Tips for a wannabe

emmy · 08-03-2006, 10:31 PM

Lately I've really been into the idea of learning to play the guitar. So I bought a really cheap one and have messed around a little with it. I'm finding it really difficult to press the strings with my fingers correctly. Does anyone have any tips - or do I just need to practice, practice, practice?

Any other general tips?

Bumpman · 08-03-2006, 10:52 PM

Pretty much everyone has that problem at first, unless you entered the olympics for sowing or something. It's really just a case of playing (or trying to play) until the skin on the tips of the fingers of your left hand begins to feel like the skin on your heel. The main thing at the stage you're at is to just not get fed up of the whole thing, if you can learn to play and sing even one part of any song, that should keep you interested until the muscles in your hands build up and your fingers become a bit rougher.

Try to find something you like that is played with two chords, and make sure you spend a good amount of time tuning your guitar, a really easy mistake to make starting off is thinking that you can't play when the reality is that you just aren't in tune. (If you don't have a tuner, splash out, it's worth the hassle.)

carvinC980t_kid · 08-04-2006, 07:31 AM

some good adive from bumpman.

also, if you are saying that you can't push down hard enough and hold the strings down and it ISN'T because it hurts then there are a few things. first off, the best way to fix this is play... alot!!! also, if your finger nails are too long on then hand you use to fret with then you'll find it hard to push all the way down without adjusting your fingers so that you can push down, but then you start muting the other strings. you need to make sure you learn to play on your tips and if you are having a buzz or dead notes when playing and the strings are pushed down all they way then you should look and see if your fingers at muting the other strings.

some good practice things are just go up and down in chromatic scales just to make your hand stronger and also teach help learn to control your fingers better. also, just practice strumming and switching chords so that you learn muscle memory and switching becomes simple and you don't have to really think about it. practice alternate strumming, strumming both up and down, and not just down down down down.

your hand/fingers will get strong eventually and your fingers will be come callused. about every few months the rough calluses on my fingers get ripped off, but they heal up and get hard in a day or two.

if you get anymore questions or need some tips I'd be glad to help you out! i'm a guitar teacher, so i think it is fun! but there are plenty of other folks here who can give great advice also, so just ask!! good luck!

emmy · 08-04-2006, 11:40 AM

thanks guys! I actually feel way better knowing that its tough for everyone at first! I'll work on those callouses - though I have spent the better part of a year working on having nice, smooth, lady-like hands. Oh well!

08-03-2006, 10:31 PM	#1
emmy Eskimo Friend Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 44	Tips for a wannabe Lately I've really been into the idea of learning to play the guitar. So I bought a really cheap one and have messed around a little with it. I'm finding it really difficult to press the strings with my fingers correctly. Does anyone have any tips - or do I just need to practice, practice, practice? Any other general tips?

08-03-2006, 10:52 PM	#2
Bumpman ... Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,801	Pretty much everyone has that problem at first, unless you entered the olympics for sowing or something. It's really just a case of playing (or trying to play) until the skin on the tips of the fingers of your left hand begins to feel like the skin on your heel. The main thing at the stage you're at is to just not get fed up of the whole thing, if you can learn to play and sing even one part of any song, that should keep you interested until the muscles in your hands build up and your fingers become a bit rougher. Try to find something you like that is played with two chords, and make sure you spend a good amount of time tuning your guitar, a really easy mistake to make starting off is thinking that you can't play when the reality is that you just aren't in tune. (If you don't have a tuner, splash out, it's worth the hassle.) __________________ Mic Christopher Is Great

08-04-2006, 07:31 AM	#3
carvinC980t_kid Eskimo Regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: noblesville indiana, aka people with too much money producing ignorant children Posts: 2,662	some good adive from bumpman. also, if you are saying that you can't push down hard enough and hold the strings down and it ISN'T because it hurts then there are a few things. first off, the best way to fix this is play... alot!!! also, if your finger nails are too long on then hand you use to fret with then you'll find it hard to push all the way down without adjusting your fingers so that you can push down, but then you start muting the other strings. you need to make sure you learn to play on your tips and if you are having a buzz or dead notes when playing and the strings are pushed down all they way then you should look and see if your fingers at muting the other strings. some good practice things are just go up and down in chromatic scales just to make your hand stronger and also teach help learn to control your fingers better. also, just practice strumming and switching chords so that you learn muscle memory and switching becomes simple and you don't have to really think about it. practice alternate strumming, strumming both up and down, and not just down down down down. your hand/fingers will get strong eventually and your fingers will be come callused. about every few months the rough calluses on my fingers get ripped off, but they heal up and get hard in a day or two. if you get anymore questions or need some tips I'd be glad to help you out! i'm a guitar teacher, so i think it is fun! but there are plenty of other folks here who can give great advice also, so just ask!! good luck! __________________ "And live for the moment, Lord knows I'm gon' die And when I get to hell, Lord knows I'm gon' fry" young jeezy - i luv it Last edited by carvinC980t_kid; 08-04-2006 at 07:35 AM.

08-04-2006, 11:40 AM	#4
emmy Eskimo Friend Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 44	thanks guys! I actually feel way better knowing that its tough for everyone at first! I'll work on those callouses - though I have spent the better part of a year working on having nice, smooth, lady-like hands. Oh well!