I don't have arthritis in my hands as yet. I expect to in time but just now I am free of that issue. I do have some partially frozen joints due to scar tissue as a result of a table saw injury. These scars limit my extension as well as retraction in the index middle and ring fingers of the left hand.

I was a full length guitarsist for years after the injury but in the last 2 or three my limitations have become worse. I have discivered the key of "G" and the capo. G D Em D7 Am A A7 B7 are all compact chords that span two frets and except for the G are in two frets and no more than three adjacent strings. The required C chord is less an issue tthan others when capoed. The Bm is a problem but playable or when possible I subsitute a D major and in many cases this works fine.

The problem I addressed was which was more important to me. Playing the guitar or singing and communicating a song.

Don