Improve Left-Hand Flexibility for Guitar Playing

Your left-hand fingers can’t reach the notes of some chords you want to play.

Notes buzz or are muffled because your fingers seem too short.

How do you fix this?

First, check whether your guitar is a good size for your hands.

Place the left-hand fingers (not including thumb) on the third string, one finger per fret.

If you can’t do this without your left hand feeling uncomfortably stretched, you may benefit from getting a guitar with a shorter scale length.

If, however, your guitar is a good size for you, you still need to improve the flexibility of your left hand.

Here are three exercises that will help.

1. Stretch the 2^nd Finger One Fret Higher

This exercise prepares your hand to reach further than normal.

2. Stretch the 3^rd Finger One Fret Lower and Higher

This exercise prepares your hand to not just expand but also contract, gaining flexibility in both directions.

3. Stretch the 4^th Finger One Fret Lower and Higher

Like the previous one, this stretch prepares your hand to both expand and contract.

Practicing these exercises regularly will make the chords you want to play feel easier.

Keep making music!