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Are my hands too big to play guitar? Beginner Guitar Tips!

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Are my fingers and hands too big (or too small) for guitar? 
Edmonton guitar teacher shares his findings….

A concern of many of my students is that their fingers and hands are either too big and clumsy or too small and short-distanced to play guitar properly. There’s really no such thing as having inappropriate digits; if you have a bunch of bananas instead of fingers you may well feel disadvantaged compared to your slender-limbed counterparts, however; what really comes into ‘play’ if you’ll excuse the pun is flexibility, this is true for both small and larger hands. Technique is something that will improve your situation and ensuring you have your fingers arched correctly and a supple wrist will help you to hit the right notes, but it takes time. Make sure you have your thumb correctly positioned in the middle of the neck and keep a nice curve and airspace between your hand and the guitar neck. Once again, it’s that old devil called practice that is the best remedy for floundering fingers.

It is also very important when choosing a guitar to choose one that feels comfortable to you – there are slight variations in the width of the neck that can help you – thinner for smaller hands, wider for larger hands. There are jumbo dreadnaughts available for players who are on the larger side. It is best to visit your nearest guitar dealer and try a few on for size. Additionally, there are parlour (or folk) guitars which are smaller than the full-size dreadnaughts and therefore easier to play if you have smaller hands, however, it is worth testing out the dreadnaughts and looking for one with a narrower neck as this may well suffice.

About the Author

Rob is a professional musician and
guitar teacher in Edmonton, Alberta. Visit his site for more answers for beginner guitarists or to sign up for guitar lessons in Edmonton.

Choosing a Musical Instrument : Dreadnought Guitar Tips

Pro-Style Acoustic/ Electric Dreadnaught Guitar Package $159.99 This beautiful guitar is ready for the recording studio or the most professional of live concert gigs. You will be amazed at this guitar’s ability to provide bright rich tones.

Dreadnaught 41-inch Acoustic Guitar $69.99 Dreadnought acoustic guitar ideal for beginning to intermediate musicianInstrument has rosewood fretboard and bridge and stainless diecast tuning pegsGuitar set includes full set of extra strings, gig bag, carrying strap and guitar pick

Luna Americana Classic Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $238.99 For the purists who want a strictly traditional look, Luna’s Americana Classic Dreadnought guitar offers finesse and uncompromising sound quality. This guitar features a gloss finish.

Starcaster By Fender Acoustic Dreadnought Guitar (Refurbished) $123.99 Fender Starcaster is a great gift for the musician in your lifeMusical instrument boasts a full-size dreadnought body-style Guitar offers full and vibrant tone

Jay Turser Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Kit $115.49 Surprise your favorite musician with this Acoustic Guitar Kit from Jay Turser. This music kit includes a full-size dreadnought-style acoustic guitar, a gig bag case, strap, picks, instructional DVD, and more.

Kona Satin Left-Handed Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $98.99 Play your favorite songs left-handed on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a satin finish and D’Addario strings.

Kona Pink Burst Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $98.99 Play your favorite songs on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a high-gloss Pink Burst finish and D’Addario strings.

Kona Blue Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $91.99 Play your favorite songs on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a transparent blue finish and D’Addario strings.

Kona High-gloss Black Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $90.04 Play your favorite songs on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a high-gloss black finish and D’Addario strings.

Kona High-gloss Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $100.02 Play your favorite songs on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a high-gloss finish and D’Addario strings.

Kona Satin Spruce Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar $91.99 Play your favorite songs on this dreadnought acoustic guitar from Kona. This musical instrument features a high-gloss finish and D’Addario strings.

Luna Muse Quilted Ash Acoustic/ Electric Guitar $0 Express your creativity with an acoustic and electric guitarGuitar boasts a dreadnought cutaway Musical instrument offer tremendous flexibility for players of all musical styles

Luna Oracle Eclipse Acoustic/ Electric Guitar $0 Break the boundaries with an acoustic/electric guitar. The guitar boasts a crescent rosewood inlay and dreadnought body.

