Do you play guitar?? Can you help me with a chord please?

[AndOutComeTheBoobs]

My fingers DONT FIT 😭

They physically don't go to the chord on this picture.

I've been trying to teach myself guitar for the last 3-4 years and I always put it down and let it gather dust because I get stuck at the chords where my fingers don't stretch to.

Now my son is learning, he's an natural and I'd really like to play with him. He's already caught up with and surpassed me, I'm proud!

Can anyone help a not-so-gifted wannabe?

Sorry to be more specific (I stopped the video at the wrong bit) his index finger needs to be on the bottom string next and so does mine.

This is what I meant to post

Hi, great tune to pick! DH is a guitarist and says try using first finger on the third fret instead of second finger. You don’t need to be technically correct. He’s been playing for over 40 years and doesn’t care if he’s using the “right” fingers just as long as he can play it! Hope that helps I think he’s rather pleased he’s been able to contribute to a thread!!

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do, but I think you need to twist your wrist so your hand is positioned differently. Your hand would go along more then up, IYSWIM.

Get your wrist under the neck rather than above.

My wrist!

Ok thank you!'

It still doesn't work wtf is wrong with meeeeeee? 😭

The other suggested way.

This is so silly, I have long fingers. I don't understand why it doesn't work.

If you have small hands you may need to try different fingerings, or try playing the notes at a different place on the neck of the guitar - remember there is more than one way to play any note or chord. Do you know how to find the same note on different strings?

And sometimes it's just not possible to play a certain way. I can't wrap my thumb around the neck of the guitar to reach the low E string - my hands are not large enough. My teenage son can do this easily (I would say he has average hands for a man, I have small to average women's hands).

It may also be that your guitar is not a good fit for you. Guitars vary a lot in all their dimensions. If you have smaller hands you might do better with a narrower neck. (As you become more skilled and your hands get stronger you'll probably find that the size of the guitar becomes less important).

No, the other direction!
elbow out, wrist up near the keys, fingers pointing almost along the neck rather than across it.

Also - can't really tell from the pics but it looks like your guitar is quite a wide-necked steel string acoustic? You might find an electric guitar easier to play (I do) - they have narrower necks and lighter strings.

Cheap steel string acoustics can be really hard to play as they are often badly adjusted and the "action" (height of the strings at the first fret) is too high.

I just got my eldest son to try it and he did it almost instantly. He's never picked up a guitar in his life.

We both tried every way and which angle to get my fingers to the right strings and we failed miserably.

I just tried the elbow out, wrist round but it didn't work. It's like my fingers are all stiff closed.

Oh I like the idea that it's the guitars fault.

What shall I buy instead? I don't want an electric one...

You need to go to a shop. Ask for one with a slender neck and lower action. Thing is, electric is much easier as the neck is narrow but of course you can't hear it without an amp.

I find that as an adult musician it is handy to be able to blame your tools . (But seriously, with guitars it makes a massive difference).

Try different fingerings as suggested above, but sometimes you have to find a work-around eg not playing one note, or playing the notes somewhere else on the fretboard.

Ok great thank you

electric is much easier as the neck is narrow but of course you can't hear it without an amp.

You can if you get a hollow body electric.

Number 1 - your fingernails are too long!

Number 2 - in the first pic your thumb is way too high up!

@serialtester so my thumb needs to be closer to where my little finger should be? (I've cut my nails).

I think it may in part be a posture/position thing. Relax the hand/arm off. Gently bring the left hand up and ‘grab’ the neck, noting the position your hand falls into. You are looking for a relaxed neutral position. Next try placing the finger on the lowest note down first, then the next one up and then the highest note. Only apply light pressure, enough to fret the note not break the neck. Excess tension prevents dexterity and can lead to injury. The hand seems a bit skewed. Try to bring the edge of the palm that peeks at the fingerboard so that it lies almost parallel to the fretboard and the fingers gently curve over. Favour the pinky-side and not the index in a stretch.

Location of thumb on neck - this affects how the fingers can reach out. Thumb is there for stability but don’t do a death grip. Again aim for light and only use the least effort required.