|
Post by Onechordtrick on Jul 31, 2017 17:23:58 GMT
Just come back from 10 days without playing and finding that my fingers are very sore when I play. I've only been playing seriously for a a few months but my fingers were OK before I went away.
Any tips for maintaining the "toughness" without playing?
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 33,893
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Jul 31, 2017 22:07:41 GMT
Take an instrument with you? Hmm, not always possible, but it should be possible to knock up a short piece of wood in a roughly neck profile with slightly raised ends and actual strings fixed along it so you can hold it in your fretting hand and press the strings. Bonkers idea? Maybe, but there used to be a proprietary device along those lines. Haven't seen them advertised for a while. Probably was a bonkers idea then. But it should work, at least in theory. Try to develop a fidgety type habit of pressing your fretting hand thumbnail repeatedly into the tips of your fretting fingers where the strings usually go? Probably another bonkers idea, but could work if you devote enough time to it whilst watching telly, walking, travelling (as a passenger). Probably best to just take a mandolin with you! When you've been playing a (fair) bit longer you'll probably find that your fingers will tolerate longer layoffs without any problem on resuming play, so don't feel you have to give up holidays altogether! Keith
|
|
|
Post by Onechordtrick on Aug 1, 2017 8:56:44 GMT
Thanks, bonkers as it sounds I like the idea of pressing my thumbnail into my fingers Doubt I'll be allowed to take the mandolin along so in the long run it looks like I'll just have to play more
|
|
delb0y
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,482
Member is Online
|
Post by delb0y on Aug 1, 2017 17:06:41 GMT
When you've been playing a (fair) bit longer you'll probably find that your fingers will tolerate longer layoffs without any problem on resuming play, so don't feel you have to give up holidays altogether! I've been playing some 40 years (eek!) and I often genuinely feel that I'm still waiting to develop the calluses (perhaps I've developed callousness instead?) that I've always heard so much about. But, that said, I must have developed something for if I don't play for a few days my fingers do feel sore and tender. I'm yet to find a way through it other than to savour the pain and pretend I'm a tortured artist.
Derek
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 33,893
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Aug 1, 2017 18:08:15 GMT
When you've been playing a (fair) bit longer you'll probably find that your fingers will tolerate longer layoffs without any problem on resuming play, so don't feel you have to give up holidays altogether! I've been playing some 40 years (eek!) and I often genuinely feel that I'm still waiting to develop the calluses (perhaps I've developed callousness instead?) that I've always heard so much about. But, that said, I must have developed something for if I don't play for a few days my fingers do feel sore and tender. I'm yet to find a way through it other than to savour the pain and pretend I'm a tortured artist.
Derek
I did say probably, Derek! Maybe it takes 55 years of playing - I don't have prominent calluses but my fretting fingertips are v thickskinned and hard now, semi-permanently grooved and no trace of fingerprints left. The only thing that ever hurts now is if I play a mandolin gig for a few hours without having played mando for a while; guitar never a problem. Keith
|
|
delb0y
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,482
Member is Online
|
Post by delb0y on Aug 1, 2017 18:14:41 GMT
I'm always on the wrong end of probably, Keith. I reckon there's a song there!
|
|
Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0b0b0c
|
Post by Andy P on Aug 1, 2017 20:34:14 GMT
Dipping your finger-tips in surgical spirit 2 or 3 times a day might help. Be sure its only your finger-tips though
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Aug 4, 2017 7:22:24 GMT
I don't think there is any simple answer for this just a lot of playing and pain when you get back!
|
|