minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Oct 11, 2017 19:06:35 GMT
Not played guitar in over a year and I decided to have a go again. And after a 20 minute session playing a few chords on the Fender my fingers are sore as owt. I keep doing this. Play for a few weeks, get something going, then I stop, do something else. Then my desire to play wakes up and away we go again, back to basics! And the biggest barrier to my playing is soft fingers which hurt like hell after a playing session. I swear the strings on the Dreadnought are like cheese wires! They seem extra tight compared to the smaller Tanglewood Super Folk which is almost parlour size. Is it because of the longer scale? Would lighter strings help? And am I alone in the whole play for a bit, abandon, play again, ouch scenario?
|
|
|
Post by vikingblues on Oct 11, 2017 19:28:57 GMT
The longer scale will help makes the same sort of strings tighter.
Lighter strings - either a gauge down or the same gauge of low tension strings should help. At the risk of banging on about it yet again, I do like Newtone Heritage 12s on a guitar where normal 12s give me grief. 131 lbs of tension compared to more typically 160 lbs for that gauge - that has to help the fingers.
I'm sure the stop / start experience is more likely with a guitar that is strung and / or set up in a way that gives more pain than necessary.
But it's so long ago that I started playing guitar again I can't remember what it was like as regards sore fingers.
I do recall that acoustic guitar used to feel uncomfortable for me and difficult to be enthusiastic about. It didn't take off for me until I got a smaller size of acoustic guitar with the shorter 24 3/4" scale and with a set up that gave a low string height. Playing suddenly became regular and every day.
When it all feels more comfortable it really helps!
Mark
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,877
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on Oct 11, 2017 19:39:03 GMT
Totally agree with Mark.
Lighter gauge strings and/or low tension strings such as Newtone Heritage makes a huge difference.
Also, why not simply keep playing the shorter scale guitar until your fingers build up some strength and toughness before tackling the mighty dread?
Trying to play, even for 10 mins every day will also make a big difference to your finger strength. Even if you don't feel like it, the benefit will be there when the mood takes you again.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Oct 11, 2017 19:56:59 GMT
I do have a set of D'addario lights in the bag somewhere, bought ages ago. Must get round to fitting them. My trouble is I have too many hobbies. I can't just stick to one thing. I got myself a recorder, then 2 more, then discovered it's not really my thing and sold one of them.Recently I got a clarinet. That was great to start with but I just can't sustain interest. And I want other instruments. It's like a bad case of GAS but includes other instruments (IAS?) Wish I could just stick to one ruddy instrument! I also have a ukulele. I got fairly good with it too but I think I got bored and stopped playing, forgot the chord shapes. I should just stop and stick with guitar. From the beginning again. Oh I also play piano, supposed to be learning that too. Compared to guitar I find piano easy. But I can't resist the guitar. It just sounds so good!
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Oct 11, 2017 21:23:58 GMT
There’s no short cut whatever the gauge of string. Your fingers will hurt, they will be torn to shreds. But it will be worth it. There is pleasure in pain.
After 6 months you won’t even notice it ;-)
|
|
Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,345
|
Post by Riverman on Oct 11, 2017 22:34:23 GMT
There is pleasure in pain.
|
|
|
Post by grayn on Oct 12, 2017 11:41:54 GMT
I suggest, when you're not into playing, just force yourself to play for 5mins, twice a day. It'll help with toughening and I often find when I have a very limited time to play, i get more involved. I often start playing 20 mins before I've got to do something else. I always play right up to the last second and the wife is banging on my music room door.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Oct 13, 2017 13:00:46 GMT
I can go for very long periods without playing. Most recently it was 10 months. Yes, it is a pain in the ass to get your calluses and chops back, but I usually get there within a couple of weeks if I keep at it. Weirdly enough, after a lay-off I usually manage to correct some bad habit that I had, so it's not all bad. I also play mandolin and I find that playing that for a bit is great for getting the fingers hardened up again. Good luck with it.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Oct 13, 2017 19:11:08 GMT
I can go for very long periods without playing. Most recently it was 10 months. Yes, it is a pain in the ass to get your calluses and chops back, but I usually get there within a couple of weeks if I keep at it. Weirdly enough, after a lay-off I usually manage to correct some bad habit that I had, so it's not all bad. I also play mandolin and I find that playing that for a bit is great for getting the fingers hardened up again. Good luck with it. Cheers. Thing is I've never really had the calluses, and I've had the guitar 13 years! I just don't play enough, and last changed strings 6 years ago!
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Oct 14, 2017 1:20:06 GMT
Thing is I've never really had the calluses, and I've had the guitar 13 years! I just don't play enough, and last changed strings 6 years ago! Hmm... in that case I'd offer the following advice (based on my brief time as a beginners' guitar tutor): 1. Change the strings! Six year old strings will not be sounding good! I personally wouldn't put anything lighter than 11s on an acoustic. The Newtone low tension strings will also help. 2. Play whichever guitar is most comfortable. 3. Try practising wih a capo a few frets up the neck. This should be easier to play. Get used to this, then move the capo down one fret at a time until you are able to play with the capo removed. 4. Are you pressing down too hard? Try fretting a chord with the minimum amount of pressure required to get each note sounding out clearly. You don't need to press as hard as you think you do... btw I am the worst offender at pressing down too hard. 5. Try to play every day, even if it's only for 10-15 minutes. Little and often is better than once in a blue moon. 6. Set yourself some targets on what you want to learn. Look for youtube lessons, etc. Pick something you'll enjoy learning. If you keep the momentum going for a few weeks you'll get reasonable calluses pretty quickly... and then it won't be so sore and you can concentrate on playing! I know that some folk think you don't need 'orrible hard skin on the end of your fingers to play guitar, but personally I can't play properly until I get me calluses back. Once you have them it doesn't hurt any more and you can play for literally hours at a time. Best of luck!
|
|
walkingdecay
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,676
My main instrument is: brownish and rather small.
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"000000"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: {"image":"","color":"ffffff"}
|
Post by walkingdecay on Oct 14, 2017 1:23:20 GMT
Pretty soon you'll stab yourself in the finger with a string end Larry, then the fingertips won't feel so bad by comparison.
Seriously now, I wonder if you're holding down chords with too firm a grip. It's surprising how much you can relax your fingers and still squeeze out a clean chord.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Oct 14, 2017 10:09:39 GMT
Things are much better with new lighter strings!
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Oct 16, 2017 21:43:15 GMT
Pretty soon you'll stab yourself in the finger with a string end Larry, then the fingertips won't feel so bad by comparison. Seriously now, I wonder if you're holding down chords with too firm a grip. It's surprising how much you can relax your fingers and still squeeze out a clean chord. Ouch .. and ... well relaxed fingers seems to be the answer. Mind you, go for alternate tunings and do away with the Ann things altogether!
|
|
|
Post by oustudent on Nov 17, 2017 22:27:01 GMT
Make sure your guitar is professionally set up, ideally with some low tension strings.
|
|
|
Post by bitey on Dec 21, 2017 12:43:10 GMT
It really should not be painful to play a guitar - perhaps the saddle needs to be shaved down a bit to improve the action?
Yes, a shorter scale will inevitably put less tension on the strings and will be easier to play.
Lighter gauge strings will help - good luck and keep practicing!
|
|