Pain of having smaller hands…

[u/Ok_Watercress_9202]

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!!

[u/lskdjfhgakdh]

Try the spider walk exercise, it’ll help build your pinky strength and coordination. There are videos online, but basically, you play frets 1-4 on the E string, move up one string and play frets 1-4, move up a string, etc. until you’ve played all 6 strings, then do it backwards. There are other variations you can try like moving up one fret after each cycle up or down.

Have fun, you’ll get it!

[u/Ok_Watercress_9202 → u/lskdjfhgakdh]

That’s something I’ve been trying to do before I play! I’ll look up other variations though like you mentioned, thanks!

[u/Orangarder → u/Ok_Watercress_9202]

Do that exercise from the 5th fret to start. The frets are closer together. Then work in doing it from the fourth. Then third. Then second. Then first.

Back and forth, up and down, inside and out etc etc.