Official: Guitars hate me

by ghyphena

Posted: 14 years ago 20 replies

OFF TOPIC

I like to play piano. You push the buttons and out comes the sound.

But guitar... different story. I got one a couple of days ago and have been giving it quite the effort - but I'm just not feeling it.

I don't know if it's the 170 degree angle at which I have to hold my left hand, or the pain the strings cause my fingertips (especially my left index finger which I almost sliced right off six weeks ago on a bread cutter).

I've looked around on the internet for special guitar thimbles/rings/whatever that make it easier to push down on the strings to get a clean sound... and it appears that no such heavenly contraption exists.

I will have to tough it out until I get the much-coveted "guitar fingers" which, if my interpretation is correct, basically means my fingers will get calloused and puffy and hardened.

Tell me it gets better.

Gil-Ad

Loren Woirhaye 14 years ago

Your problem is the "set-up" - the strings are too high
for you. Many learners are discouraged by too-high strings.

The high set-up makes the tones a little brighter,
but also makes the fretting more difficult.

If you must play a steel string use lighter gauge strings -
10s or 11s. I prefer nylon strings myself and only develop
substantial calluses when I play a great deal.

Nylon string guitar is easier to learn on. Cheap nylon
string guitars often have the strings set-up too high
however. The solution is to get an easier to play guitar
or have somebody who knows how to correct the
"action" help you do it. I could fix it in about ten minutes
for you, but you don't live nearby so that's not a
viable option.
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- Steven Wagenheim 14 years ago
  
  Hey, how's it going?
  
  Look, I play guitar too (you can hear my original tunes at YouTube) and let
  me tell you, the only way to get through it is to tough it out. Even nylon
  string guitars, which I have one, are tough on the fingers no matter how
  low the strings are IF you play a lot. Your fingers are just not used to
  that kind of abuse because they're soft. My first few weeks were not fun.
  
  Today, I don't even feel it and I can play just about anything.
  
  After playing, soak your fingers in warm soapy water and then put some
  vaseline on them. It helps.
  
  In the end, it will be worth it once you see how much you progress with
  your instrument.
  
  Rock on!
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
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  fir3d 14 years ago
  
  Hey, Im in the same situation as you. I just started playing and Im finding it very hard on my fingers. I just play 20 minutes a day but people on youtube make it look so easy
  
  Thanks
  
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  Killer Joe 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim
  
  the only way to get through it is to tough it out.
  
  True, true, true.
  
  You'll have to go through a little pain to get some calluses, but don't fret, you'll get there with a little practice.
  
  We all had to do that.
  
  KJ
  
  Thanks
  
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KenThompson 14 years ago

Hey! Cool that you're branching out into other instruments.
Your experience with the piano will definitely help you with
playing music on the guitar.

Don't worry, though, my finger tips never looked disfigured when I
had callouses and neither will your's.

Also, you've been playing for such a very short time. Give your self
a break and some time. Just play until it becomes too uncomfortable,
then stop and resume the next day, or so. Be patient and it will get
better.

You may consider taking your guitar to a local shop and have them
lower your strings. There are a few places in my area, and the guys
there are musicians. They're really very cool and always glad to help.
I'm sure you can find places like that in your area.

Good luck and don't give up!
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- Kay King 14 years ago
  
  I gave up on the guitar years ago. I picked it up fairly easily as I've played piano and keyboard for years but I'm left handed and found whenever I wasn't getting the results I wanted or my fingers hurt I'd just switch to the keyboard because it was easy for me.
  
  Stick with it - wish I had.
  
  kay
  
  Thanks
  
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ghyphena 14 years ago

Thanks everyone for the advice/encouragement - I think what I'll do is try to practice for about 20mins or so a day with my current high/steel set-up (with the same rationale as learning to drive a manual rather than an automatic - if I can play steel strings I won't have a problem with nylon)... even if it takes a little longer to get used to.

If I'm too wimpy I can always get nylon strings and have the action adjusted as per Loren's suggestion, and save the steel strings until I'm better with it.

Will definitely try the warm soapy water / vaseline idea.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Gil-Ad
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Gil-Ad Schwartz
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- CDarklock 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by ghyphena
  
  I think what I'll do is try to practice for about 20mins or so a day with my current high/steel set-up
  
  Get thinner strings. Thinner strings - lower tension, lower tension - less wear and tear on the hands.
  
