Chuck Berry 5 chords

[james h]

I found a mention of the stretch when using the 5 chords when I searched the forum. I have large hands but find the pinky stretch basically impossible until I move up the fretboard. Are there some work arounds and/or exercises to help make these happen. Or is this just something you can or can’t do. Helpful comments will be appreciated.

[sunjamr]

Hey James, I never have and never will be able to reach that 5 fret stretch, unless I move up the fretboard. So when a 5 fret stretch is called for, I just figure out an alternative. The same is true for my thumb: I’ll never be able to wrap it up and over that 6th string, so if I must have that 6th string note, I just figure out some way to put my index finger on it, then play whatever other strings I can reach. And….I’ve never known anyone who was able to increase their stretch, despite doing finger stretching exercises. Maybe someone can prove me wrong.

Sunjamr Steve

[Jean-Michel G]

Hi,
With the proper exercises you can increase your finger stretching ability… within limits though, and it is not going to happen overnight. In fact, even daily exercises will only pay off in the long term.

Another important factor however, is the position of the guitar. The lower the headstock, the harder it is to perform those giant stretches. Try angling up the fingerboard a bit, and make sure your thumb is completely behind the neck. Classical guitarists use their specific stance for a reason…

A good exercise to improve stretching ability is the following:
– place your LH ring finger at the 5th fret of the 6th string and then play the 6th fret with your pinky but make sure you keep the ring finger in place (don’t lift it up)
– do the same on the 5th string, then the 4th string, etc. all the way up to the 1st string
– when you reach the 1st string, still keep the ring finger in place, but reach out to the 7th fret with your pinky and then play the 5th fret again
– go down the strings going 7-5, 7-5, etc. all the way down to the 6th fret, making sure your ring finger only moves when your pinky has moved
– go up again going 5-8, 5-8, … which means you are doing a 3 fret stretch between the ring finger and the pinky! Not easy…
If it is too difficult doing this exercise at the 5th fret, start higher up the fingerboard. Move down until you eventually reach the first fret…
You can of course do the same with your LH middle and ring fingers.

As with any physical exercise, be careful and don’t overdo it.

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