Newby Chubby fingers?

Strumit

Struggling to fret the first two srings properly with my chubby fingers (mainly on bar chords), resulting in a dead note from one or both top two strings.  Any suggestions?  Currently trying suggestions in this video!

BillDL

What kind of guitar are you playing?

Some guitars like Yamaha Pacificas are known to have narrow nuts and narrow string spacing.

Most acoustics, but not all, have wider string spacing but even then some people are quite careful in choosing guitars with wider nuts for the reason you have highlighted.

One thing that can help is to adjust the angle of the guitar so that your hand and fingers come around to the fretboard at a good angle.  If you're sitting down practicing with the guitar on your knee and looking down at what you are doing, the guitar will usually be leaning outwards at the bottom.  That can place your arm and wrist at a bad angle.  Try and have the guitar as vertical as possible.  If necessary shorten a strap so the guitar is bearing down on the strap while seated.

It can also help with your arm and wrist angle if you raise the neck slightly up from horizontal, and that can mean switching the guitar to the other thigh or having a rough-sided strap that doesn't continually slip on your shoulder.

The approach angle of your arm and wrist has a LOT to do with being able to fret chords properly without having to press down with unnatural force or straining your muscles and tendons.

Open_G

I’ve got stupidly chunky fingers and it’s always been a challenge to get a single string fretted cleanly and allowing those either side to ring. 30 years on I still play Em with 1 finger and A major with 2. 

It’s practice and adjustment I’m afraid. 

stickyfiddle

Open_G said:

It’s practice and adjustment I’m afraid. 

This is it, ultimately. 

Take heart that even those of us with smaller hands struggle like mad in those early days. Keep going and one day soon it will click. And remember 10 mins a day is better than 90 once a week because the subconscious brain does amazing things while you’re not actively working on it

Strumit

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.  Much appreciated.  I'm currently playing a Takamine semi acoustic and I also have a Burns "Strat" shape which I manage much better with.  I may just stick with the Burns.  Anyone fancy a Taka?

blobb

Keep your elbow away from your body on your fretting hand, until you develop the angled wrist you need.

guitars4you

stickyfiddle said:

Open_G said:

It’s practice and adjustment I’m afraid. 

This is it, ultimately. 

Take heart that even those of us with smaller hands struggle like mad in those early days. Keep going and one day soon it will click. And remember 10 mins a day is better than 90 once a week because the subconscious brain does amazing things while you’re not actively working on it

This is about it - I recall trying to play an F chord, in my early days,  at the first fret and barre the E+B string with the first finger - At first it never worked - Then one fine day, after plenty of practice , there it was 

We obviously don't all have the same size hands - I hear 'mainly beginners' with big hands/fingers 'moan' about such issues and ditto those with 'small/chubby' fingers - I saw Johnny Hiland play once, live - he doesn't have fingers - He has 5 chipolatas but it doesn't stop him being a great player - But granted no matter how small/big your fingers are, you'll probably sooner or later need to adopt a bit anyway 

octatonic

Finger size has nothing to do with it, I am afraid.
Go check out some Danny Gatton videos.

It is hours playing and intentional practice that will get you through it.

snowblind

Yep. Stick with it and you will likely work out your own style.

If Leslie West can do it, you can too.

koneguitarist

If you think it’s down to your fingers take a look at Redd Volkaert videos, fattest fingers you’ll see on a tele but he can outplay us all. 

Practice and you will get there. 

LionAquaLooper

If Django Reinhardt can play masterful jazz guitar with just 2 fingers, you can do anything!

guitarjack66

I always think it's unfair to use the example of stellar guitar players to say things like 'x only had two fingers' or 'y had the fattest fingers in the world' to put a novice guitar player's mind at ease. These are the best of the best and poor comparisons. The real examples are that thousands upon thousands of guitarists,all with different shapes and sizes of fingers and hands work out their own way and you can too. Put the practice in and it will happen for you,just don't quit the process.

PAL

I don't think finger size is the issue. We should be able to play bar chords but also play the same bar chord by fretting
  the top two or three stings with our index finger and sometimes thumb on the low "E" string.
  I would look at it like this when you play a full bar chord your index finger becomes a capo so there needs to be a 
  separation and independence of your fingers. Practice baring all strings up and down the neck this will give your
  index finger strength just make sure all notes sound clean.
  The next thing to do is play all open chords ( cowboy chords ) but do this by not using your index finger this will
  make your other fingers stronger and independent of your index finger.
  You can then put the two things together for example if we take the chord of "Eb" place your index finger across
   the third fret ( this is the capo ) then play the open chord shape of "C" this will be the chord of "Eb"
   You could also do a partial bar so place your index finger across the first three top strings ( E,B,G strings ) and once
   again play the "C" shape but don't play your low "E" string. You could try to fret the low "E" string with your thumb
   at the third fret if you wanted to and it's worth a try,. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Kittyfrisk

Keep trying & keep going is good advice.
If you are finding things a bit depressing, try thinking about this bloke & then try again 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6235dxeekgo