Hand size or hand stretch?

dfasso

I know that there are some (very helpful) discussions out there about alternate fingerings of chords that don't involve thumb use. I've been grappling with many of the chords presented in L'Esprit Manouche, and i was wondering this - is it large hands that allow people to play these chords, or is it simply a matter of training the hand to stretch to meet them? I've managed to stretch to get a few that I initially thought were impossible, but I can't get many of them, and I can't even begin to imagine throwing them into a fluid or high speed progression.

What do you think? Do most people struggle to get there, or is it a piece of cake if your hands are the right size? Thanks.

jonpowl

I like the sound of 3 and 4 note chords as found in Robin Nolan's Gig Book, and they are easier to play for the rookie gypsy jazzer. Occasionally he'll mix in a barre chord, but for the most part 3 & 4 note chords. As @stuart said, hand and guitar neck size as well as scale will make a difference.

Jon

A student once asked me to place my palms together and stretch the fingers as wide as I could. Interestingly, my left hand - the one that's been stretching for things just about every day for a couple of decades - has about a 2cm wider spread than the right. Chords like the standard gypsy voicing for a G minor 6th (355355) with thumb over the neck and no 4th finger were very hard for me at the beginning, but not so much now. It's definitely worth the effort and sticking with it.

Jazzaferri

That's actually a minor 6/9 as it has both the E and an A.

I find the 3 note 3 x 2 3 xx to be a good easy voicing and if I need a fully voiced one try the grande barre on 3 and fretting the 5,4 & 2 strings at 5 fret with 2,3 & 4 fingers. It's pretty quick once one gets it.

dfasso

Glad to hear these tips. I think I will focus on learning the songs and rhythm in workable ways first, and spend a little time here and there trying to make those stretches. Otherwise, it may be years before I comfortably get through lesson 1.