Short fingers vs. Long fingers

[MO542]

I’ve been teased my whole life about the size of my hands; I can hold a ruler between my middle finger and thumb. I think that it has helped me because I haven’t struggled to reach anything, but IMO good technique will over come any issues in the end.

[charic]

WOW, im impressed i thought i had big hands. Ive been playin keyboard since the young ol age of 5 or 6ish and so my hands have evolved naturally long fingered ive found that on a gud day and after *proper stretching* i can stretch between 5 and 6 frets sumtimes as many as 7 on a REALLY GOOD DAY. i should mention that this can hurt my hands if done over much and wudnt recommend over stretching. I have only bein playin bass now for just over a month. Ive found the ability to stretch useful but the ability to read music is much better. I would advise it strongly

[juancho]

I think I have quite large hands because I´ve started on bass playing a month ago and I find it kinda easy to stretch from the 1st fret to the 5th one, and even to the 6th. But I am not very convinced about going farther than 5 frets, especially on the first frets (wich are the largest ones) because I think that it makes you waste your technique away, I mean, when you do that extreme stretch, you fingertips don´t lay on the string in the way that we are taught to do it: almost vertically and trying no to mute the lower string. So I think that it might be better to work on moving the wrist a little bit more than doing such an extremely stretching....

Anyway, it would be cool if someone with more knowledge and years of playing post about it.

[DumbChild]

Well ive only been playing for a bit, i dunno if ur fingers stretch as u play or whatever, but i have long girly fingers. Fit for a piano, i can make 5 frets i think. Im 16:P

[Minger]

Um, a foot between you middle finger and thumb?!

Man, I can do about...5 inches.

[charic]

Originally Posted by juancho

I think I have quite large hands because I´ve started on bass playing a month ago and I find it kinda easy to stretch from the 1st fret to the 5th one, and even to the 6th. But I am not very convinced about going farther than 5 frets, especially on the first frets (wich are the largest ones) because I think that it makes you waste your technique away, I mean, when you do that extreme stretch, you fingertips don´t lay on the string in the way that we are taught to do it: almost vertically and trying no to mute the lower string. So I think that it might be better to work on moving the wrist a little bit more than doing such an extremely stretching....

Anyway, it would be cool if someone with more knowledge and years of playing post about it.

I agree totally... oh and btw this is how im stretching (I use it as a warm up after my warm up lol. Understand?)

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my guitarist mate showd me this method i have been able 2 make it as far as the 7th before but it isnt really reliable in terms of quality id recommend movin and stop being lazy

[juancho]

Originally Posted by charic

I agree totally... oh and btw this is how im stretching (I use it as a warm up after my warm up lol. Understand?)

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my guitarist mate showd me this method i have been able 2 make it as far as the 7th before but it isnt really reliable in terms of quality id recommend movin and stop being lazy

you mean the first fret on the E string and 5th fret on the D string? seems cool....I will try it.

Anyway I think that I should practice moving ´cause Im lazy and it´s omething necessary, especially when doing scales.

[Aussiephoenix]

what are you going to do if you come to the conclusion that shorter fingers bring an advantage?

cut them down to size?

Didnt think so... so, use them the best way you know how...

[fretless Bob]

i have long fingers and wide hands but if i didnt have good technique it wouldnt mean s**t.

just make sure that you keep your thumb in the middle of your neck making a triangle shape between your first finger, pinkie and thumb. Practise chromatics all over the neck and make sure that you stretch properly before you play and you should be fine.


Dave

[floopy]

I'm small (5-5) with correspondingly small hands and fingers, don't know if it's a disadvantage as I've never had any other hands to compare with

One thing I do think though is that if you have small hands you shouldn't try to 'stretch' your fingers to make the notes. I find things alot easier if I keep my LH fingers in a 'natural' (close together) position and move my *whole hand* to make the notes.

If you use no pressure with the thumb on the neck, it's a lot easier to slide your hand up and down than it is to move your fingers, plus you can play forever with no strain on your hands. Works for me anyway

[charic]

Originally Posted by Aussiephoenix

what are you going to do if you come to the conclusion that shorter fingers bring an advantage?

cut them down to size?

Didnt think so... so, use them the best way you know how...

Ok good point, cuttin my hands not an option! I need 2 play my keyboard too lol. Also sound engineerin cud b a tad tricky, as with almost everything theres gna be advantages and disadvantages but hey.... who cares? Do what you can, ok for me at the moment thats next to nothing lol, but ive been playing a month so im allowed to be useless lol