Those last two posts illustrate how very different our physical capabilities can be.

Even before I got arthritis, I don't think I could ever have held down those four strings like Richard Bridge says he can do it. I play plenty of fingerpicking pieces where I'll fret the top two strings at the third fret with my pinky ~ but only one at a time. Catching them both at once with a bent-backwards little finger ~ I can only marvel at the idea. Similarly, I can play the bottom two strings at the third fret, on a "C" major chord, one at a time, but can't fret them both at once with the ring finger as some folks can.

And then on the other hand (pun intended), I found it pretty easy to learn to make that fairly-basic chord that Charmion can't reach. I don't doubt that it might be very difficult if not impossible for some folks to do this. It makes me thankful for what abilities I have, and helps me not feel too terribly bad about the stretches and reaches I can't handle.