Guitar Fingers
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
Eugene, Oregon
July 29, 2016 3:08pm CST
About a month ago, I wrote about buying a guitar from a neighbor, and yes, I have been practicing, maybe not enough. But he came over yesterday and we worked on some chords and strums for a while.
Of course, my fingers started hurting, holding down those steel strings, even though they are the kind wrapped in silk and are a little easier on the digits.
I read that soaking your fingers in apple cider vinegar for a moment or two before playing helps, so I am trying that. I know that the more I play, the tougher my fingers will get, so am hoping that happens soon.
Anyone have other remedies for guitar fingers?
27 people like this
24 responses
@celticeagle (167210)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Jul 16
You might try taking a Ibuprofen before you start strumming those steel strings. I learned to do that when I jogged and it helped so I wasn't quite so sore. I have arthritis in a hip so it helped.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Jul 16
Not a bad idea. I may try that one.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167210)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic ....Good! Hope it helps.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
29 Jul 16
I have to say that I didn't realize how much the size of fingers makes a difference in guitar playing. I decided I wanted to learn last summer. I bought an expensive program for self-teaching t hat a friend used. Anyway, my fingers are so short! Then life got busy.... I only completed one lesson. :-) So I'm sorry to report that I have no remedies or advice. :-) Good luck.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (219075)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Aug 16
@JamesHxstatic Not a problem! I have callouses on both hands now from guitar and bass.
Oh, THAT tip! Yes, it's important for people with smaller hands not to get frustrated by getting "too much guitar." I had to sell my fancy Santa Cruz OM because the neck was too wide and thick for me. It just wasn't comfortable. My (also fancy) Collings OM-1 is perfect for me.
@TheHorse (219075)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Aug 16
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Children's Dance · Alex de Grassi / ???????? A Windham Hill Retrospective ? 1978 Sony Music Entertainment Rel...
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Aug 16
@TheHorse Not familiar, but will look him up, thanks!
1 person likes this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
30 Jul 16
Your guitar is very nice. I taught myself how to play the guitar and like you i also suffered much from painful wrist fingers and elbow. I dont know any remedy for the pain so i just had to bear it all and just pracitsed and practised until my fingers got calloused
2 people like this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
@JamesHxstatic Its only when you have calloused fingers thats when the pain stops
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
No. I tried playing guitar, but was told to cut my fingernails off. Didn't want to do that. Sold my new guitar to a friend who gave it to her daughter. They were both happy, so were my nails.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jul 16
Yes, can't have nails on that that left hand.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jul 16
@ElizabethWallace Good idea to keep them then.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic When I was young and unhappy, I bit them down to nothing, but when I started teaching, and had some control in my life, I grew them out. I didn't want to give them up for music, so I kept them. They meant more than most would understand. They stand for freedom and happiness.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
30 Jul 16
when I was young I played and then life got in the way. I played everyday and soon my fingers toughened up. I have no remedies for you but to just keep playing and wait it out. I still have two of my 3 guitars a very old Harmony Rocket Hollow Body Electric, and a Giannini Acoustic. I haven't played in years but can't seem to give up my guitars. I also had a Solid Body Les Paul I bought brand new when I was 19, I gave it to my nephew a few years ago.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Jul 16
Those sound like collectors items.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
30 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic I think they are, the Harmony Rocket was used when my dad bought it for me when I was 13, I'm now 58 makes that guitar over 45 years old.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
30 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic no!
The key is at the end of the guitar or in the song we were trying to play yesterday?
@Marilynda1225 (82839)
• United States
29 Jul 16
I didn't realize that your fingers would hurt when you started playing guitar. It always looks so easy when you see a pro playing. Hope you find a remedy that works
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
29 Jul 16
I have no remedies. I tried to learn the ukulele, finally developed callouses on my fingertips, gave it all up because even with the calluses my fingertips still hurt.
2 people like this
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
30 Jul 16
My hubby runs into the same thing, let me know if the apple vinegar works.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
29 Jul 16
I fiddled around a bit when I was a teenager and I can remember how it felt on my fingers. I didn't learn to play anything though. Was just messing around.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Jul 16
I have messed around three or four times, feeling more serious this time.
2 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
30 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic The one time was enough for me to realize I was not going to learn to play the guitar.
2 people like this
@Tierkreisze (1609)
• Philippines
30 Jul 16
I never used that apple cider vinegar when I was trying to learn how to play the guitar, but I think it will be best if you try pacing your practicing time since too much would make your fingers hurt too much that you won't be able to press the strings any longer.
Nowadays, I wash my hands to cool off when trying to add callouses since I don't play during school days. But I think I've read somewhere in the internet that you shouldn't do that. I'm just used to it, that's all.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
30 Jul 16
just to tell you that its great to know you are into playing the guitar.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16764)
• China
30 Jul 16
I don't know about guitar,though I strum on my violin now and then.However I play the erhu(a Chinese musical instrument with a bow and two strings) every day.At the start,my fingers hurt too,but now I have had calluses on my fingertips.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Jul 16
Sorry, I have none. And I've known a lot of guitarists over the years. I never asked.
1 person likes this
