freaking wussy guitar fingers....

A

atl.lovexo111708

New member
I am a 35 year old mom, who is just starting to learn to play guitar. How's that for a late learner? I have been singing for years, but I just got my 1st guitar (acoustic 6 string, from Yamaha, a good starter) last week.

Besides being an "old lady" I have other challenges in learning. I have some nerve damage in my left hand, pretty minor, but I am less coordinated with it sometimes, and I have wussy skin. LOL Well, I am a girl, so it's girly, and I am already getting blistery feeling fingertips from practicing. I don't have any blisters yet, but they feel like they would if they were about to form blisters, if that makes sense.
I don't really even practice in long spurts. I have kiRAB, so I only get smaller chunks of time in the day anyway, plus I am trying to pace myself to avoid bloody fingers as well as burn out. lol

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestion for how to develop better coordination, and how to avoid developing string injuries to the finger tips?
Thanks.
 
Aw, thanks for the encouragment. I appreciate it.
I always thought there'd be no way I could learn to play because of the way my left hand is a bit off, but I finally got sick of using that as an excuse. I won't know unless I actually TRY, right.

Thanks again.
 
Yeah... I think I am gonna go for that 1st option. Wouldn't want my daughter to recoil in terror if I was to touch her little face with my horridly calloused hand! LOL
 
Well, if you play guitar you are gonna have some big nasty calluses on your fingertips... and trust me, you want them there because otherwise your fingers will start hurting after 5 minutes of playing. Your daughter will just have to cope
 
True dat. LOL I am getting them already, but so far, they don't feel nasty to the touch, and I am fortunately right handed as well.

I still really don't like those 1st 2 strings. DAMN, they DO hurt after 5 minutes.

Are there excersizes I can do to gain strength in my digits, especially my ring and pinky fingers?
 
Actually, for most things, strength is miply not necessary. When I play guitar, it feels like I'm barely touching the strings. As a matter of fact, if you press down too hard, the note will go slightly sharp. The trick is in the technique, learning which direction your fingers need to be pressing down and exactly how much pressure you need to put on the strings. These will inevitably come with time, and what feels totally foreign to you now will feel totally natural in a matter of months. Any time spent "strengthening your fingers" will undoubtedly be better spent on the guitar itself.
 
Couldn't agree more with this. Back when I started I had to take days off from practicing cause my fingers hurt so bad. Now I've permanently rubbed off part of the fingerprints on a couple fret fingers and can't feel a thing. It all takes time and time and more fucking time.
 
Thanks so much for the advice! I appreciate it.
I am really enjoying the practice right now. Feels WAY better than it did just a few days ago. I am learning chorRAB right now, and the really hard part is transitioning smoothly from one chord to another on full chorRAB.

The other kinda funny "challenge" is keeping my boob out of the way. LOL
when I am standing with the strap over my shoulder, my right boob always tries to block me from holding the guitar correctly. LOL(it's actually not that big a deal, it's just funny to me)
A blessing and a curse, I tell ya.
 
IN!!!!! These guys are right. I started reading this, then realised these guys have said everything I could have already said. Its good advice.
 
Also thank you for being so kind with your advice. I appreciate when people are so polite and sincere, and aren't total asswaRAB. lol
Thanks again....
....still feeling the enRAB of my 1st 2 fret fingers because they feel all numb and funky, which I hear is a good thing.
 
Well, I don't sound super great, but I am already "writing" songs with the chorRAB I've been learning.
I can't flip pages of a book with my left hand very well. LOL I can't FEEL them. But it's okay.
 
Back
Top