Different Finger Types for Guitar
We all tend to have differently shaped and sized
hands and fingers. In this article I'm going to talk
about different types of fingers: chunky, thin, long
and short, some disadvantages, benefits and ways
to deal with some of the disadvantages.
Chunky Fingers
Wider fingers have more surface area on their tips.
This can cause difficulties for the fretting hand
with strings that are closer together such as those
of the electric guitar. For example it might be
harder to fit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers in on the
D, G and B strings for an A open chord as shown
below left…
The A chord is a good example but this issue can
be a general one. Using the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
fingers can help (as shown above right). The use of
the little finger contributes to a less tighter fit for
the three fingers.
Classical guitars are good for beginners as they
have nylon strings, which are easier on the fingers
of the fretting hand. They also have strings spaced
further apart. Some people may have fingers of a
size that makes trying to squeeze them in for an A
chord seem impossible, so a guitar with strings
further apart can make all the difference. However,
for wider fingers the "finger roll" might be easier
also, this is moving between notes that are on the
same fret but adjacent strings, as shown on the
animated picture further below.
Thin Fingers
Thinner finger-tips with less surface area have
more clearance between the strings when pushed
down on the frets, making it easier not to affect
other strings. For thinner fingers, finger rolls can
be more difficult, you have to rely more on rocking
the end of the finger by its end joint. Sometimes
this is even done with the little finger. Note that
finger rolls are relatively rare until you get to
intermediate / advanced level.
This is a finger roll
Long Fingers
Longer fingers can find it easier to span more frets
without having to move the hand up or down the
fret-board (and minimal movement is always
better for speed). However a full Barre chord could
be a bit more difficult for a beginner with longer
fingers due to less leverage.
More leverage for full barre chords, although
shorter fingers won’t have as much span across the
frets, particularly on the Bass guitar, which has its
frets further apart (especially at the bottom of its
neck.) As much as it makes good practise to span
your fingers out across as many frets (yes that's 4),
if the stretch is so far that you can't get enough
force behind the finger(s) to push down on the
fret(s), then there’s no harm in moving the hand up
or down a little to reach these notes. Below, this is
demonstrated between the 1st and 4th frets of a
Bass guitar using the 1st and 4th fingers.
Similarly, using the 4th finger for octaves on the
bass is not uncommon. Below, the hand is
spanning the 1st and 4th fingers over 2 frets (rather
than the 1st and 3rd fingers), with the 1st finger on
the 1st fret low E string and the 4th finger on the
3rd fret G string.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all
possibilities. Other discoveries can be made in
practise. Don't be too perturbed or resign yourself
to difficulties due to what your fingers are like, the
above is only advice. Not having particularly long
fingers hasn't stopped me from playing the Bass.
How you practise and how disciplined you are, are
more important.
Barre chords no problem for the Terminator
Short Fingers
© Intuition Publications 2012 - present
Wider fingers may find it
easier to play a partial
barre. To the right is an A
chord played as a half
barre, you won’t hear the
high E string but it still
contains intervals that
make it a major chord
(Root, 3rd and 5th). For
partial barring the
“Smoke on the Water” riff
comes to mind, where
you half barre across the
D and G strings.