chiller Posted June 15, 2002 Share Posted June 15, 2002 I am a beginner who can do a few things on a classical guitar, but want to get an electric. My problem with the classical so far is that I have very short fat fingers and trying to get those barres down is very difficult. Also with such fat fingertips, I often end up muting string adjacent to those I am fretting. I am guessing an electric with a thin neck, but well spaced strings(or are they all the same? beginner question here!)would be what I need...and I am guessing one with strings low down near the fretboard would help too(less flesh to press down maybe). I am looking for advice on this, and also if anyone knows which electrics might be the right design for me(or am I doomed to never be able to play?) Also I love the sound of guitarists like Mark Knoffler, whoever plays with Chris Issak, etc. All advice will be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted June 15, 2002 Share Posted June 15, 2002 This is no real help, I'm sure, but it's always entertaining to look at Jerry Garcia's fat, stubby fingers and Jimi Hendrix's long spidery ones and compare their playing! You don't hear Garcia doing many barre chords, or those loony classical guitar stretch voicings Jimi favors so much. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarWolf Posted June 15, 2002 Share Posted June 15, 2002 Have u considered playing bass guitar? the strings are nice and far apart so it doesnt matter how "fat" your fingers are YtseJam your Majesty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylver Posted June 15, 2002 Share Posted June 15, 2002 I woulld check out a 24 3/4"(Ala Gibson Les Paul) style neck for shorter fingers. Some of the stretching you have to do on a longer scale, Fenders for example might be too much. I always found Gibson fretboards a bit cramped for my tastes. I really don't know what to put here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylver Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 I woulld check out a 24 3/4"(Ala Gibson Les Paul) style neck for shorter fingers. Some of the stretching you have to do on a longer scale, Fenders for example might be too much. I always found Gibson fretboards a bit cramped for my tastes. I really don't know what to put here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSGuitar Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 This probably isn't what you want to hear, but.... I play classical guitar as well, and I have never found an electric guitar with strings as widely spaced as on my classical. That said, you might just need to work more on arching your fingers to keep them from muting adjacent strings. Other than that, the advice to get a shorter scale neck is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 Why not put a pickup in the classical? Those work much better with a piezo type under the bridge pickup than the steel string guitars do. And you could put one in the soundhole for a more-like-a-usual-electric result. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 Ibanez makes some guitars with classical type necks (thin, flat and widely spaced) Other than that I'm stumped. I guess just try a bunch of guitars until you find one that feels right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Wing Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 I have short fingers, too. I tried an Ibanez and it fit really good; I found it easy to play. There are two theories about arguing with a woman. Neither one works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted June 16, 2002 Share Posted June 16, 2002 If you're having issues on a classical, I wouldn't sweat it. Classicals are way harder to play than electrics. Go down to your local music store and try out a few guitars and see which one is most comfortable. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiller Posted June 16, 2002 Author Share Posted June 16, 2002 thanks everyone...as the last poster said, I actually did try some at the store...much damn easier!!! I can reach the string and still get enough arch! Looking at a fat strat right now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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