Members cwalsh Posted November 8, 2005 Members Posted November 8, 2005 Hi I've only been play for about 5-6 weeks and thought my fingers were starting to get some good calusses but in the last 2 weeks I've noticed that the indentations are starting to get so deep when I practice that I can't push down the string enough to make a good sound. The string seems to fall into the indentation and when I push down my finger just flattens out so much that it's interfearing with the other strings. Is this common when first starting and should i just wait it out? Thanks
Members da mayor Posted November 9, 2005 Members Posted November 9, 2005 Hi!.. Sorry, I have no answer for you, I could only speak from my own experience. Maybe someone with a broader range of experience can speak to that. But, about your sig. It's never too late to take up guitar. Welcome.
Members pretaanluxis Posted November 9, 2005 Members Posted November 9, 2005 Your fingers are too fat
Members pretaanluxis Posted November 9, 2005 Members Posted November 9, 2005 Just kidding. I don't get that problem very often, usually only when I repeat the same riff over and over again. If you try alternate between different parts of your finger (tip and flat) and different fingers, then you shouldn't have any problems.
Members cwalsh Posted November 9, 2005 Author Members Posted November 9, 2005 You mean I shouldn't strum a C cord for a 1/2 hr straight? ..just kidding. I think I also might be pushing just a little to hard and maybe being my own worst enemy. I'm also noticing that the indentations are not straight accross my finger tip..but are at a bit of an angle. .I am guessing that is normal. thanks everyone for responding so far...great to see lots of helpfull people here
Members 335clone Posted November 9, 2005 Members Posted November 9, 2005 I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you are playing an acoustic with mediums? I find that doing little slides greatly accelerates the calousing process.
Members knotty Posted November 10, 2005 Members Posted November 10, 2005 Just keep going. Yes you will be pressing too hard, this will lessen when you become more accurate with you finger placement. The hard skin will gradually lessen believe it or not. But the whole of the fingertip will become 'harder'. 3 months in you should have no issues. If you are learning on acoustic think of a change, electric is much easier to learn on.
Members bardsley Posted November 10, 2005 Members Posted November 10, 2005 Yeah, I barely have any callouses on my fingers anymore, though I don't exactly have fingerprints there. My fingers are much softer now than they used to be when i started. I guess I play with a much lighter touch.
Members red|dragon Posted November 10, 2005 Members Posted November 10, 2005 Your fingers get harder. Don't worry about it. Keep playing. Your not bleeding are you? Then don't worry about it.
Members cwalsh Posted November 12, 2005 Author Members Posted November 12, 2005 Thanks everyone for responses. No bleeding yet and I figured it was just a combination of pressing too hard and continuley placing the same cord sequence over and over until I don't have to think about it . Skin is starting to shred a bit on the ends and the ends of my fingers actually hurt for a minute when i start practicing each day..but that goes away within a few minutes. no pain no gain! Not sure if the strings are medium...Takamine GS330S. I know absolutley nothing about strings.
Members red|dragon Posted November 12, 2005 Members Posted November 12, 2005 Strings, guitar, chords... Doesn't matter. Your skin is young. Have fun.
Members wrathfuldeity Posted November 13, 2005 Members Posted November 13, 2005 if your fingers are bleeding, don't worry they are far from your heart...you won't die today from bleeding fingers. I concur that your fingers will toughen up and your touch will become lighter.
Members skatom Posted November 14, 2005 Members Posted November 14, 2005 Try washing your hands with soap, and then using a little moisturiser on your fingertips. Make sure you dry your hands thoroughly, but a bit of moisturiser may help keep your fingertips a bit more supple, so the 'grooves' don't stay for so long. It's really important though that you dry your hands really well - sometimes if I play too soon after having a shower, my fingertips get shredded cos the skin is still a bit soft from being wet. Also, its been mentioned, but pressing too hard will be a big part of your problem. I found, back in the day, that relaxing my left thumb helped me ease off the pressure on my fingers. Trying to press less with each finger will help, but if you loosen your 'death grip' on the neck with your thumb, all your fingers will relax a bit. The shredded fingertips thing is something you'll probably have to live with for at least a year, particularly when you start doing bends and slides, but, you said it - no pain, no gain. Tender fingertips from playing guitar sure beats mouth ulcers and stinky breath from playing sax or something, so think yourself lucky. And, yes, its normal for people with 'rock' (as opposed to classical) technique to have the 'grooves' on an angle across the fingertips. Have fun! tommy.
Members cwalsh Posted November 17, 2005 Author Members Posted November 17, 2005 Awesome advice tommy! Thanks..I haven't been putting moisturizer on my fret hand thinking I wanted the finger tips to get hard.
Members jasevenny Posted November 17, 2005 Members Posted November 17, 2005 Originally posted by 335clone I find that doing little slides greatly accelerates the calousing process. Good advice.
Members MDLMUSIC Posted November 18, 2005 Members Posted November 18, 2005 You might also think about using alternate fingerings for some chords, so you're not always putting the same fingers in the same places. For example, you can do a A chord at the second fret using three fingers or just flatten out your first finger on the same three strings. Also try doing inversions where you're playing the same notes but at different places on the neck to get your chords. As far as single note leads, just don't press so hard. Remember the note is formed by the string length as determined by where it contacts the fret, not where it contacts the guitar neck. Pushing too hard can actually make the note go sharp.
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