JoeKer_Z_Wilde
Joined: Sep 08, 2012
Posts: 28
Philly Pa
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 02:42 PM
I am a novice player. I've recently noticed when I play for a long time, an hour or more, I get string grooves in the callouses on my fingertips.
When changing chords, the grooves seem to make getting clear tones out if the new shape rather difficult.
Has anyone else come across anything like this?
If so, what do you do about it?
I stopped playing about 45 minutes ago, and still have a groove in my middle finger. Am I playing too long? Am I pressing too hard on the fret board?
Any bit of advice will be mist welcome
— Reverb...... Putting some drip on your hip since 1951
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 03:22 PM
You just need thicker callouses. It will happen with time.
And the grooves likely have no effect on getting clear tones out of the shape. That is probably more likely due to your finger' location and/or slightly touching the neighboring string.
|
pavlovsdog
Joined: Nov 22, 2010
Posts: 288
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 03:30 PM
I'm the opposite it seems.
I play for 3 hours a day, slightly higher action than stock, and .11 strings and I don't have any callous. Hell, I play out of the shower with pruny fingers and my fingers are fine.
I think I might be a witch.
|
psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 03:40 PM
callouses are a good thing! Fingers with torn up blackened and grooved tips means you're putting in the required amount of effort and practice. Do nothing, let this happen. It get grooves all the time. Callouses make playing a much less painful experience. You couldn't possibly practice long enough in my book. The clarity issue will resolve itself with practice. Slow down and just focus on making it sound true and clear.
— https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 04:37 PM
pavlovsdog wrote:
I'm the opposite it seems.
I play for 3 hours a day, slightly higher action than stock, and .11 strings and I don't have any callous. Hell, I play out of the shower with pruny fingers and my fingers are fine.
I think I might be a witch.
You have callouses, but you can't tell. I'm sure you have thick skin otherwise you'd probably be in pain if you bend a lot or do any glissandoes.
|
tahitijack
Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 06:36 PM
I started out as an acoustic guy and later added electrics to my toolbag. When I started playing electrics I found that I was pressing down too hard on the strings...a carry over from the acoustic. You need callouses but a lighter touch will also help. Try pressing down each chord lightly until you hear it sound perfect. As piano player changes the pounding to a lighter touch needed for electronic keys. As others have said keep playing the callouses will come with hours of patience and practice.
— Happy Sunsets!
Last edited: Nov 27, 2012 18:39:32
|
bu2b
Joined: Nov 18, 2012
Posts: 32
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 06:47 PM
Play for quality of music not quantity. Take a  break when necessary. Frustrated? Do something you like than come back to it. And above all have fun. Callous comes with time, enjoy the trip 
|
SmileySmile
Joined: May 05, 2012
Posts: 34
Private residence, man.
|
Posted on Nov 27 2012 09:49 PM
bu2b wrote:
Play for quality of music not quantity. Take a break when necessary. Frustrated? Do something you like than come back to it. And above all have fun. Callous comes with time, enjoy the trip
This so much. As for myself, I recently put 12-52 flats on my Jag, I wanted 13s but GC only had 12s. They are a big step up from the 9s and 10s I had been playing on my MIM Strat(since sold). Compared to those the 12s are like bridge cables. I love the discomfort 12s make me feel as my fingers get used to the heavier gauge. The satisfaction is that much greater when I realize I can play something easier because my callouses are getting thicker and my fingers stronger.
Moral of this long and probably unneccessary story is embrace the callouses, they are part of the process. Plus, they'll get harder and won't dent in as much. Though they may tear.
— You can put humbuckers in it, but why?
|
LordWellfleet
Joined: Jul 12, 2012
Posts: 171
Cape Cod, USA
|
Posted on Nov 28 2012 08:43 AM
|
SmileySmile
Joined: May 05, 2012
Posts: 34
Private residence, man.
|
Posted on Nov 28 2012 11:39 AM
LordWellfleet wrote:
Everything everybody else said, and drink more water! 
I thought this too lol.
