What are some vivid memories growing up?

Bretrick said:
I remember one year I was loaned a guitar to take home to learn. Never had the patience for it.
I really wish I had learnt to play.
Even today, I would love to play the guitar.
Maybe I will learn when I retire
Click to expand...
Well, unlike certain other instruments, there is fingertip pain involved in learning to play the guitar. So learning does require enduring that discomfort until callouses gradually develop to protect the fingertips. Unfortunately, some cheap guitars might cause more fingertip pain than necessary because the distance of the strings from the fingerboard, or the action, is far too high, and so they demand more pressure in order to produce clear notes as opposed to a muffled sound.

So getting the right guitar is essential in preventing discouragement due pain that might seem unbearable. Also, fingertip callouses thin considerably with aging and don't seem to develop as quickly nor as thickly. In that case, playing a guitar with nylon or plastic strings, as opposed to steel or copper, will help.
 

Radrook said:
Well, unlike certain other instruments, there is fingertip pain involved in learning to play the guitar. So learning does require enduring that discomfort until callouses gradually develop to protect the fingertips. Unfortunately, some cheap guitars might cause more fingertip pain than necessary because the distance of the strings from the fingerboard, or the action, is far too high, and so they demand more pressure in order to produce clear notes as opposed to a muffled sound.

So getting the right guitar is essential in preventing discouragement due pain that might seem unbearable. Also, fingertip callouses thin considerably with aging and don't seem to develop as quickly nor as thickly. In that case, playing a guitar with nylon or plastic strings, as opposed to steel or copper, will help.
Click to expand...
Thank you for responding.
I have had the tip or my dominant hand index finger amputated. Putting pressure of any strength is painful.
How might this affect playing a guitar?
 
Bretrick said:
Thank you for responding.
I have had the tip or my dominant hand index finger amputated. Putting pressure of any strength is painful.
How might this affect playing a guitar?
Click to expand...
This is assuming that your dominant hand is your right hand in charge of the strumming and plucking. If so, then it hinders only if the finger-plucking style is attempted. A way around it might be to include pinky as a substitute. However, it doesn't hinder at all if plucking with a pick, held between the thumb and middle finger is used. The only challenge then would be to maintain a firm grip on it. However, if the dominant hand is the one that will be used to make cords or press the strings, then that can significantly reduce the the range of complexity of music that one can produce on the guitar since many chords must include that finger.
 

Last edited:
Radrook said:
Well, unlike certain other instruments, there is fingertip pain involved in learning to play the guitar. So learning does require enduring that discomfort until callouses gradually develop to protect the fingertips. Unfortunately, some cheap guitars might cause more fingertip pain than necessary because the distance of the strings from the fingerboard, or the action, is far too high, and so they demand more pressure in order to produce clear notes as opposed to a muffled sound.

So getting the right guitar is essential in preventing discouragement due pain that might seem unbearable. Also, fingertip callouses thin considerably with aging and don't seem to develop as quickly nor as thickly. In that case, playing a guitar with nylon or plastic strings, as opposed to steel or copper, will help.
Click to expand...
My daughter is a Bass guitarist altho' she learned initially on an acoustic guitar from aged 8 years old She played Bass in 3 bands as a teenager and early 20's one band had a number 2 hit locally...she never had callouses on her fingertips..
 
hollydolly said:
My daughter is a Bass guitarist altho' she learned initially on an acoustic guitar from aged 8 years old She played Bass in 3 bands as a teenager and early 20's one band had a number 2 hit locally...she never had callouses on her fingertips..
Click to expand...

Well, callous formation is considered normal and inevitable when learning a stringed instrument.


How to speed up callus formation
Here are some tips for speeding up callus formation:

Practice a lot for short periods, giving your fingers a break so that you don’t break open the skin.
Start with a steel-stringed acoustic guitar to get your fingers used to tough materials.
Use thick-gauge strings that can rub against your fingers and develop calluses rather than cut open your fingertips.
Press down on a thin edge of a credit card or similar object when you aren’t playing to get your fingers used to the sensation and pressure.
Use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on your fingertips to dry them out and promote faster callus formation.
https://www.healthline.com/health/guitar-fingers#causes-of-finger-pain


Guitarist’s Guide to Calluses: Formation, Care, and Maintenance
https://classifysound.com/the-guitarists-guide-to-calluses-formation-care-and-maintenance/
 
If you play any type of guitar, you will get calluses on the fingers, it cannot be avoided at least on one hand!

But it is not a big deal and it does not deform the fingers, only forms calluses on the very tips and does not distract from the normal look of someone's hand unless you look closely at the finger tips on the hand used to cord!
 
RadishRose said:
Oh my, @Alizerine I'm SO glad you commented. I almost forgot you lived here at one time. You did a mural of Stratford with a Sikorsky helicopter? Where, oh where can I see this?

I didn't know you were an artist! 🌹
Click to expand...

I think they tore down the shopping center in Stratford where the mural was. I did it in 1987. I lived in Milford at the time. I'm thinking of trying to commission some people, house and pet portraits to help pay for the expensive tree work. I'm too old for a regular job.
 
Radrook said:
Well, callous formation is considered normal and inevitable when learning a stringed instrument.


