#1
|
|||
|
|||
Finger shape imapct on
Hey there,
I have tried learning the guitar some years ago. However, I gave up very early because I found it very hard to press down the strings with my finger. The way my nail grows makes it hard/painful to press down with the top of my finger. Before I give it another go I was just wondering if I can even play the guitar with this finger shape. I am sorry if this is an odd question. English is my second language so I also apologize if I have worded this somehow incorrect. Thanks a lot for your help! Really appreciated. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Welcome to the forum. Your finger looks perfectly fine to me. It’s possible that any pain or discomfort you felt is part of the normal learning process that all players go through to some degree. I say, give it a go and work through it. If it becomes too painful, seek medical advice.
__________________
Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Keep fretting hand nails trimmed down to zero white.
__________________
Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Welcome, and your English is just fine, but your fingernail is too long. Try playing 15 min per day, every day, and the pain will become less and less. Also, make sure your guitar is set up correctly, and try some easy to play strings like GHS thin core extra lights if you are playing a steel string guitar. Have fun!
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Like Rick-SLO said, your nails need to be trimmed back much more.
Also, make sure your guitar is setup properly. Go to a guitar shop and have them check it. If you're just starting out - don't play for too long. Let your fingers gradually get used to the strings over time. And BTW - I think you will be a better player than I am because your finger is pointier than mine. I suppose I could have finger plastic surgery tho (I might as well get a tummy tuck while I'm at it). |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I recommend starting with nylon strings for a year, then going to steel. The shape of your fingertips will change as you develop calluses over time from fretting. More flat and much tougher. I agree about keeping the nails trimmed. practice daily.
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Exactly. This is entirely correct. If you have nails, it’ll get in your way. I have a friend/student who has 1/8”+ of nail on his fretting hand and continues to injure himself by pushing the string for bending in a way that pulls the nail away from the bed. I keep telling him to cut his nails but he won’t.
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
For those of us who can play a bit it is easy to forget the struggle of learning and just how awkward and frustrating everything seems!
Technique for playing the guitar is not fixed; every player comes to their own method over time. As a player, I certainly don't come straight down on the strings with my fingers. The hard callouses on my fingers are a little down from the finger end and off to one side. I like to grip the neck with a straight wrist and apply as little pressure as possible with my thumb. I have some joint stiffness and I lost the last joint onward of my index finger in a rock climbing accident about 15 years ago - so I had to adapt. And, given time and determination, that's what you will do - you will adapt and find a fretting technique that suits your hand. Here are a couple of photos of me holding down a C chord and the string marks on my fingers. So don't get too disheartened, you don't have 'the wrong shaped fingers' to play guitar. Cut your nails as advised and then take some time to work out how you can fret different chords in a way that suits your hand. This will naturally change and adapt over time as you play more and more until you won't have to think about fretting at all, it will just come naturally to you. Good luck - it is not easy to learn guitar but worth the struggle. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Welcome !
Your English is good to me even though it is not my mother tongue either. ;-) My fretting hand fingernails are as short as they can, some 3-4 mm behind the tip ! But first thing first : how is the action of your guitar at first fret ? I want my folks at 1 mm, not more. Second, you have to apply just the strenght needed to efficiently to avoid buzz. Third, if it becomes painful under the end of the nail, acrylic glue would help. Enjoy !
__________________
Needed some nylons, a wide range of acoustics and some weirdos to be happy... |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Problems with fingernail lenght?
And yes, she does play the guitar! |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
To avoid the nails somewhat you can lean the fingertips to the degree you show in your picture but it is not a good thing to do so generally.
__________________
Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
It takes a while to build up calluses on the finger tips. Practice for 30 minutes every day, and within a month much of that pain will vanish.
__________________
1 dreadnought, 1 auditorium, 1 concert, and 2 travel guitars. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6CyQftidOw |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Learning guitar hurts.
There's not getting away from it. There's no point in sugar coating it. It takes time to develop calluses on the tips of your fingers. Once you have them then it stops hurting but until you do then it's going to hurt. Sorry but them's the breaks. Keep going. It gets better. A lot better.
__________________
Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Mark Twain |