  EDIT: And keep your thumb in the middle of the neck. It will be awkward for a good long while, but it's better than finding out your "style" doesn't work for advanced playing. You know, you CAN shorten your strap to raise the guitar to a comfortable playing position. You can hold the guitar at any angle. Use what's comfortable for you.
  
  Thanks
  
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Loren Woirhaye 14 years ago

Training your left hand on hard-to-play steel strings
will probably make it difficult to adapt to a classical
hand position later. Steel string players often clamp
the neck in the crook of the thumb, crippling the mobility
in the fingers. If you choose to branch out into classical,
Spanish, or other styles like some jazz forms that require
more fluidity in the left hand, you'll have to unlearn
the "death grip" you are training yourself in now.

In my opinion it's not worth it. I know many guitar
players who struggle to learn flamenco and other
demanding styles, as well as site reading, because
of bad left hand habits. The great players play
with a very relaxed hand, not a heavy, clamping
grip.
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ghyphena 14 years ago

Yeah... I've been doing that. No wonder my fingers can't reach anything.

I should probably pick up some nylon strings then. And a strap. A strap would probably help...

Gil-Ad
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Russell Hall 14 years ago

Play till your fingers bleed and then let them heal over. Eventually you''ll get leather skin callouses on the tips and it wont hurt so much.

The problem with most beginners is that they start off on a guitar with steel strings and a terrible "Action" (distance from strings to fingerboard),.. that in itself is a killer and even now after 35 years of playing I refuse to play such "soap box specials".
Get a nice reasonably good quality nylon string guitar first is my suggestion. You can either trade in your steel string for a better one or pay the guitar shop pro to lower the action for you and put a lighter guage of strings on.

Don't give up... guitar is easy really. I wish I could play piano,.. but they dont sound any good hooked up through a good heavy metal distortion box!
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- Steven Wagenheim 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by RussRave
  
  Don't give up... guitar is easy really. I wish I could play piano,.. but they dont sound any good hooked up through a good heavy metal distortion box!
  
  That's for darn sure.
  
  I play both and even though I have been playing piano since I was a little
  kid, I enjoy playing guitar more.
  
  Probably because it impresses the women more.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  ThomM 14 years ago
  
  Don't give up... guitar is easy really
  
  If that was true I'd be a guitarist and not a drummer:rolleyes:
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  evolucian 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by ThomM
  
  If that was true I'd be a guitarist and not a drummer:rolleyes:
  
  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... brilliant dude!
  
  *Guitar is easy... elaborate that to campfire guitar is easy. It's the playing like Steve Vai and Mattias Ecklund thats the hard side.*
  
  Hang in there, its just 10 days since yr post... how you feeling now? I teach so feel free to pm any questions if needed.
  
  Thanks
  
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stevejohn 14 years ago

I too agree with the fact that its easy and comfortable to play piano than playing guitar in some aspects. But we cant take piano in hands and play, we will get more freedom when playing guitar.

My finger tips pained for 1 month, after practicing blisters will come in the finger tips, then two days rest for fingers, if you dare to play on these two days, you will experience much more pain. Then new skin comes there, this process repeats and atlast it will get harden there, slowly everything would be better,

Try to prepare for exams, I mean Grade exams for Piano and Guitar, Your playing level will increase for sure.

All the best
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josspam 14 years ago

hey I play piano too and started to play guitar on my own when my brother bought one... It's hard a the begining but since we have a good knowledge on music it begins to play better!!

Trust me it just requires hard work and you'll make it work!

Jocy
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John M Kane 14 years ago

I've owned several high ticket guitars and off the rack they never were setup to play with ease.
ALL had to be worked on to get good action.
Usually the nut was set way too high so at the first fret the strings required much more force than was necessary.
Go find an independent guitar store that the local musicians shop at.
Have them show how a guitar should play.
More important is TAKE LESSONS!
You will probably fall into hard to break bad habits if you try to teach yourself.
Better to spend the money on lessons and rent a guitar.
You will progress much faster with a good teacher.
Good luck
- Thanks
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hock1 14 years ago

Yeah, as the others say, all you can do is play through it, the callouses will come and when that happens the strings will be easier to fret, start with a light guage and work your way up, Try to relax your shoulders,fingers,etc, you don't want any tension when you are playing.
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Shanoa35 14 years ago

I wish I could play a musical instrument.
Once my BF gave me a guitar but I didn't learn it by heart.
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powderme 14 years ago

I you really like to learn it be patient.Practice at least for 2 hrs on a simple piece it worked for me. yup callouses would be there.
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