Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 What do you do when your fingers hurt??? I bought my Norman B20 Folk a few weeks ago and I play one or two hours everyday, at least. My fingers started to hurt 3 or 4 days ago! I still want to play but it's difficult. What do I do: 1. Put miraculous therapy lotion or something? 2. Stop playing even if I want to play? 3. Buy an electric? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Where does it hurt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Hi Jasmine Tea,It hurts on my fingertips (left hand). My picking hand is fine.I'm developing calouses but with the shape of the 6th string moulded in it! It's like if there was a hole in each of my fingertips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Should be ok if you keep going the way you are. DON'T put lotion on. It will be painful for a while, but the pain will go away after you build some calouses. Should start getting better in about a week mabey two. I started playing when I was a little kid so I don't remember exactly how long it took for the calouses to build. Don't give up! It's worth it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by Misha I'm developing callus but with the shape of the 6th string moulded in it! It's like if there was a hole on each of my fingertips! Like a little groove right? Even so, it takes time. You'll be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Jasmine Tea wrote Like a little groove right? Yes, exactly!I have four little ditch (foss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by Misha Jasmine Tea wrote Yes, exactly!I have four little ditch (foss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cfgsteak Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Misha, I started playing seriously about 3 months ago, same as you, about 1 to 3 hours a day. My fingers hurt pretty bad for a few weeks. Take a day off every 5 or 6 days, it helps. Otherwise keep playing, the pain stops after a while (unless I am learning new chords, then my fingers always hurt because I grip the strings way to hard when I am learning new stuff). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 FRENCH-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-FRENCH DICTIONARY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Jasmine tea wrote: DON'T put lotion on. Not good for calouses I guess? But then I have another question: what do i do to reduce the noise that my fingers do when I move my hand on the neck? Is it only my technique or do you have a trick or two?____________________________ FRENCH-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-FRENCH DICTIONARY Thanks for the link! I have one at home + the Oxford advanced learner's Dictionary. Both are very useful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Don't worry about the squeek. Just let it happen. You'll squeek less with practice. Squeek happens because the fingers are not releasing completely before moving to another chord. Some may recomend "string lube". I don't think it's a good idea. At least not for a beginner. Lotion, string lube, anything like that will not be good for the calouses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members colliewobble Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 My fingers hurt, too. Just got my new acoustic-electric today and have played it a LOT. I was already playing my old acoustic a lot the last couple days. I'm mostly an electric player, and those calluses are not nearly as tough as the ones I'll build on the new guitar. Also, the tip of my index finger is sore. I never realized that I brush the strings with the tip of my finger when I'm holding the pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gnurph Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 One thing I used to do when first started playing (started on Bass, 5 years exclusively Bass), to build up callouses is I'd sandpaper my fingertips. 500 grit sandpaper, run my finger over concrete, etc. And in 2 weeks I had callouses that were impervious to anything. When I picked up 6string, I only got a minor case of the '6th string pit' as my friends called it. Oh, and playing 6string after years of bass... the bends were super duper easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UGB Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 I play anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours a day. When I started doing a solo acoustic gig I had to make the change from light to medium strings. That hurt. I practiced a lot to get ready for my first gig and now I play anywhere from 1-3 three+ hour gigs a week. Coming from an electric background, for the most part, my fingertips were KILLING me. I was shedding and tearing skin during gigs and ending up with not just dents in my fingertips but pot holes! An on line buddy said he would file the callouses smooth then use lotion. I'd never tried lotion before but I did. It works great for me in that the skin never tears or rips anymore. However, it can be still somewhat painful to play in that 3rd hour of a gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 I think I would just need 4! But then, the "squeek" might get worst! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rockfan Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by Misha What do you do when your fingers hurt??? I bought my Norman B20 Folk a few weeks ago and I play one or two hours everyday, at least. My fingers started to hurt 3 or 4 days ago! You are experiencing what all acoustic guitarist first get: pain in the fingers.This is due to applying a lot of pressure to fret a string or chord.Stop playing for a few days. The pain will ease and you're fingers will thank you for it. Callouses will built on your fingers, and that is expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by UGB An on line buddy said he would file the callouses smooth then use lotion. I'd never tried lotion before but I did. It works great for me in that the skin never tears or rips anymore. However, it can be still somewhat painful to play in that 3rd hour of a gig. I use an emery board, but I file as little as possible. The idea of using lotion sounds scarry to me, like it would soften the calouses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by rockfan You are experiencing what all acoustic guitarist first get: pain in the fingers. This is due to applying a lot of pressure to fret a string or chord. Stop playing for a few days. The pain will ease and you're fingers will thank you for it. Callouses will built on your fingers, and that is expected. I tried an electric yesterday. It was so sweet for my fingers! I think I need to rest my fingers... The other option would be to buy an electric and switch when the acoustic get too painful.I'm getting a surgery in a few weeks (in the abdomen).Until then the doctor told me to rest but i'm tired of it. The (only) good thing about getting a surgery is that friends and family bring lot of gifts! My best friend asked questions about electric guitars yesterday... It was "weird"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zenbu Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 everybody gets that pain...suck it up and play through it...sorry, I used to coach. But really...it should stop or at least be less sensitive with time. I have the grooves in my fretting fingers as well plus...I strum with the tip/nail of my thumb...don`t use picks... and THAT was painful for a bit but not anymore. Misha...you`re from Montreal like I am, if you played/watched hockey you know most guys just learn to play with pain... ever seen a dancers feet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HerNextFriend Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 I used to play slide when my fingers hurt too much. I don't use a slide that much any more, though...and now my fingers are so tough I can go all day:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 zenbu wrote: everybody gets that pain...suck it up and play through it...sorry, I used to coach. But really...it should stop or at least be less sensitive with time. I have the grooves in my fretting fingers as well plus... Glad to know that i'm normal with those grooves! most guys just learn to play with pain... ever seen a dancers feet?I like music too much to quit, plus it is such a good way to express my emotions! The benefit is worth the inconvenient! Like jasmine Tea said: "as long as I have not broken the skin..." then I'll keep playing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Originally posted by HerNextFriend I used to play slide when my fingers hurt too much. I don't use a slide that much any more, though...and now my fingers are so tough I can go all day Lucky you... I'm jealous!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrlucky7 Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 If you get 4 of those, your fingers wont hurt and you might make some very interesting slides Like it was said before (and I find the answers quite good) fingers hurting is quite normal and you will devellop callouses (your fingers protecting themselves). If they hurt too much, you might want to stop for that day, it usually goes away fast. I personnally find that if you keep playing when it hurts that your finger tips just become numb....no more pain. Also, callouses do peel off from time to time; they just reform. Bonne chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted September 15, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 Mrlucky7 wrote: Bonne chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bringbckclinton Posted September 15, 2005 Members Share Posted September 15, 2005 I've read that dipping your fingertips in mineral oil helps to toughen the callouses and speed the process. Might want to search this or something, its been awhile since I read this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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