Hello, I just got my guitar today and my brother has been teaching me a few chords. My fingertips are starting to hurt really bad. Is that normal? If so, how long is it supposed to last and what do you suggest to alleviate some of the discomfort?
Thank you,
Alexia
Hi Alexia,
The pain in your fingertips is normal, although I'm sure it is uncomfortable to say the least.
What's happening is your fingertips are not use to pressing so hard down on thin metal strings. Ouch.
You do not have any calluses built up yet, and until you do, they will get sore pretty fast.. especially if you like to play and your motivated to learn.
The good news is that eventually it will go away. Well, it will get much better. It's not uncommon for a guitarist who has already built up calluses to still experience some finger tip soreness after playing for very extended periods. The more you play, the more you will build up calluses, and the longer you will be able to play without feeling discomfort.
The fact that you have experienced this soreness says to me that you already have a good interest in your instrument. That's great! Don't let this "right of passage" stand in your way to becoming a great guitarist and musician.
To answer your questions:
Is it normal? Yes, it's completely normal and it will get better.
How long will it last? Good question. Everybody is different. Your going to really feel it the first few weeks, since most likely you haven't got any calluses built up on your finger tips. They will get red, sore, and definitely feel uncomfortable. If you play a little bit every day, or at least a couple of times a week, you will get the best results. Take your time, there is absolutely no need to play while in pain. If you feel pain, STOP, take a break. You can always study your scales, theory, notation, etc. There are many things you can do to advance your playing without actually playing the guitar. Even listening to your favorite artists will help, now that you put a guitar in your hands you will start to hear music differently.
There is nothing wrong with taking a day or two break to let those sore finger tips heal. As they heal, thin layers of skin will build up on your fingertips, the more skin that builds up the better.
Remember, if you feel pain, STOP, take a break, or call it day. I would even suggest that as soon as you feel discomfort, which might be pretty quick, STOP, and take a break. If it hurts, call it a day.
What do you suggest to alleviate some of the discomfort? So you got your new guitar, and boy are your fingertips hurting. I would suggest soaking them in a glass of cold ice water. It will get the red out, help with any minor swelling, and cool and relieve those sore digits.
Every time that you play, you will get stronger and build up more tolerance to those tiny metal strings that are making your fingertips so raw. The process of playing and then resting is what will allow you to play longer and stronger. Take your time, there is no hurry and no reason to feel discomfort. Eventually you will build up enough calluses and tolerance that one day you will forget all about these early days and you'll just keep playing for hours and hours.
Congratulations! You have already taken your first step to becoming a great guitarist.
Welcome to the family.
Showing posts with label fingers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fingers. Show all posts
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Monday, September 19, 2005
oooooooo The Pain!
While flipping through my favorite guitar magazines I often notice that during interviews with “Pro” guitarists that these “Pro” guitarists love to brag about how they used to “Play the guitar until my fingers bleed”, as if this is something to brag about.
Listen, if it hurts, Stop!
Sure, it might sound cool to your cronies at the lunchroom table when you tell them how you were playing the guitar so hard and for so long that the blood actually rand down your hands and covered your fret board in a ¼’ thick ooze. Maybe you could even bring in some of the rusted strings with your dried flesh hanging off of them. Chics would surely dig that. “Look guys, I’m such a great guitar player that I’ve ruined my hands and won’t be able to play for a week.” Um, wow.
Yes, rookie guitarists will most definitely feel uncomfortable as they press their little pink digits unto the steel strings for the first time. That is to be expected. Truly, many a newbie has grimaced his face in pain as he tried to play his first F chord. There is no argument to the fact that sometimes we will experience uncomfortable situations as we learn and experiment with new ideas on the guitar, however it shouldn’t hurt.
Listen, if it hurts, Stop!
Honestly, this is important. If you feel a painful cramp in your thumb as you try and squeeze your fingers against the fret board, STOP! It’s possible that if you ignore that pain in your thumb/hand that you can permanently damage the muscle. If you damage the thumb muscle you will never have the strength and agility that other guitarists will have. It will cripple your playing ability for life.
This thumb cramping issue was brought to the forefront by my classical guitar teacher. Classical Guitar students will often find themselves frozen on the neck stretching their fret hand fingers beyond belief trying to play a difficult new chord. The fret hand can become cramped; a painful knot feeling in the lower thumb muscle is the warning sign. If you feel this pain, STOP. Take a break. Shake it out and relax the hand for a few minutes, then try again.
I promise, you will build up plenty of strength by going slow and avoiding these painful muscle injuries. You will do far more damage than good by ignoring the pain.