How to speed up callus formation
Here are some tips for speeding up callus formation:

Practice a lot for short periods, giving your fingers a break so that you don’t break open the skin.
Start with a steel-stringed acoustic guitar to get your fingers used to tough materials.
Use thick-gauge strings that can rub against your fingers and develop calluses rather than cut open your fingertips.
Press down on a thin edge of a credit card or similar object when you aren’t playing to get your fingers used to the sensation and pressure.
Use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on your fingertips to dry them out and promote faster callus formation.
https://www.healthline.com/health/guitar-fingers#causes-of-finger-pain


Guitarist’s Guide to Calluses: Formation, Care, and Maintenance
https://classifysound.com/the-guitarists-guide-to-calluses-formation-care-and-maintenance/
Click to expand...
I played Cello as a youngster never got callouses...I wonder why... :unsure:
 
Timewise 60+ said:
If you play any type of guitar, you will get calluses on the fingers, it cannot be avoided at least on one hand!

But it is not a big deal and it does not deform the fingers, only forms calluses on the very tips and does not distract from the normal look of someone's hand unless you look closely at the finger tips on the hand used to cord!
Click to expand...
My first acoustic guitar, which my parents bought me, was so defective, that I was in virtual agony constantly from pressing the strings. Even with thick callouses, the strings would still dig deeply into my fingertips inducing pain. I was forced to release the grip until the agony subsided before trying again. Only after I bought a normal guitar was I able to totally concentrate just on music..
 
hollydolly said:
I played Cello as a youngster never got callouses...I wonder why... :unsure:
Click to expand...
Holly, that sounds interesting. I played the French Horn in our band and I recall watching our base violinist play. I cannot recall the details of how she pushed down the strings to form notes. Do you use the tip of the finger or the soft tissue just below the tip of the finger? Based on you comment I am betting the area just below the tip of the fingers is used...It seems that area would callous much less than the very tip.
 
Timewise 60+ said:
Holly, that sounds interesting. I played the French Horn in our band and I recall watching our base violinist play. I cannot recall the details of how she pushed down the strings to form notes. Do you use the tip of the finger or the soft tissue just below the tip of the finger? Based on you comment I am betting the area just below the tip of the fingers is used...It seems that area would callous much less than the very tip.
Click to expand...
that could actually be the reason...good thinking...
 
I grew up in the country and took a bus to school. We lived on a pretty high hill so in the winter after it snowed
my brother and I would sleigh ride down to the bus stop in the morning. We would hide our sleds (Flexible Flyers) in woods and
pick them up after school. Not sure why I remember it so vividly.
 
Rich29 said:
I grew up in the country and took a bus to school. We lived on a pretty high hill so in the winter after it snowed
my brother and I would sleigh ride down to the bus stop in the morning. We would hide our sleds (Flexible Flyers) in woods and
pick them up after school. Not sure why I remember it so vividly.
Click to expand...
probably because it was joyful
 
I definetly got very soar fingers and caluses learning the guitar. Maybe it has to do with using the tips of your fingers versus using the flat part at the end of your finger?

But he most vivid memory is riding on the bus to and from school. It was wild nd every bus driver was different in what they allowed to happen. Some didn't want any couple's holding hands!~ Some didn't like loud talking even. Some let most anything happen including walking in the isles when the bus was moving. It was like a whole entire game we played. It took a few weeks to get use to the new drivers, and many of them were not liked very much. :)
 
Picking cherries and sour apples from the next-door-neighbors trees and plums from the neighbors across the street.
Going sledding on a hill at the north end of the street.
Riding my bike on a hot day and could see the tar bubbling in the street.
A paper making factory was at the south end of the street and I could hear banging the logs made going over the sluice on their way to the chipper.
The mom and pop stores on every corner that sold a good size candy bars for 5¢.
Hunting for 4-leaf clovers in the back yard (found some, too).
The square red lampshade on the floor lamp on the front porch.
 
Radrook said:
This is assuming that your dominant hand is your right hand in charge of the strumming and plucking. If so, then it hinders only if the finger-plucking style is attempted. A way around it might be to include pinky as a substitute. However, it doesn't hinder at all if plucking with a pick, held between the thumb and middle finger is used. The only challenge then would be to maintain a firm grip on it. However, if the dominant hand is the one that will be used to make cords or press the strings, then that can significantly reduce the the range of complexity of music that one can produce on the guitar since many chords must include that finger.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I do not know what hand would be my strumming hand. My left hand is my dominant injured hand.
I suppose I would have to make the injured hand the strumming hand, holding a pick.
Anyways, thank you for your knowledge. Hopefully I will learn the guitar down the track.
 
hollydolly said:
OMG she's not annoying....much ! -sheesh....😣

I'm about to learn the Ukulele.. I have OA in my fingers now.. so they can be very painful at times.. but I'm simply going to use a pick...
Click to expand...
The fingertips that hurt are the ones forming the chords when they press the strings against the fret board. They are not the strumming nor the plucking fingers.
 
Bretrick said:
Thank you. I do not know what hand would be my strumming hand. My left hand is my dominant injured hand.
I suppose I would have to make the injured hand the strumming hand, holding a pick.
Anyways, thank you for your knowledge. Hopefully I will learn the guitar down the track.
Click to expand...
Sure you can learn. I knew this guitarist who had certain fingers missing and still played the guitar.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top