Darn Fingers

[Smthng2Do]

I can't make them do the walking. I am a total rookie, 31 years old, and just bought my very first guitar ever. I have been doing finger exercisies, such as placing four fingers across four frets, and moving two fingers at a time, pinky up and middle finger up, then index and ring, so on and so forth. It doesn't matter how long I try, my fingers still can't do the walking. They are clutzy I suppose. What can I do to train my fingers to lift, and place when and where I want them to, rather than where they want them to. I am sore too. I have tried different grips on the neck, and so on. Is it just going to come to me in time, or am I doomed?

[MrSamson]

First of all....the soreness WILL go away?

Ever try physical exercise after a long time of not doing anything physical?

Calluses (sp?) need to build up on your finger tips...I think that takes about 3 weeks...then play all day, no soreness...although I have been working a lot on bending lately...and that will turn your fingers to hamburger quickly.

When I was just starting...to extend practice time...I would put fretting fingers on ice (literally) so they were numb and could not feel anything.

Sometimes i forget how clumsy my fingers were when I started...I think we all do until we watch someone pick up a guitar for the first time...and like a bad dream...we remember http://www.zentao.com/ubb/wink.gif

Anyway...go slow...I recommend using a metronome...and the speed will come...it has to. The more you practice...the more your speed increases...exponentially!!!

Oh, by the way..there is a book called Guitar Fitness by Josquin Des Pres that has 80 pages of exercises to increase finger accuracy and speed...I use it in warm-up routine daily...It goes way beyond the exercises posted in the lessons

Hope that helps....

[Smthng2Do]

In reply to your first sentence, you said, It WILL go away? Now did you really mean to put a question mark there? Am I doomed!?!?! I appreiciate your time MrSamson.

[Josh]

I used to play until my fingers bled. Then I'd put bandaids on them and try to play some more. Don't worry though, the pain will go away after a while. My advice is to start really slow. Think each finger movement through. After a while you'll be so used to the movements that it will seem like your fingers have a mind of their own. It does take time and lots of practice though.

[MrSamson]

My appologies...the ? should be !!!!

Woops...

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/confused.gif

[StoneDragon]

Hey.... when I first started, I had so little left hand coordination that I couldn't switch from open position E to open position Amin (same shape just moved over one string) without using my right hand to literaly move the fingers of my left hand into place.

I used to look at my favorite guitar players and think that if I sucked so bad, I would never be as good as they were. The only thing that drove me was that I HAD to play that guitar. Something was inside of me that demanded to be free, and playing the guitar was the only solution.

Just keep at it... that is all there is to it. Something will give and before you know it everyone (including yourself) will be amazed at how quick and nimble your fingers are.

[This message has been edited by StoneDragon (edited February 22, 2000).]

[Smthng2Do]

Well guys, if it weren't for your web site at this moment, I would still be wondering if I should have bought it. Your instruction has definately made me "KNOW" that I can indeed do it. I just hurt like hell!! :-) I will keep it going, it sounds better every time. I have also learned to set it down. I would try to do the same thing over and over, and finally it would get worse and worse. After setting it down and picking it up a couple hours later, I found I could play what I was trying to play the first or second try. Love your help, you guys are the best!!!

[StoneDragon]

Setting it down for a while is one of the real secrets... it allows your body time to absorb what your brain is trying to get it to do.

[ghodaddyyo]

One advantage to having calluses on your finger tips is the ability to put out candles with your fingers like a tough guy! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/wink.gif
Seriously, sometimes I wonder if my calluses are too thick because the lack of sensitivity makes me not fret notes properly.

Piece of advise; Do not play guitar with wet(raisin skin) hands. You will carve all of your hard earned calluses off, and the sensitivity of your fresh skin on corroded metal strings just sends shivers up my spine thinking about it.

[CyberCobre]

Putting out candles with your calluses like a tough guy, huh? Does that include the thumb? (hmmm, interesting hand position you got, godaddy'!);)

Ouch to the idea of doing ANYTHING with raisin-skin. (You shouldn't soak in the hot tub so long, even if she is your dream babe.)

[Josh]

Geez, you're nuts. Don't ruin your hands by putting cigarettes out on them. I put cigarettes out on my tongue. Much better.

[StoneDragon]

Who's nuts??????

Next you're going to tell me that you smash beer cans with your forehead http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif

[ghodaddyyo]

I was able to develop calluses on my thumbs, because before I started learning to play guitar, I had to snap my fingers for musical accompaniment. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/wink.gif Cobra, you are very clever-nobody else caught that. I'll have to watch my P's and Q's around you!