As for the “Bloody Fingertips” that “Pro” guitarists often brag about; never, ever, never, play with bloody fingertips. It can be easy for experienced guitarists or rookie guitarists on a roll, to be so focused on playing that they simply do not realize that their fingertips have started to bleed. Most often the bleeding occurs under the fingernail as a result of the skin separating or cracking from the extreme pressure. If your fingertips start to bleed, stop playing, properly clean the wounds and call it a day.
The guitars fretboard is a heaven for bacteria and germs. That’s just the way it is. By continuing to play with an open wound you are inviting the bacteria into your body. Your fingertips will grind the old dead skin, oil, and rust from the strings, bacteria, germs, all into your open wound. If the fingertips become infected, you’re done playing for weeks, and you will loose far more ground as a player than you could have possibly gained. It’s even possible to get blood poisoning this way.
Like an athlete, you need to take care of your body. Like a surgeon, your hands are extremely important. Go slow, never play through the pain. If something starts to hurt, take a break, and then try again. The process of trying, then taking a break, is what will help you gain strength and dexterity.
Now go east some pea’s and get back to practice.
Listen, if it hurts, Stop!
Sure, it might sound cool to your cronies at the lunchroom table when you tell them how you were playing the guitar so hard and for so long that the blood actually rand down your hands and covered your fret board in a ¼’ thick ooze. Maybe you could even bring in some of the rusted strings with your dried flesh hanging off of them. Chics would surely dig that. “Look guys, I’m such a great guitar player that I’ve ruined my hands and won’t be able to play for a week.” Um, wow.
Yes, rookie guitarists will most definitely feel uncomfortable as they press their little pink digits unto the steel strings for the first time. That is to be expected. Truly, many a newbie has grimaced his face in pain as he tried to play his first F chord. There is no argument to the fact that sometimes we will experience uncomfortable situations as we learn and experiment with new ideas on the guitar, however it shouldn’t hurt.
Listen, if it hurts, Stop!
Honestly, this is important. If you feel a painful cramp in your thumb as you try and squeeze your fingers against the fret board, STOP! It’s possible that if you ignore that pain in your thumb/hand that you can permanently damage the muscle. If you damage the thumb muscle you will never have the strength and agility that other guitarists will have. It will cripple your playing ability for life.
This thumb cramping issue was brought to the forefront by my classical guitar teacher. Classical Guitar students will often find themselves frozen on the neck stretching their fret hand fingers beyond belief trying to play a difficult new chord. The fret hand can become cramped; a painful knot feeling in the lower thumb muscle is the warning sign. If you feel this pain, STOP. Take a break. Shake it out and relax the hand for a few minutes, then try again.
I promise, you will build up plenty of strength by going slow and avoiding these painful muscle injuries. You will do far more damage than good by ignoring the pain.
As for the “Bloody Fingertips” that “Pro” guitarists often brag about; never, ever, never, play with bloody fingertips. It can be easy for experienced guitarists or rookie guitarists on a roll, to be so focused on playing that they simply do not realize that their fingertips have started to bleed. Most often the bleeding occurs under the fingernail as a result of the skin separating or cracking from the extreme pressure. If your fingertips start to bleed, stop playing, properly clean the wounds and call it a day.
The guitars fretboard is a heaven for bacteria and germs. That’s just the way it is. By continuing to play with an open wound you are inviting the bacteria into your body. Your fingertips will grind the old dead skin, oil, and rust from the strings, bacteria, germs, all into your open wound. If the fingertips become infected, you’re done playing for weeks, and you will loose far more ground as a player than you could have possibly gained. It’s even possible to get blood poisoning this way.
Like an athlete, you need to take care of your body. Like a surgeon, your hands are extremely important. Go slow, never play through the pain. If something starts to hurt, take a break, and then try again. The process of trying, then taking a break, is what will help you gain strength and dexterity.
Now go east some pea’s and get back to practice.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Finger Exercise for Strength and Speed.
Here is a great exercise that will develop both your finger strength and speed. It’s also great for helping create the independence of movement between the different fingers.
This exercise was taught too me by a popular classical guitar instructor. I don’t remember the story exactly, however it goes something like this. A classical guitarist was falsely imprisoned long ago. He was unable to bring a guitar with him into the prison, and not wanting to loose his skills he needed a way to practice. He developed this simple technique using only a small plank of wood. According to the story, when the man was finally released from prison 8 years later, he bragged that this exercise allowed him to actually gain strength and skill. He actually came out a better guitarist than when he went in. Or so they say.
I have mentioned this exercise before, but in case you missed it, I highly recommend that every guitarist use this for their warm up or as part of their daily practice.
