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Position:Home>Performing Arts> Is it easier to play the violin or the guitar if you have short fingers.?Question: Is it easier to play the violin or the guitar if you have short fingers!.!? I sometimes have trouble with chords like this!. I could reach them but they are pretty hard to press down on and my wrist hurts!. I'm guessing that it is easier to play a violin because it is smaller!? -_-
---l-x-l---l---l---l ---l-x-l---l---l---l ---l---l---l-x-l---l ---l---l---l---l---l ---l---l---l---l---l ---l---l---l---l---lWww@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Larger hands are an advantage for all string instruments of the lute family (includes guitar, violin, anything with a neck where you stop or fret the strings)!. Violin is smaller, so the reaches wouldn't be as large, and you'll only be fingering one note at a time, rarely two!. You also might consider getting a short-scale guitar to accomodate your hands--there are small ones that have big-guitar tone, if you shop hard!. Mandolin would be another option, and even banjo would be less of a stretch for smaller hands!. It certainly should not hurt to play that chord!. You might consider seeing a doctor (preferably an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands) to check out if you have any conditions that need correcting--I recall that Justin Hayward, lead guitarist for the Moody Blues, played through pain for years before he saw a doctor and found that there was some correctable damage from a childhood accident!. And as another option, try taking several days off to rest the wrist, then resume practicing but do it only for maybe 15 minutes, then break for an hour, then 15 minutes more!. Increase the time by only a minute a week until you're up to 20, then 2 minutes a week until you're up to 30, then 3 minutes a week--do not increase it by more than 10%!. See if this cures the problem--it's possible you've played yourself into some early tendinitis!. also try icing down the wrist after playing, like a big-league pitcher ices down his pitching shoulder!.Www@QuestionHome@Com i have played both and i think the violin is easier for short fingers=)Www@QuestionHome@Com I have the smallest hands out of everyone I know (I'm very short too!. 5'1, with size 5/6 feet!. I'm a SMALL person)!. BUT!.!.!. I play the cello AND the electric bass and guitar and piano!. You just have to learn how to properly stretch!. Play what YOU want to play!. Warm up properly first and if it hurts, STOP!. You'll be able to stretch it eventually!. The only time hand size should stop you is when a parent is starting a child on an instrument!. But as an older student, just work your way up to big stretches!. I can stretch bigger than some people with huge hands! ~LisaWww@QuestionHome@Com |