[Josh]

Cans are for amateurs. Try bottles.

[StoneDragon]

LOL... you remind me of this guy I knew in high school who bought this album by ACCEPT and gave it to me because he thought it was kind of mellow. My best friend and I used to speculate about what this dude was putting on his Wheaties in the morning http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by StoneDragon (edited February 24, 2000).]

[Josh]

Me and a friend of mine used to smoke up before school. We got the munchies so bad we'd eat a whole box of cereal between the two of us.

p.s. don't do drugs.

p.s.s. but if you do, do it before you shower so you won't smell.

[john445]

MrSamson: I checked amazon and B&N for Guitar Fitness - no dice. Any ideas where to find it?

John
1st time poster, over-the-hill guy who picked up his first electric guitar three weeks ago - whew!

[CyberCobre]

Welcome John445. And ain't nobody over-the-hill until their spirit is, so you don't qualify for the over-the-hill status because you are willing to learn a new instrument. You are MORE than welcome here.

"Age makes no difference, only the mind." ;)

[StoneDragon]

john445,

Looks like that book is a Hal Leonard offering only. Go here (http://www.halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=660328&catcode=1&refer=search&type=product&keywords=fitness+) to check it out.

[geoffreyt]

John445, Im 48 years old. I bought my 1st guitar about 4 years ago. Took lessons for a year and put it down until about a year ago. I picked it up and now Im rolling right along. The way I see it, BB King is pretty "cool" and he's about 75. As long as arthritis dont get ya, here's a life long endeavor just for your entertainment! ease-up

[MrSamson]

John...before you do that ....

see if you can get the book via muscian's friend...have not tried to search for it there..but I know that they have it...I have seen it in their catalog...

click on the musciansfriend link from the inside the music main page..(that way stone can get a little kickback)

anyway...I am glad the lesson guides are of some help...

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/devil.gif

I just got to get rid of that godawful picture stone put up when we originally put those pages initially up...

he was like..."Oh, by the way, I put this picture of you up...hope you dont mind..."

hahahahhaha

[StoneDragon]

Hope you got your camera ready MrSamson http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smokin.gif

[john445]

Thanks you for the kind welcome and the link for the book! I am not really over-the-hill, 52 but don't often feel it.

John

[john445]

Ok, so three weeks into this and I am still having problem doing a D major. It seems no matter how I position my fingers, my midde finger can not get the high E to ring.

Then I tried the chord with my left thumb right behind my index finger on the back of the neck, even with my index finger. In other words my fingers are straight on the frets and I can make the chord work.

But it seems I have to bend my wrist to the right to make that position. Does that make sense, its rather uncomfortable?

John

[wizard815]

Im new hear so please bear with me. Ive been playing for a few years and to put it mildly, i still suck. I can walk my fingers across the board fairly well. My biggest problem is playing clean. Id love to play in a band but not until i get this problem licked. I also tend to mute strings when i play chords. I play with the tips of my fingers but i still mute some of them.. any help or recomendations would be great.

[StoneDragon]

Are you having trouble playing the single-note stuff clean.... or just the chords?

For single note playing, the trick is not to concentrate on one hand or the other. Instead, focus your attention on where you want the note to sound (in time) and allow both hands to find their own sync with that focus.

For chords, hand position rules. Never be afraid to adjust your hand position to accommodate the chord. After you have tried everything possible, you may have to chalk it up to that chord being unplayable by you and learning to play the chord at a different location on the fingerboard.

Every chord can be found in several locations on the neck.... each with a different fingering. If one doesn't work for you, try a different one.

[wizard815]

ok, i changed the way im holding the neck. i was using the baseball bat grip mentioned in the lessons. im getting cleaner sounding chords although it feels wierd after playing like i was for so long.as for the single notes what is happening is when i fret the note my finger nail touches the other string and causes a vibration off my nail and of course the amp picks it up. I dont have a problem fingering the chords as my fingers now naturally go to the position of the chords i know.i think the problem was just the way i was holding the neck. i also adjusted my strap and moved the guitar closer to my chest instead of my waist, and i must say it made a big difference. now i dont have to wrap my wrist all the way around the neck and its awhole lot easier to reach the strings. i didnt think that just changing my grip and guitar position would make that much of a difference.maybe if i actually started with a teacher instead of by myself i might have been using these techniques the whole time. oh well, live and learn i guess.