[Jenacen]

I have been blessed with relatively skinny fingers, so this isn't an issue for me, but I'm teaching other people how to play guitar now, and one of my students has a problem with thick fingers. I tried to teach him the A Major chord, and it's very hard for him to form the chord without muting a few of the strings. He could almost hold down all three of the necessary strings with just two fingers, and it actually sounded just fine.

So here are my questions.
1. Should I allow my student to form chords like that, using just those wtwo fingers, or is there something I'm missing (btw I showed him on an electric)?
2. How do I handle the issue of large fingers altogether? Could you still form chords the traditional way and just work around it, or are there adjustments that need to be made?

I'll leave this open to just any advice on thick fingers, even if I didn't ask about it. Thanks in advance.

[tht00]

Yeah... I've got fairly large fingers... and I form an A chord with my first two fingers, and it's been working fine for me. The only trouble I've had with it is getting the barre-form down (such as a B-maj).

I would say to just let the player experiment a bit to find what works for them as far as forming some chords, as it's more trouble than it's worth to try to get them to 'conform' to 'normal'.

[Jenacen]

Is there any kind of specific guitar that has a bit wider neck?

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Jenacen

Is there any kind of specific guitar that has a bit wider neck?

Classical/nylon string guitars have wider necks than most guitars.

[Rainer.]

Seagulls generally have wider necks than other acoustic brands.

[Jenacen]

What about electrics?

[presbystrat]

Originally Posted by Jenacen

What about electrics?

A lot of the Godin electrics have 11/16ths nut widths.

American Strats also usually have 11/16" nuts compared to the MIMs (5/8")

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by presbystrat

A lot of the Godin electrics have 11/16ths nut widths.

PRS also have somewhat wider necks than some others. Atleast, their necks felt wide to me (and I have fairly thick fingers aswell, and I noticed the difference in comfort between the prs I have played and the strats I have played (and the one I currently own).

[Rainer.]

Could also cut your own nut.

[earlessdog]

alex lifeson has farelly large fingers, and hes great. Just thought i'd throw that in there.
i have scrawny fingers

[spyrotheleo]

what about ibanez guitars? My ibanez necks quite abit wider than my fenders neck.

[presbystrat]

Originally Posted by spyrotheleo

what about ibanez guitars? My ibanez necks quite abit wider than my fenders neck.

Which Fender compared to which Ibanez? MIA Strats are usually wider than MIM Strats which are usually wider than Squier Strats.

[spyrotheleo]

well ibanez's wizard 2 necks. I think most ibanezs guitars have wider necks.