Most people can extend their DIP joint past zero degrees, where the tip of the finger looks like it’s “bending backwards.” Like the ring finger in this picture
I can’t do that on any finger - never have been able to, so it’s not an injury - probably a genetic trait. It makes fretting chords, like that ninth, somewhat tricky, so I avoid playing chords like the plague
Just curious - does anyone else have this issue? I wonder what fraction of the population get that lucky roll of the genetic dice!
My 3rd and 4th fingers on my fretting hand both do that. I can play A-shape major barre chords using ring or little finger to barre D, G & B strings.
Luckily.
My thumb is my physiological issue. I can not play E-shape mini-barres with thumb on string 6 for the low root (Hendrix style).
For those 9 chords, you can play a 4-finger version with ring and middle on the G and B strings and just mute the high E string.
But I can see how it would limit you in other ways.
Actually, you don’t need to bend the finger back for that 9th chord, since the high-e string can also be fretted. My ring finger does not bend back and I can play that grip.
For the record, my pinky does bend back a bit, but for some reason I cannot play A-shape barre chords using my pinky. It just doesn’t want to go into position. So, I play it with the ring finger, muting the high-e string. That’s fine, but I always thought it looked cooler playing with the pinky
I find it quite difficult to get my fingers in a position that makes the “D” string ring out. I can see that if my DIP bent back, I could lift my hand more and get a better bridge with my middle finger so it doesn’t mute the D string.
One option is not to use the bar, and just fret all the notes on the middle 4 strings using all fingers, but I kinda like the top note added, so another is to use a chord substitution and just bar the top 3 strings and play the minor triad.
Yeah, that D string is tricky. I have to place my middle finger sort of halfway between strings 5 and 6 (fretting 5 and muting 6) to avoid muting the D string.
But, yeah, if my ring finger was more limber, that would simplify things, for sure.
for as horribly inflexible as I am in other joints, I can at least get a little bit of hyperextension of that joint on all my fingers. I’m working on that A shape barre. I can get that one a little faster than most others, but still not quite fast enough with it to use it in a song. Sometimes I can even get the high E to ring out. I haven’t tried using my pinky for that chord shape, though.
Phil @twistor59
A while ago I mentioned this sort of issue of not being able to bend the last joint back on my ring finger to play an A shaped major barre chord to mute the first sting.
Word of caution in trying to do this I strained something and gave me a lot of pain which has taken months to recover and occasional reappears.
I am sure it a genetic thing as my right hand ring finger won’t bend back either.
Nate @Mustela sounds like you have the same issue.
Yeah I’m pretty careful with my fretting hand. I banished the thought that came into my head which said “try to loosen it up by bending it back with a pair of pliers”
I dont have the DIP issue, but I do have a suggestion.
Try rolling your ring finger slightly, and you’ll create a naturally higher ‘bridge’ point ; the D string will ring out every single time, and soon it’ll just be natural.
( For reference, the guy in the picture is playing it way too ‘straight’ for my liking).
I utilise this slight roll, even though I have no flex issues. I play 9ths literally all day.
Feels better, creates a higher bridge, and it opens up your whole hand a little more for all those extended chords and embellishments.
Good suggestion Shane! This is right - I have done this in the past when I’m desperate to play the full grip. I haven’t ever quite been able to do it flawlessly on demand though, but admit this might come with a “couple of minutes every day” treatment. I guess it comes partially down to individual finger shape variability.
I too have no such flex in my fingers, I also have smallish hands and like wide nuts, so can’t thumb over well.
I don’t think “most people” have that flex, or that those of us who don’t are somehow atypical or deficient.
We are who we are and so many guitar players, other musicians, and athletes succeed with what ever their nuances are. Some more dramatic than others.
We find a way to play sounds we like or that fit and there are a lot of ways playing any given set of notes, and especially slightly altering the notes so they can be played. It is all fine, the fingering and even every note in the score are not necessarily by fiat. Make it work for you and it adds to your individuality as a musician.
I haven’t got to this barred A shape yet, beyond trying it enough times to know I’m unlikely to able to do it with my ring finger. The top joint on my ring finger of my fretting hand has restricted movement - in my case it’s a rugby injury rather than genetics.