— You can put humbuckers in it, but why?
|
bu2b
Joined: Nov 18, 2012
Posts: 32
|
Posted on Nov 28 2012 05:33 PM
......I do need more water.
|
pavlovsdog
Joined: Nov 22, 2010
Posts: 288
|
Posted on Nov 28 2012 05:51 PM
If you're new to guitar first get your guitar professionally setup and build a rapport with a tech.
Then spend a good amount of time to get to know your instrument. Practice how to play a note with as little effort/pressure as possible. Play around with how to get different sounds with different pickup combinations and I can't stress how important the vol/tone knobs are.
When I first started playing I had an acoustic with about an inch high action and really heavy strings and made the jump to electric a few years later. I had incredibly thick callouses (I used to put cigarettes out on my fingers as a party trick) and huge forearms but when I played a simple chord on an electric guitar it sounded horribly out of tune. I pointed this out to my tech and he took my guitar and strummed a beautiful crystalline chord and said, "sounds OK to me". What eventually caused me to re-learn my touch and dynamics was to play at higher volumes.
|
psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
|
Posted on Nov 29 2012 12:01 PM
This is what my fingertips look like after an average practice session:
and I have very calloused fingertips. No pain, no gain as they say.
— https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
|
JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
|
Posted on Nov 29 2012 12:21 PM
How do your fingertips get black from practice? What strings are you using? I've never seen or had that happen.
|
pavlovsdog
Joined: Nov 22, 2010
Posts: 288
|
Posted on Nov 29 2012 12:44 PM
|
psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
|
Posted on Nov 29 2012 12:45 PM
That was from practicing on an acoustic with silver plated strings for about 4 hours, plus they look a lot blacker in the picture than they actually are.
— https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
|
peterbright
Joined: Feb 10, 2012
Posts: 233
Near the Swamp In Louisiana
|
Posted on Nov 29 2012 09:16 PM
|
JoeKer_Z_Wilde
Joined: Sep 08, 2012
Posts: 28
Philly Pa
|
Posted on Dec 01 2012 08:10 AM
Thanks for all the responses
I am struggling a bit with the barre chords, and your input does give me some confidence that I can get them with more time and practice
— Reverb...... Putting some drip on your hip since 1951
|
Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
|
Posted on Dec 01 2012 09:18 AM
JoeKer_Z_Wilde wrote:
Thanks for all the responses
I am struggling a bit with the barre chords, and your input does give me some confidence that I can get them with more time and practice
Trying to make good-sounding barre chords on my flat fingerboard guitars proved impossible (skinny fingers). Switching to a 9.5" radius MIM Strat helped a lot. Switching to a 7.25" radius vintage Fender neck helped me the most. I can even play them pretty well on my other guitars now too. But just not as long. My hand cramps much sooner playing them on flatter fingerboards.
I'm certain I'm not the only person who's experienced this. Keep at it but don't force it. You'll eventually get it.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Dec 01, 2012 09:18:34
|
jonfender
Joined: Mar 09, 2011
Posts: 273
Melbourne FL USA
|
Posted on Dec 01 2012 11:41 AM
This is only meant as encouragement. When first learning barre chords in 1964 I was crazy & tenacious enough to "play til' I bleed" ! Barre chords seem IMPOSSIBLE at first, but the word "seem" is key. After struggling in desperation for awhile, (w/red & black fingers) you'll find one day (soon we hope) you will pick up said guitar & the chords will be somewhat easier to play. It is at that very moment you STAY with the guitar & play "barre chords" as long as possible...inventing little progressions & slides (ow, pain) as you go. Pretty soon your hands will just "fall into place" but ya' really have to work hard at it. I can't pull any punches here, ya' hafta' work hard at barre chords. Within a few months (VERY short period when ya' think I've been playing decent barre chords for 47 years). The "F" barre chord is an especially "challenging" one....but with some work you'll be playing bar chord's at the barre in no time (yes, really) !
Last edited: Dec 01, 2012 11:43:43
|
January Birthdays 
