Fat middle finger

I'm new here so if this has been discussed please forgive me. I've been playing for 4 weeks, I've got my callouses(happy bout that hurt all the way). My problem is every time I play a chord that requires my middle finger to fret between any 2 strings my finger is bleeding over onto 1 of the strings no matter what I do. Since this happens on almost every chord my progressing has ceased but not my practice. What do I do? I can't do a C chord no matter what i do (forget about switching chords can't get this yet). Really am stumped and bummin a bit. Anybody got some tips? Do I need a wider neck mine is just standard size acoustic. Please Help love playing. So far I've been practicing an hour or more each day 6 days a week.

Yup a wider neck is definetly a good option. You should go to your local music store and try a bunch until you find one that fits your hands. I'm on the other side of the road. I got some skinny "average" size fingers and I tend to like neck that are a bit smaller then the average because I like to wrap my thumb over the neck to play chords and embelishments the "Hendrix way" and it makes it a lot easier for me (he had very long fingers). Sometimes just a little 1/16th of an inch at the nut of the guitar makes a huge difference in your playing and comfort.

Its a really common problem. Before you get a new guitar, try this:

-using your C chord (I take it you mean C major) start with the first note, so in this case the root note. You'll be fretting with your third finger, at the third fret, 5th string (A string).

Fretting just that one note, play all five strings starting with the A string, picking them one at at time. Make sure they sound perfect. Don't strum, don't worry about playing a rhythm, just make sure each string sounds clearly. When you've got that...

-add the next finger, your middle finger... 4th string (D string) second fret. Same as before... make sure each string plays cleanly, keeping both fingers fretting their notes. If adding the middle finger causes a string to buzz, identify which string it is, and see if you can get fix the problem. It really should only be the open G string, because you are fretting above on the A string (your fretting at the third fret with your third finger, if you happen to touch the A string with your middle finger as you fret the D string at the second fret, it shouldn't make any difference in the sound of the C note being fretted on the A string). Make sure you understand all that...

-finally, add your first finger on the first fret of the B string. Again, pick slowly through the chord and check for any problems.

If you do have problems as you add fingers, its really likely that its not because your fingers are too "fat" but because you are twisting/moving your fingers as you try to fret with them all at the same time. That's why you start one note at a time, and resolve the problems as they come up.

Really, for a C chord you have plenty of space because as I said above, the only potential problem string is the G string. If you're too close to the G string, feel free to move your finger away from it so its closer to the A, since touching that string won't be an issue.

I've played guitar for a long time, and yet still learn new chords the same way. Whenever you look at a chord shape, its good to recognize where the potential problem spots are, and where you have a bit more "room" as it were.

May I suggest another (maibe more complex) task?

I have not very long fingers; moreover, I have gained
10 Kg in a couple of years, and now I have some difficulty
playing complex chords.

Yes, it is very important to practise time and
again, with a right position of the whrist and the
thumb, but as the body "increase", even the fingers
enlarge.

So, a good idea, for our whole healt and for our
music is to try to loose some kilos: fingers can dramatically
become thinner

For instance, I have quite exaclty
the same figure and hands of
Paul O' Dette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQNG4B-aYiE

(in the same time he is the perfect
demonstration that a master of the lute
may have not perfect fingers)

+1 on Slipin's suggestions. If you go through Lisa's lessons here, she would call those "micro adustments".

Something else that comes to mind it take a look at the angle at which your fingers are coming down on the fretboard. This may be part of what Slipin was getting at, but I'll elaborate.

You may need to bring them down at less of an angle - more straight up and down or perpendicular to the fretboard. 2 things that can impact this - 1) you are holding the guitar at an angle and twisting it so you can look down at the fretboard. This is common with those starting out because you are so focused on what your fretting hand is doing. Stand up with your guitar to discourage yourself from doing this. 2) On your fretting hand, push your arm forward to get more of an angle between your wrist and your arm. This will force your fingers to come down on the fret board more perpendicular.

If you haven't already, you might want to revisit Chris' lessons on posture. As simple and rediculous as it may seem, what he talks about there really matters and helps and he illustrates it very well.

Good luck!

Thank you for you help. Yes slipin I was talkin bout c maj and I have been doing it just as you suggested that is why I haven't moved on in the lessons I'm stuck on these chords that use this finger. There have been times (only a few) where I have worked the D string up under the nail enough to get it to ring clearly but most of the time the pad of my finger is barley touching the G string and if I move it a little (push it toward the A string) so it rings clearly then my nail is touching the A string I keep working at it one string at a time (and you are right some cords it can touch and not cause a problem) maybe it will yet come I was just thinking about chord changes when playing and it will be impossible to change quickly to a C maj if I don't get alot better at this. And Thank you maggior I'm Keeping the nail as parallel to the string as I can but I will try the posture thing and see if that helps sure can"t hurt. Again thank you all for your suggestions.

Hey download thanks for the link that guy is awesome I got worn out just watching his fingers go. I'm not familiar with the lute but the neck looks bigger than my acoustic. My fingers are not as fat as his but my middle finger was severley smashed not once but twice in my life so the pad is about 1/8 in thicker than any of my other fingers (kind of a pain trying to squeeze it in since the harder I press the more it spreads out)

Licksnchops - that's good information, you're not just dealing with "sausage fingers", but a situation resulting from an accident.

One other question - are you playing a full size acoustic or a "student" size (like a 3/4 guitar). The smaller guitars have narrower/shorter necks which usually help beginners.

Regardless - I think the stuff mentioned in this thread is still relevant before you go searching out a new guitar.

It is a full size I was just trying to get ideas from others in case this was a problem for others with just plain big fingers and what they did about it. I'll try all that was suggested. This C chord is only one of many that lay in my future for this finger, hopefully it will all work out but after christmas I'll get into guitar center and play some with wider necks that may be the answer. I still have all the steps of the beginner lessons to keep practicing as well as the finger picking so I will keep on till I find the answer. Thank you for your help. I really am grateful to have so much help and support. By the way I'm an old fart trying to learn a new trick may jus take longer for me than for you young people.

No worries...glad to try to help.

Young whipper-snapper or old fart...we've all been where you are so don't let it get you down :-). Stick with it and you will get past this hurdle!

Guitar players come in all shapes and sizes. There are guys like Eric Johnson whose hands look like they were designed specifically to play the guitar - long slender fingers with large hands. Then there are others like one of the instructors here (can't remember his name) who doesn't look like a guitar player at all with meaty hands and sausage fingers, yet he plays incredibly well!! I don't mean this to be disparaging at all, it's just that everybody is built differently and you work with what you got.

Are your nails clipped nice and short? Finger nails can make a huge difference. The others covered most everything else.