AggieDave 6 #1 January 12, 2003 No, not because of that... I've finally started to learn how to play guitar, played for about 3 hours today, played for a couple yesterday. I can finally sort of play a song, but the fingers on my left hand are *killing* me. Alright, guitar players, did you do anything when you were first learning to help tough'n up the tips of your fingers? Or am I just going to have to suck it up? All in all this is actually fairly frustrating. After playing the trumpet for 12 years and harmonica for 6, the fact that I haven't mastered the guitar in 2 days is annoying... hehe This random post whoring was brought to you in part by: "Shitty-weather. Just when you wanted to jump, the sky pisses all over you..."--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #2 January 12, 2003 Dave, after seeing that pic of you in the pool at Eloy, now I'm picturing that holding a trumpet. Too funnyI got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #3 January 12, 2003 Quote Alright, guitar players, did you do anything when you were first learning to help tough'n up the tips of your fingers? They will hurt at first but in a couple of days they will stop hurting. Your fingers will get tough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 January 12, 2003 Here's one for you. My mom found this pic sitting around the house, scanned it in and e-mailed it to me. I guess this was almost 6 years ago, I was a senior in high-school... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #5 January 12, 2003 You have to wait for the hard skin to come and it gets a little easier. Having a good guitar in the first place is a good start, as some of the cheaper ones have a real high "action" (the height from the strings to the fret) Some simple blues scales are a good way of getting the fingers worked too. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #6 January 12, 2003 suck it up...play daily..(or every other day at first)..and you'll get calouses fairly quickly..now if its the joints that are hurting, get some one to look at your technique.(or pick up a classical guitar 101) there are an infinite number of ways to play, but learning to do so 'correctly' will save you some pain and make advanced techniques easier if you dont have to 'unlearn' bad habits.. PS>this applies to your right hand as well..____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunman 0 #7 January 12, 2003 QuoteAlright, guitar players, did you do anything when you were first learning to help tough'n up the tips of your fingers? Or am I just going to have to suck it up? Yup. It's a bitch, ain't it? If your fingers are killing you, take a break, then come back to it later. After a month or so, the tips of the fingers on the left hand will feel like leather, and you won't have any (or as much) pain. Electric and classical guitars have lighter string tension than steel-string acoustics, but no sense in buying a new guitar. One thing you can do to help is to switch to a lighter gauge string, but sometimes that will sacrifice sound quality. Also, the truss rod, bridge and nut should be adjusted to minimum string height while maintaining sound integrity. Hope this helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #8 January 12, 2003 Quote Here's one for you. My mom found this pic sitting around the house, scanned it in and e-mailed it to me. I guess this was almost 6 years ago, I was a senior in high-school... NICE PHOTO I can't wait to let photoshop loose on that one LOL"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmcvey 0 #9 January 12, 2003 here is an age old recipe for "frampton fingers" it will toughen them didgits up in no time. Step 1. take 1/2 a bottle of tequila and add one whole lime (un-peeled). add two teaspoons of ketchup and a good dash of tobasco. step 2 heat up in microwave until hot (but dont let it boil) Step 3 take out of microwave and place fingers of left hand into the mixture while standing on one leg (right leg works best) while holding the guitar in your right hand. take hand out of the broth and procede in drinking it while humming "show me the way" by peter frampton. after drinking immediately play guitar for 30 minutes. Wallla!! Framptons Fingers! if this doesnt work let me know, ive got a smokin' recipe for "hendrix hands" happy strumming! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #10 January 12, 2003 Quote ive got a smokin' recipe for "hendrix hands" Same as above, but it requires me to drive to downtown Houston to buy the substitute for the tequila, though, right?--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fudd 0 #11 January 12, 2003 They will hurt at first, but it will pass. I had a tendency to squez the strings to had at first, so trying to use a little lighter pressure might help a little. Now I almost haven't touched a guitar for 6-7 years, so my fingers hurt a little if I play, not nearly as much as when I started playing. Well as the saying goes. No pain, no gain There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freekflyguy 0 #12 January 13, 2003 Really, mine smell of fish go figure. Buzz It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pds 0 #13 January 13, 2003 suck it up, big boy. keep your thumb in the middle of the neck, drop your wrist and use your finger tips as little hammers. do not grab the neck like it was yur pecker. once yo u get to the point of it really hurting, play for just a few more minutes. whatever you do stop before the blisters start, this is key. sore fingers will not be sore tomorrow but a blistered fingertip will seriously cut into your practice schedule.namaste, motherfucker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #14 January 13, 2003 If this thread was written by a girl, it might have a whole different meaning! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #15 January 13, 2003 Quote If this thread was written by a girl, it might have a whole different meaning! Oh Skymama, you're being so perverted!! I like it!! ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pds 0 #16 January 13, 2003 Quote"Use the same method as when you fish for bass. Throw back the little ones and mount the big ones.".....Happythoughts PDS<--preparing to be mountednamaste, motherfucker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,573 #17 January 13, 2003 Quote Oh Skymama, you're being so perverted!! I like it!! Just remember -- mama knows best! Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #18 January 13, 2003 Quote Oh Skymama, you're being so perverted!! Heehee, that's the way I always am. I'm happy if I can take a conversation to the gutter. I just usually behave myself a little more on the forums now that I'm a greenie, but in real life, forget it! Quote PDS LMAO...believe it or not, your appendage was being debated about 20 minutes ago over AIM! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pds 0 #19 January 13, 2003 Quote LMAO...believe it or not, your appendage was being debated about 20 minutes ago over AIM! that explains the warm tingling sensation i hadnamaste, motherfucker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #20 January 13, 2003 Dave! It was b/c of Me and susdy wasnt it! comon you can tell us! we totally put you in awe of our AWESOME playing ability!( I DO own a harp and I HAVE been playing in more often LOL!) ANY WAY I couldnt NOT whore myself to these forums! it was 6 days and It was HARD! SUCK IT UP stop being such a pussy!your fingers will hurt but then again...dont they after a weekend of packing your rig? so just in case you didnt hear it the first time...youre being a big ole' pussy! HAHAHA! My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sharpfive 0 #21 January 13, 2003 The only thing to do is keep on playing. When it starts to hurt, take five (not the song, a break). But you want to get calluses on all your fingers, so IMHO major scales up and down the neck in all 12 keys are the way to go. You'll toughen up your finger tips and learn the fret board at the same time. And remember, right hand technique is just as important. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #22 January 13, 2003 Ahhh...Dave Brubeck. I doubt a whole lot of people on the forums would know who that was, what his group was or even what that song was...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
