Finger Stretching

[KingV]

Hey,
i always had problems with the harmonic minor since you will often require stretching your 2nd and 3rd finger (5-6-8-9 for example)

so...i never paid real attention to it though...now that i am becoming more and more seriously on my left hand i started working with rusty cooleys legato workout...

that guy is like impossible...he can put a whole step between those fingers....mine start cramping fast when trying to put a half step between those...

i dont have problems with other fingers....i can stretch finger 1&2 like 90°...

i always warm up and try stretching my 2nd and 3rd...but it seems to me that it doesnt improve ****...

anyone got the same problem? (2nd & 3rd finger stretch)

how you really worked on it?

for now a whole step seems impossible for me, especially if the 4th finger is required after that whole step too, since its cramped up like ****...its a goal have on my achieve list and well...i think to have a well working left hand is the key to many stuff...

best regards,
j

[EricV]

Well, I remember that one instructoir at the GIT told me that the stretch between middle- and ring-finger is not without risks, especially when working on them (George Lynch has some insane exercise in one of his vids, which required a huge stretch between those fingers).
I dont know whether Cooley mentioned the fact that you can hurt yourself if you try to hard, I hope he did. Even though you mentioned warming up, cramps never are a good sign.
Did you try to have your guitar point slighly upwards? Or increase that angle even more? A lot of players have the neck of the guitar point up by 45 degrees (sometimes more), which helps with stretches sometimes. Same goes for the placement of the thumb behind the neck (along the neck vs. on top of the neck)
Really, if you keep getting cramps, go a bit easier on it, you don´t wanna hurt yourself or cause long-lasting (or permanent) damage.
Eric

[daviej]

I agree with Eric 100%. Be really careful that you don't overdo the stretching. If you are going to work on it it should be very gradual. And if you experience any discomfort stop ommediately and give your hand a break. There have been threads on tendonitis and hand pain that you should check out. Personally, I try to avoid stretching on the fretboard where I can. You have to know your limits and work within them. If you are susceptible to any hand problems or if you have small hands, it might be good to focus on the things that are not going to cause you damage.

If you ARE going to stretch your fingers, make sure you are well warmed up and relaxed. Don't do it on some ridiculously fast passage - just do it gradually. Something like stretching can only be developed very gradually over time. Try starting as high up on the neck as possible where the frets are close together. Try some exercises like

-----------------
-----------------
-------------2-3-
---------2-3-----
-----2-3---------
-2-3------------- etc, where 2 = 2nd finger, and 3 = 3rd finger.

or

-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
---------1-2-3-4- etc
-1-2-3-4---------

Do it with your fingers on consecutive frets first. Do the pattern a few times and drop back a fret. Do it again there. When you've made your way back to the nut, go back up and try putting a fret's space between your fingers and do the same thing.

When you start to feel a stretch, be very careful - don't be too hasty. If I were you I'd try to avoid thinking about making the particular stretch you talked about, and just do the sort of stretching exercises I mentioned. That way there'd be less chance of you testing yourself prematurely to see if you can do it and causing damage. You might be able to do it in the future, but don't fixate on that.

Just don't do anything that causes discomfort, make sure you warm up carefully, and don't rush this stuff. You can do all sorts of cool sounding things without stretching huge distances across the frets. Don't think you have to be able to do that to be a good guitarist.

[daviej]

Also, maybe you are trying to hold your fingers down on the frets while you do the lick. Perhaps that is necessary for this particular lick. But usually if you take each finger off as you use it you can play wider intervals without overstretching your hand. I've heard Brett Garsed talk about this too.

[Strum]

Hey,

With the finger strectching, let it come gradually. Any pain at all, give it a rest. There are many exercises out there by Lynch, Satch etc...which really help with the finger dexterity.

Um perhaps a pattern of trills like this would help strengthen your fingers...

--6h7p6---6h8p6---6h9p6---6h10p6---6h11p6-------
----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------ ----------------------------------

Keep the fingering varied. For e.g. try the first trill with your middle and ring finger and get it as clean as you can...etc. Once you've got the fingers ready, try moving it up the fretboard in a clean legato movement...

...and when you practice, try and do it on a clean guitar. Helps point out your mistakes.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r39/tolamurts/smile.gif

[hairballxavier]

Hey,
i always had problems with the harmonic minor since you will often require stretching your 2nd and 3rd finger (5-6-8-9 for example)

so...i never paid real attention to it though...now that i am becoming more and more seriously on my left hand i started working with rusty cooleys legato workout...

that guy is like impossible...he can put a whole step between those fingers....mine start cramping fast when trying to put a half step between those...

i dont have problems with other fingers....i can stretch finger 1&2 like 90°...

i always warm up and try stretching my 2nd and 3rd...but it seems to me that it doesnt improve ****...

anyone got the same problem? (2nd & 3rd finger stretch)

how you really worked on it?

for now a whole step seems impossible for me, especially if the 4th finger is required after that whole step too, since its cramped up like ****...its a goal have on my achieve list and well...i think to have a well working left hand is the key to many stuff...

best regards,
jHere is a little finger exercise to isolate the problem of that middle/ring stretch that seems to help alot of people.
EX.

i-m-m-i-r-r-m-m-i-r-r-i-m-m-r-r
5-6-7-5-9-8-6-7-5-8-9-5-7-6-8-9

If it is too much at that fret at first just take it higher on the neck.
Don't worry if its a scale or whatever, the point is to get your fingers coordinated and used to making the stretch. (It's a finger exercise, not a scale exercise.)
Try moving it down/up a fret every cycle until you can do it up and down the neck.
Then when you get used to that slide all the notes that use the same finger. But remember to keep you index finger in position or you ain't gonna get as much out of it.

i-m-m-i-r-r-m-m-i-r-r-i-m-m-r-r
5-6/7-5-9\8-6/7-5-8/9-5-7\6-8/9

Then when that is comfortable switch to using just you middle, ring and pinky with the same patterns to isolate any problem with the Ring/pinky stretch. Also make up your own exercises using the same general idea in different patterns.

Do this for a while each day and the next thing you know you will be laughing at yourself for not being able to make those stretches before.

[joeyd929]

If stretching hurts too much you can always slide into or out of a note. Because of my tendonitis, I have to be careful but I do work on stretching.

I find that it actually helps to stretch a little here and there but if the part I am trying to reach hurts too much I try to work out sliding but I pick the notes so it doesn't sound like I'm playing a slur, unless I intend on a slur...