Tips for a newbee ?

hi_there_howdy · #1 May 2nd, 2005

Hi,

Am new to this forum and so I am to the world of guitar.
Just went for my first guitar session this saturday and was taught to play the chords. I have the following problems that seem to demoralise me a bit

1. My fingers ache like hell.
2. I have this feeling that my fingers are too small to reach all the strings.
3. Chord progression seems next to impossible.

Are such obstacles overcome by practice ? How much time does it normally take to perfect just the above three. Any tips to an absolute beginner ?

allthumbs · #2 May 2nd, 2005

your going through what every newbie does. Give yourself a couple of months. Your fingers will stretch in time and you can do things to stretch them. Practice is the answer. Flowing chord progressions will always be a challenge as you get better and play more complex chord changes such as found in jazz. The hardest I have seen is big band jazz where you are expected to play one chord per beat over a fast tune.
welcome to the forum and hang in there, it will get easier.

hi_there_howdy · #3 May 2nd, 2005

Thanks Allthumbs. That was encouraging. Infact I have been sitting with my guitar for the last 3 hrs trying to get the C and F chord correct and was also trying my hand at swapping between C and F. My fingers ache even as I am typing this reply.

Guess its gonna take a while before i can get the hang of it :o)

Kirk Lorange · #4 May 2nd, 2005

There is just the one and only way to get past this stage and that is play, play, play and play some more. Call it practice if you want, I prefer play ... it sounds (and is) much more fun.

The pain will go away, the callouses will thicken, the fingers will spread and obey, it will all happen, so long as you keep playing. There is probably nothing more unnatural for your hands to do than press wires against a plank of wood with one and adjust their length with the other ... and be musical about it. It's as big a challenge as they come. That's what makes it so neat when you do.

Just keep playing!

allthumbs · #5 May 2nd, 2005

a barred F chord is a tough one to play down at the nut. There are a lot easier chords to start with than that. Are you anchoring the third finger to the third fret 5th string? It is a good pivit point to change between those two chords.

hi_there_howdy · #6 May 3rd, 2005

Hi Kirk,

Thanks for your response. True that its more of playing than practicing. In fact I was trying my hand at progressing between the C and F chord for about 4 hrs yesterday... and the time just whisked past.

I am gonna keep playing until I master this...

And allthumbs, you are right... My index finger is on the 1st string, ist fret and the 3rd finger is on the 6th string, 3rd strum... and since I am finding it difficult to stretch my fingers at this point, the strain is on my wrist when I am playing it.

allthumbs · #7 May 3rd, 2005

I hope that 3rd finger on the 6th string is a typo. The C note or root is on the 3rd fret 5th string. Sometimes the G note is also played on the sixth string 3rd fret together with the root note on the 5th fret, but not usually instead of the C on the 5th.
Try angling the headstock of your guitar more towards the front of your body like you were trying to point yor guitar to the wall in front of you. That will cit down the angle on your wrist. Tuck your elbow in to your side as much as possible and let your hand slide futher around the neck moving your fingers closer to the 6th string. That might help if your not already doing all that. It surprises me that your struggling more with the C chord than the barr F chord. Most people find that one the toughest to get. Don't forget to shake your wrist out every ten minutes or so. Hope some of this helps.

bluesguy · #8 May 7th, 2005

Basically you are building muscle & muscle memory. It takes time. It is frustrating. If you stick with it one day you will start playing something and go - OMG I got it! After + 1 year of lessons I can tell you that I am finally having those moments.

Darkhodge · #9 August 25th, 2005

1. Your fingers will ache like hell coz theyre still not used it. Wait till you start bending the strings. Hurts at first coz your fingers are soft but within a few years you'll hav finger tips that are as hard as stone (well not quite).

2 and 3. Again it will take time and practice but it'll become easier.

Hodge

Spyder F16 · #10 August 28th, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkhodge

1. Your fingers will ache like hell coz theyre still not used it. Wait till you start bending the strings. Hurts at first coz your fingers are soft but within a few years you'll hav finger tips that are as hard as stone (well not quite).

2 and 3. Again it will take time and practice but it'll become easier.

Hodge

Not exactly years. Mine hardened up enough within a few months.

Pete · #11 August 28th, 2005

Meytholated Spirits, aka whatever it's name may be in your country, put on a cottom ball and dabbed on the ends of the fingers twice a day for the first month or so works wonders.
So do LG strings, of course, and a neck thats set up right.

Darkhodge · #12 August 28th, 2005

Meths on the end of your fingers twice a day?? Hmmmm... How does that work? By dehydrating your finger tips or something :?: Sounds dodgy anyway! :shock:

Hodge

Pete · #13 August 28th, 2005

It works on all ages, from 6 to 60.
It does dry out the skin to some extent, but speeds up the formation of hard skin in the process. Sports players, cricket players in particular, do it all the time.

Darkhodge · #14 August 28th, 2005

Ah rite... Well I'd never heard of that before. Interesting... very interesting indeed! :o

dirkji · #15 September 7th, 2005

I would stick to practicing and avoid using chemicals if I were you. Start with a chord that's easier to play then an F chord and practice with a metronome.