Inspired by the 'playing like Doc Watson' thread, I've decided to try to learn some of Martin Carthy's tunes.

I've got his instructional video and the accompanying booklet of tablature, but I'm finding in places that my hand simply won't stretch far enough to play some things (ie a partial bar with the index finger whilst the little finger/pinkie frets the top string about a billion frets higher).

My hands aren't small, but I don't have the requisite suppleness.

Can anyone suggest any ideas?

Thanks

Paul