I don't have the biggest hands and it seems to be causing me problems when I have to barre chords especially lower on the neck. I find I end up nearly taking my thumb from away from the back of the neck and I end up with my wrist in a weird position. It starts to hurt after 10-20 minutes of playing. Do I just have bad form or this normal when barring chords lower on the neck?
Small Hands Problem or Just Bad Form
- Thread starter jw3571
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Why do you "nearly" take your thumb away, and where does it end up (or want to end up)?
The usual answer to barring problems at low frets (or indeed anywhere) is to raise the neck. Make sure your left elbow is at 90 degrees or (ideally) less.
When you say "It starts to hurt after 10-20 minutes of playing", is that playing solely barre chords (or even just one) for that amount of time, without a break? Even with good position, that's understandable - although not inevitable. (Why would you want to do that?
)Without pics or more detail, it's hard to make a judgement.
johnnylighton
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If you have your elbow out (away from the guitar) on the barre chords, you can try bringing it in (closer to the guitar). This will angle your hand and make it easier for your 2, 3, and 4 fingers to fret the strings.
acstorfer
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Definitely get cramped up when playing a lot of barre chords. Usually if I keep going, the pain goes away. Even with small hands, it shouldn't effect barre chords though. Perhaps if it is really giving you a hard time, lower the action?
If you only do barre chords, there are alternate tunings that can make it easier.
If you only do barre chords, there are alternate tunings that can make it easier.
