was convinced I had small hands and I would never be able to play things like that. I believe this is 90% down to because the brain/fingers are not trained enough to be in those positions without a lot of excess tension. But over time you build up the required strength, but without the tension.

[travissinquefield]

Great tips! I’ve always struggled with my smaller hands with certain chord shapes.

Also, love the videos but seems like I’m watching a headless guitar teacher!

[patrogers]

Excellent tips that will definitely help me. 💯🎸🎶

[CraigAllenMusic]

Thanks for these tips! Very helpful for me and my kids. :)

[henryrich]

I like your capo tip. I struggled playing a shuffle blues in E in the open position because my pinky couldn't reach far enough, but put the capo half way up the neck and it's really easy!

[en]

Thats amazing.. thank you! I was struggling a lot. The index finger tip was great!

[pckennedy]

Stretching the index finger is a breakthrough for me. Thanks!

[thedeadxtras]

Decent tips my friend, I have taught many people guitar over the years, many who have said their hands are to big, small or finger are too fat or stubby, my honest belief if that it doesn’t matter what size hands and fingers you have anyone can player the guitar no matter what with plenty of practice, as you said a lot of it is about having the belief you can do it and also it’s definitely about learning guitar technique and hand positioning, which obviously comes with lots of practice, it annoys me how many people who end up giving up playing after a few weeks thinking they can’t do it and because they can’t play like Clapton, Page or Hendrix after a few weeks of trying!! What I explain and what I love about playing the guitar for over 30yrs is that every time I pick the guitar up I learn something new or I can improve what I’m playing or my technique, and that I’ll never completely master my instrument, there are always things you can improve or learn new things.

[jamesantoine]

thank you so much for the help God bless you and your family

[joellebrodeur]

I've been doing #7 since '97😂. Both a Rickenbacker 325 and 320 are short 21" scale guitars. That's all I play and even some of these chords are challenging on that because I have tiny hands.

I'm going to try these tips and also trust my ear in the process.

[kagenotatsumaki]

My favorite band is a bunch of Japanese Women and I can't believe that the guitar players (Kanami Tono) has bigger hands then me so if she can play fast so can I!

But yes it rather hard to find videos of people giving tips on playing faster that don't have hands that are noticeably bigger than mine lol

[tpp]

This has given me a new lease in confidence now thank you!
I’m 6’2 and my mother who is 5’3 has bigger hands than me lol. I’ve been struggling badly with reaching barre chords and I think these tips will definitely help. I also may have to consider buying a shorter guitar. My hands really are that small lol

[Crazypumba_CWP]

For me having short fingers and tiny hands... This comes in handy! 👍🏻

[holden.a]

Absolutely useful tips, I've never heard of them! (I am a hobby guitar player with a small hand and short fingers).

[Piper]

Great video. Tip 3 was a lightbulb moment.

[dannyhood]

Great lesson! That chord at 10:50 works without capo. The notes A, C#, D, B make this chord..I just play the root note (A) using open A, The next note is on G string on 18th fret it’s (C#) I use my fourth finger or ring finger for C#. Then I place my first finger on 15th fret (D note) on the B string.. Then my pinky finger goes on 19th fret high E string (B note) you might need to mute D string whatever. I’m not playing this chord above 12 fret. I play it an octave lower on my acoustic (same chord) easy access (not using 2nd finger on the bass).. I don’t use my 2nd finger at all on this chord. works for you