Luna Americana Classic Cutaway Acoustic/ Electric Guitar $278.99 For the purists who want a strictly traditional look but prefer to plug in, Luna’s Classic dreadnought cutaway guitar with B-band preamp offers finesse and flexible sound quality. This acoustic/electric guitar features a gloss finish.

Used Martin Dc16rgte Dreadnaught $1249.99 In Store Used USED MARTIN DC16RGTE DREADNAUGHT

Used Epiphone Pr350 Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar $179.99 In Store Used USED EPIPHONE PR350 DREADNAUGHT ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Used Crestwood Dreadnaught @ 782 012012 $89.99 In Store Used USED CRESTWOOD DREADNAUGHT @ 782 012012

Used Martin D-28 Dreadnaught Wc $1499.99 In Store Used USED MARTIN D-28 DREADNAUGHT WC

Blueridge BR-140A Craftsman Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar $779.99 Blueridge BR-140A Craftsman Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar

Blueridge BR-60 Contemporary Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar $439.99 Blueridge BR-60 Contemporary Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar

Used Takamine Eg-10C Acoustic Electric Dreadnaught $359.99 In Store Used USED TAKAMINE EG-10C ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC DREADNAUGHT

Used Seagull S6 Dreadnaught Ac Gtr $279.99 In Store Used USED SEAGULL S6 DREADNAUGHT AC GTR

Used Aria Pro Ii Pw19 Dreadnaught $224.99 In Store Used USED ARIA PRO II PW19 DREADNAUGHT

Used Larrivee D-03R Dreadnaught Spruce/Rosewood Wc 010111 $949.99 In Store Used USED LARRIVEE D-03R DREADNAUGHT SPRUCE/ROSEWOOD WC 010111

In Store Vintage Vintage 1940′S Leedy Dreadnaught Kit- Slvr/Blue $2699.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1940′S LEEDY DREADNAUGHT KIT- SLVR/BLUE

Used Fishman Aura Acoustic Imaging Dreadnaught Pedal 010612 $119.99 In Store Used USED FISHMAN AURA ACOUSTIC IMAGING DREADNAUGHT PEDAL 010612

In Store Vintage Vintage 1940′S Leedy Dreadnaught – Duco $1299.99 In Store Vintage VINTAGE 1940′S LEEDY DREADNAUGHT – DUCO

Used Ryan Cobb Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnaught W/Ameritage Case $4199.99 In Store Used USED RYAN COBB BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD DREADNAUGHT W/AMERITAGE CASE

Bedell Discovery Bddce-18 Dreadnaught Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar $399 The Bedell Discovery BDDCE-18 Dreadnaught Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar is perfect for those on a budget seeking a performance quality dreadnought guitar. It’s ready to go wherever your music takes you, including the stage with its built-in Fishman Isys-T pickup/preamp. The BDDCE-18 has a solid sitka spruce top. This is the most popular wood for guitar tops today. Sitka spruce produces an even, clear response from low to high tones. Known to improve with age, a sitka-top guitar should make a great companion for your musical journey. Bedell uses laminated mahogany for the back and sides. This works well for a dreadnought guitar with a sitka top to generate a strong bass with thick mid and treble tones. For stage performance the BDDCE-18 benefits from a Fishman Isys-T pickup/preamp system. The system features a single contour knob to dial in your tone. There’s also a phase switch to help fight feedback and an onboard tuner.Solid Sitka spruce top Laminated mahogany back and sides Mahogany neck with dovetail joint Rosewood fretboard and bridge 25.6″ scale length 1.7″ nut 20 frets Spruce “X” pattern bracing Matte finish Nickel closed back tuners Fishman Isys-T pickup/preamp Carrying bag

Blueridge BR-140A Craftsman Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Natural $779.99 The Blueridge BR-140A dreadnought acoustic guitar from the Historic Series has a select and rare, solid Adirondack spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in an authentic prewar forward “X” pattern. The Blueridge guitar also boasts choice solid mahogany sides and back, a natural high-gloss finish with a lightly toned top, and a slim, adjustable mahogany neck with a dovetail neck joint.

