Members Paul and the 7.5 Posted February 17 Members Share Posted February 17 I truly believe for me anyway, long thin fingers work the best with a tight radius, 7.5. My fingers are always bent in a round inward position. Does anyone else feel the same way about this. Just curious. Cheers everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted February 18 Members Share Posted February 18 (edited) I've never really thought about it. My medium-ish fingers have been happy with a variety of fingerboard types, feeling like they were just a part of the guitar's character. The width of the neck, thickness and shape make much more difference. Edited February 18 by Ancient Mariner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gardo Posted February 18 Members Share Posted February 18 On 2/16/2024 at 8:40 PM, Paul and the 7.5 said: I truly believe for me anyway, long thin fingers work the best with a tight radius, 7.5. My fingers are always bent in a round inward position. Does anyone else feel the same way about this. Just curious. Cheers everyone! My long fingers don’t like 71/2 , 91/2 and 12 are the most comfortable . Perhaps it’s just whatever a person is accustomed to 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 19 Moderators Share Posted February 19 11 hours ago, Ancient Mariner said: I've never really thought about it. My medium-ish fingers have been happy with a variety of fingerboard types, feeling like they were just a part of the guitar's character. The width of the neck, thickness and shape make much more difference. I agree...when one owns over a dozen guitars, electric and acoustic, one learns to adjust accordingly. Fretboard radius is a consideration, but certainly not a deal killer, if you like everything else about the instrument. On 2/16/2024 at 5:40 PM, Paul and the 7.5 said: I truly believe for me anyway, long thin fingers work the best with a tight radius, 7.5. My fingers are always bent in a round inward position. Does anyone else feel the same way about this. Just curious. Cheers everyone! I have to ask how many guitars you have...with a 7.5 radius? I have a few, Fenders and such. Much depends on what you are used to; I will say that barre chords feel 'easier' on a 7.5, but for single note riffage, I like a flatter board...YMMV. Somewhere in the 9.5-12" zone gives me more 'bend' space...which is not to say I don't play essentially the same, but there are [now] innate adjustments I make from guitar to guitar. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nethanpaul Posted March 23 Members Share Posted March 23 (edited) When it comes to fretboard radius on guitars, finger length and hand shape matter. Longer, thinner fingers often prefer tighter radius fretboards, like 7.5", because they match the natural curvature of fingertips, offering a comfortable "cupped" feeling and easier finger stretches. These tighter radii also provide better control for techniques like fingerpicking or lead lines. However, comfort varies, so it's essential to try different guitars to find what suits your hand and playing style best. Edited March 23 by nethanpaul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted April 3 Members Share Posted April 3 On 2/19/2024 at 3:00 AM, daddymack said: .........when one owns over a dozen guitars, electric and acoustic, one learns to adjust accordingly. Fretboard radius is a consideration, but certainly not a deal killer, if you like everything else about the instrument. Yes. I own different guitars too: acoustic, classical and electric (so that's neck widths ranging from 40mm to 52mm) and I switch between them without thinking about it. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nethanpaul Posted April 15 Members Share Posted April 15 There is a connection between finger length and preferred neck radius! Longer fingers can conform to a curved fretboard more easily, making a tighter radius (7.5") feel more comfortable for you. This allows for a more natural finger placement and easier fretting. However, this is not a universal experience. Some players with long fingers may prefer a flatter neck for faster playing styles. Ultimately, the best way to find your preference is to try out guitars with different neck radii and see what feels most comfortable for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 17 Moderators Share Posted April 17 On 4/15/2024 at 6:09 AM, nethanpaul said: There is a connection between finger length and preferred neck radius! Longer fingers can conform to a curved fretboard more easily, making a tighter radius (7.5") feel more comfortable for you. This allows for a more natural finger placement and easier fretting. However, this is not a universal experience. Some players with long fingers may prefer a flatter neck for faster playing styles. Ultimately, the best way to find your preference is to try out guitars with different neck radii and see what feels most comfortable for you. you keep saying this...how many guitars do you own? do they all have the same radius....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted April 18 Members Share Posted April 18 Me, I don't notice the different radius. Or, let me rephrase that, it's not a conscience decision when buying a guitar. Got over 50 guitars, and can pick up anyone, and get used to it in a matter of milliseconds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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