The idea is to work every finger on every fret. Remember that your fingers are numbered 1 through 4 with 1 being your pointer and 4 being your pinky.
Start on the 6th string, 1st fret, with your 1st finger. Play the note
While keeping the 1st finger pressed, press your 2nd finger down on the 2nd fret. Play the note.
Keep both fingers pressed, now 3rd finger 3rd fret. Play note.
Keep all 3 fingers pressed, now 4th finger 4th fret. Play note
Keep all 4 fingers pressed, release 4th finger. Play note
Here’s the pattern. Continue playing just like I have written. Make sure to keep your fingers pressed even though they are behind the fretted note.
1 2 3 4
4 3 2 1
1 4 3 4 2 4 3 4
repeat this on every string, moving starting with the 6 string and working your way to high E, or the first string. Then, move up one fret, and repeat.
This exercise should be repeated on every string, on every fret, up and down the neck.
You’ll be amazed at how much you will improve after just one week of incorporating this exercise into your regular practice routine.
Want to take it to the next level?
After you do a run while picking each individual note. Try a run while just picking the first note and using hammer on’s and pull off’s to play the rest without picking any more notes. This will really cause you to increase speed.
I have posted the tab for this excersie below. Good luck.
Track 1
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E--1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1----
--2----4----3----4------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------1----2----3----4----
--1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1----
--2----4----3----4------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------1----2----3----4----
--1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----5----4----5------------------------------------------------
------------------------2----3----4----5------5----4----4----2----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5--------------------------
----------------------------------------------2----3----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----5----4----5------------------------------------------------
------------------------2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5--------------------------
----------------------------------------------2----3----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----4----5----6------6----5----4----3------3----6----5----6----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------3----4----5----6------6----5----4----3----
--4----6----5----6------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--3----6----5----6------4----6----5----6----------
--------------------------------------------------
Follow the pattern and continue up the whole neck and then back again.
This exercise was taught too me by a popular classical guitar instructor. I don’t remember the story exactly, however it goes something like this. A classical guitarist was falsely imprisoned long ago. He was unable to bring a guitar with him into the prison, and not wanting to loose his skills he needed a way to practice. He developed this simple technique using only a small plank of wood. According to the story, when the man was finally released from prison 8 years later, he bragged that this exercise allowed him to actually gain strength and skill. He actually came out a better guitarist than when he went in. Or so they say.
I have mentioned this exercise before, but in case you missed it, I highly recommend that every guitarist use this for their warm up or as part of their daily practice.
The idea is to work every finger on every fret. Remember that your fingers are numbered 1 through 4 with 1 being your pointer and 4 being your pinky.
Start on the 6th string, 1st fret, with your 1st finger. Play the note
While keeping the 1st finger pressed, press your 2nd finger down on the 2nd fret. Play the note.
Keep both fingers pressed, now 3rd finger 3rd fret. Play note.
Keep all 3 fingers pressed, now 4th finger 4th fret. Play note
Keep all 4 fingers pressed, release 4th finger. Play note
Here’s the pattern. Continue playing just like I have written. Make sure to keep your fingers pressed even though they are behind the fretted note.
1 2 3 4
4 3 2 1
1 4 3 4 2 4 3 4
repeat this on every string, moving starting with the 6 string and working your way to high E, or the first string. Then, move up one fret, and repeat.
This exercise should be repeated on every string, on every fret, up and down the neck.
You’ll be amazed at how much you will improve after just one week of incorporating this exercise into your regular practice routine.
Want to take it to the next level?
After you do a run while picking each individual note. Try a run while just picking the first note and using hammer on’s and pull off’s to play the rest without picking any more notes. This will really cause you to increase speed.
I have posted the tab for this excersie below. Good luck.
Track 1
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E--1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1----
--2----4----3----4------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------1----2----3----4----
--1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------1----2----3----4------4----3----2----1----
--2----4----3----4------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------1----2----3----4----
--1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--4----3----2----1------1----4----3----4------2----4----3----4----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----5----4----5------------------------------------------------
------------------------2----3----4----5------5----4----4----2----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5--------------------------
----------------------------------------------2----3----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----5----4----5------------------------------------------------
------------------------2----3----4----5------5----4----3----2----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5--------------------------
----------------------------------------------2----3----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--5----4----3----2------2----5----4----5------3----5----4----5----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--3----4----5----6------6----5----4----3------3----6----5----6----
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------3----4----5----6------6----5----4----3----
--4----6----5----6------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--3----6----5----6------4----6----5----6----------
--------------------------------------------------
Follow the pattern and continue up the whole neck and then back again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