Blueridge BR-60 Contemporary Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Natural $439.99 The Blueridge BR-60 acoustic guitar from the Contemporary series features a Sitka spruce top, with rosewood back, sides, and peghead overlay. Prewar forward X-pattern bracing delivers tone and volume just like vintage dreadnought guitars. Low-profile, carved mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Beautiful touches like 5-ply body binding, multi-line rosette and backstrip, and mother-of-pearl dot inlays add to the Blueridge guitar’s classic look. Stable, nickel-plated Kluson-style tuners ensure proper pitch. If you’ve been searching for a Golden Era guitar that isn’t priced like it’s made of gold, then Blueridge guitars are for you. Reminiscent of fine American guitars built prior to WWI, Blueridge BR-60 guitar is made with the same techniques as their antique counterparts, including many by-hand processes. Blueridge guitars are crafted to be light and resonant. Meticulous attention to detail and quality craftsmanship is evident in the traditional, forward-position, hand-carved parabolic X-bracing which allows the solid Spruce top to ring loud and true. The Blueridge BR-60 guitar feature a traditional dovetail neck joint, slim mahogany neck, adjustable truss rod, and butterbean-button, Kluson-style tuning machines with an updated mechanism for modern precision and feel. Includes limited lifetime warranty.

Blueridge Br-60 Contemporary Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Natural $439.99 The Blueridge BR-60 acoustic guitar from the Contemporary series features a Sitka spruce top, with rosewood back, sides, and peghead overlay. Prewar forward X-pattern bracing delivers tone and volume just like vintage dreadnought guitars. Low-profile, carved mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Beautiful touches like 5-ply body binding, multi-line rosette and backstrip, and mother-of-pearl dot inlays add to the Blueridge guitar’s classic look. Stable, nickel-plated Kluson-style tuners ensure proper pitch. If you’ve been searching for a Golden Era guitar that isn’t priced like it’s made of gold, then Blueridge guitars are for you. Reminiscent of fine American guitars built prior to WWI, Blueridge BR-60 guitar is made with the same techniques as their antique counterparts, including many by-hand processes. Blueridge guitars are crafted to be light and resonant. Meticulous attention to detail and quality craftsmanship is evident in the traditional, forward-position, hand-carved parabolic X-bracing which allows the solid Spruce top to ring loud and true. The Blueridge BR-60 guitar feature a traditional dovetail neck joint, slim mahogany neck, adjustable truss rod, and butterbean-button, Kluson-style tuning machines with an updated mechanism for modern precision and feel. Includes limited lifetime warranty.Select, solid Sitka spruce top with hand-carved parabolic braces in the authentic prewar forward X-pattern Back, sides and peghead overlay of choice Rosewood Natural high-gloss finish Carved mahogany, low profile neck with Mother-of-pearl dot position markers East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge Dovetail neck/body joint Ornate mother-of-pearl peghead inlay Bone nut and saddle Black pickguard Accurate vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons Nut width: 1-11/16″ Scale length: 25-1/2″ Shop Adjusted Includes limited lifetime warranty.

Used Blueridge Br-140A Craftsman Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Natural $678.59 The Blueridge BR-140A dreadnought acoustic guitar from the Historic Series has a select and rare, solid Adirondack spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in an authentic prewar forward “X” pattern. The Blueridge guitar also boasts choice solid mahogany sides and back, a natural high-gloss finish with a lightly toned top, and a slim, adjustable mahogany neck with a dovetail neck joint.Select and rare, solid Adirondack spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in authentic prewar forward X-pattern Choice solid mahogany sides and back Natural high-gloss finish with a lightly toned top Slim mahogany neck has adjustable truss rod and dovetail neck/body joint East Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and bridge plate Saga’s exclusive Dalmatian tortoise pickguard B/W/B plastic binding with fine black and white purfling on soundboard Nut and saddle are made from bone Rosewood peghead overlay adorned with a unique mother-of-pearl and abalone design Accurate vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons Nut width: 1-11/16″ Scale length: 25.5″ Shop adjusted

