FSus2

[PhrygianX]

How exactly would this chord be played by someone with smaller hands? The "F" on the e string can't be played because my index finger won't touch the fret properly; it's always slanted to the left so the note frets itself out. How do I figure this out?

|-1--|1
|-1--|1
|-0--|
|-3--|4
|-3--|3
|-1--|
T

[phantom]

hey there,

i'd play the f on the low e string with my middle finger, do a small baree over 1st fret b and high e with my index, and the third fret a + d strings are played with ring and pinky.

[tonycash]

you could attempt to play the F on the e string with your thumb by curling it over and pushing down on the string on the first fret. Then put your pointer finger across the high e and b strings together on the first fret so that you are now gripping the guitar in a kinda weird fashion haha. Now use your ring and pinky fingers on the 3rd fret. It seems to work pretty well for me i hope you can understand what i wrote sorry if you cant.

[ashc]

I'd go for thumb too, especially if you want to hammer onto the open string with the spare finger to make an F chord. Thats the hendrix approved method :D

[phantom]

it would be easier with the thumb as well if the guitar is hangin' low probably.
theses days i'm wearing the guitar ridiculiously high and antimetalish in order to look like "i_know_how_to_play_jazz" (:D) that i would need a thumbextention to get around the fretboard. but where to get that?! duh. so i have to waste my fingers and stick to my method above. :(
or i leave out the root and save a finger to do the country "second to major 3rd" hammer-on thing.
not many posibilities on that chord though i guess.
:rolleyes:

[ashc]

Umm, yes I have to leave out the thumb on acoustic at the first fret (ends up on the second for some nice F/F# moments). No problem on the electric though, although I admit it's a bit of stretch.

I wear the guitar high enough that I don't have belt buckle marks on the back, wearing it too low makes it harder to flip up and play with your teeth :D

[phantom]

since years i am trying to drink enough beer so that i can lay the guitar down on my belly to have a better sight on the fretboard.
oh well..i guess it will take a few more barrels. :rolleyes: .

[ashc]

I just realised that the original post was asking how to avoid using the thumb for this chord. One point about "thumb over" voicings is that these are difficult at first but against all logical explanation it does appear that, just like you can improve stretch capability along the neck, somehow you can improve the "around the neck" capability needed for this as well. In this position its as hard as it gets so it takes a while - as I said I can't reliably do this at the 1st fret on an acoustic - almost like barre chords all over again. Leaving out the low E is the easiest option in the interim.

[Koala]

you could try the following fingering:

-1-
-1-
-3-
-3-
-x-
-x-

thats a comfortable Sus4,
but I just reread your question and you want a sus2 :D

-1-
-1-
-0-
-3-
-x-
-x-

There, you might wanna barre the high e and b string with your index.

hope this helps,(and you got a sus4 for free! :))

[PhrygianX]

Thanks guys! Sven, that fingering is cool and works for my smaller hands. My only problem with that is, I can't go from the Fsus2 into the aforementioned major fingering, which was my biggest problem playing "Don't Cry" by Guns, on a few of the bars. I skipped it, and simply did the Fsus2, no root, but it didn't sound exactly like the album, which started to bug me after awhile. I want to be able to play the chords the way they're voiced and fingered in the songs and not always have to feel like I'm handicapped in one way or another.

Thanks for all your replies; they're greatly appreciated.

[Los Boleros]

since years i am trying to drink enough beer so that i can lay the guitar down on my belly to have a better sight on the fretboard.
oh well..i guess it will take a few more barrels. :rolleyes: .Although this technique can be extremely usefull for seeing the fretboard, the down side is that you will lose site of your weiner.

[mjo]

Although this technique can be extremely usefull for seeing the fretboard, the down side is that you will lose site of your weiner.

:D :D :D :D :D :D ..............'at der s' funny !!!

If I look down, only to see 'little Elvis' smilin' back up at me, I got bigger problems than playin' guitar ....

:D :D :D

[Koala]

... i would need a thumbextention to get around the fretboard. but where to get that?! duh.

Maybe try one of those sewdish pumps? :D

[phantom]

Maybe try one of those sewdish pumps?

all thumbs up :D .