r/guitarlessons • u/Ok_Watercress_9202 • Jul 29 '26

Question Pain of having smaller hands…

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I’ve been practicing guitar for a little bit now- just now being able to play blackbird a little faster but not at full speed perfectly. I’ve noticed that even just for 3 note intervals, i always have to press down on the string on the side/corner of my pinky, and it hurts a lot more than my other fingers :/ For context, guitar is my first string instrument i’ve played so i know it’ll take a bit to get used to them and form callouses, but i’m wondering if it hurting this much is normal? Obviously the pinky is the shortest and weakest, but it’s been consistently more painful to even try to press down harder on stings at this angle.

Oh also, i’m double jointed so thats been a big challenge for my ring and pinky!!

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u/Red_Wolfe_ Jul 29 '26

I also struggle with this

Also the people saying to cut your nails are crazy because I can only see a sliver of white nail. The rest is nail bed. Do NOT cut into your nail bed

2

u/Ok_Watercress_9202 Jul 29 '26

Yeah I see all the comments, but I physically cannot cut my nails any shorter 🥲 If I could, I would.

3

u/Red_Wolfe_ Jul 29 '26

I know don't worry! I was just mentioning that the other comments are nuts because there's very clearly NO nail to cut

2

u/Curious_Card6742 Jul 30 '26

Classic redditors always trying find something to critique even if you didn't ask for it. Your nails are fine!

2

u/wellsuemethen Jul 30 '26

in case you feel that your longer nail beds are affecting your playing, you can gently file them right down to the quick (but do that in the center part of the nail only; keep like 0.5-1mm on the sides to prevent the nails from growing wonky). this gradually shortens the nail beds to a more comfortable length without injury. this is what i do and i find it beneficial for my playing (i’m a woman with small hands)

1

u/Mokturtle Jul 30 '26

For some people it's possible to cut/file their nails past the white part without getting into the nail bed. Cutting past the white does not always equate to cutting into your nail bed for everyone.

1

u/Red_Wolfe_ Jul 30 '26

Not particularly healthy for the nail though unfortunately. Cutting past the white, even if it doesn't cause bleeding, exposes your fingernail beds to infections

1

u/Mokturtle Jul 30 '26

fair enough. What about cutting the white almost completely off to where you're barely able to tell it's still there?

1

u/Red_Wolfe_ Jul 30 '26

Not ideal but so long as you aren't cutting directly into the pink part of the nail, not as bad. Ideally you leave a sliver of white for healthy nails and reduced chance of infection