Blueridge Br-140A Craftsman Series Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Natural $779.99 The Blueridge BR-140A dreadnought acoustic guitar from the Historic Series has a select and rare, solid Adirondack spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in an authentic prewar forward “X” pattern. The Blueridge guitar also boasts choice solid mahogany sides and back, a natural high-gloss finish with a lightly toned top, and a slim, adjustable mahogany neck with a dovetail neck joint.Select and rare, solid Adirondack spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in authentic prewar forward X-pattern Choice solid mahogany sides and back Natural high-gloss finish with a lightly toned top Slim mahogany neck has adjustable truss rod and dovetail neck/body joint East Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and bridge plate Saga’s exclusive Dalmatian tortoise pickguard B/W/B plastic binding with fine black and white purfling on soundboard Nut and saddle are made from bone Rosewood peghead overlay adorned with a unique mother-of-pearl and abalone design Accurate vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons Nut width: 1-11/16″ Scale length: 25.5″ Shop adjusted

Martin D-18P Dreadnaught Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar Natural $1999 The Martin D-18P Dreadnought Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar features the High Performance Neck found on Martin’s popular Performing Artist series guitars, redesigned to offer a slimmer, faster profile and more comfortable spacing in the first frets and faster action as the player moves up the fingerboard. The bridge spacing has been increased as well to provide more hand comfort when resting on the bridge. The D-18P is constructed of Solid Genuine Mahogany on the back and sides that provides it with strong bass response and tonal projection.Model: D-18P left-handed Construction: dovetail neck joint Body size: d-14 fret Top: solid sitka spruce Back material: solid genuine mahogany Side material: solid genuine mahogany Binding: black boltaron Neck shape: performing artist profile Headstock: solid/square taper Scale length: 25.4” Fingerboard width at nut: 1-3/4” Fingerboard position inlays: style 28 Bridge material: solid east indian rosewood Bridge style: belly Tuning machines: chrome enclosed w/ large buttons Pickguard: black Case: 640 molded Interior label: none

Yamaha Full-Size Nylon Folk Guitar Case $59.95 Yamaha Class 2 soft shell case offering protection for Dreadnaught, Mid-jumbo, APX & NTX acoustic guitars, the perfect choice to accommodate the student guitarist as well as the weekend warrior making taking your act on the road… a breeze.Upgraded zipper and pullShoulder strapsPocket with embroidered logoThick durable foam padding

Hal Leonard Guitar Building Basics Acoustic Assembly At Home $25.16 Whether you’re a professional musician or simply an interested wood worker, building a guitar from scratch is a very satisfying project.¶Guitar Building Basics presents five, start-to-finish assembly sequences. The assemblies range in complexity from a fairly simple renaissance guitar kit, to a full dreadnaught guitar built from scratch in a professional guitar shop. The author documents all the steps and the skills needed to do a quality job. In gorgeous full color throughout, this book will help you find the best kit and assemble that kit into a finished guitar you will be proud of for the rest of your life.

SKB GB18 Acoustic Guitar Hard Side Gig Bag $39.99 The SKB GB18 Acoustic Gig Bag will fit any style dreadnaught acoustic shaped guitar. Constructed of durable ballistic nylon with dual heavy-duty dual zippers with SKB pull tabs. Includeds a three tiered accessory pouch on the front large enough for cables, straps or other essentials. An attache inner compartment for pens, picks and other small items. An adjustable, padded shoulder strap is included for hands free transport or can be easily removed if necessary.

Traveler Guitar Eg-2 Travel Electric Guitar $469.99 Traveler Guitar EG-2 Travel Electric Guitar