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Learning the Guitar...

S

Stuboy

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Portsmouth UK
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New year... new hobby!

I've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so i borrowed my sisters accoustic guitar and learn to play book! Now im looking for my own guitar :)

I've found that im gonna need to start testing on my other hand becasue my left fingers are needed to play the guitar and its quite painful with all my stab dots!!

Anyone here play any instruments?
 
it's not hte strumming that causes the pain, it's the pressing down on the strings to make the chords, you have to press quite hard!

I've always tested on the very tips of my fingers, which has been fine untill trying to play the guitar lol

Anyway i dont like using the plectrum i prefer the sound from my thumb!
 
I grew my thumb nails long for that.There's also a capo but that may not solve problem either as it alters pitch rather than individual chords.
 
I tried pricking my arm, but at max depth the blood wouldn't flow without bruising. I always prick the sides of my fingers & don't have sensitivity problems.

I took up classical guitar when my children were going to a Saturday music school (before diabetes), & passed grade 2. I didn't continue with it, though I might try again. My musical confidence has greatly increased in recent years. We also had a recorder ensemble, where 3 parents stayed. I played the treble recorder. That came in useful years later when our church organist left. When I passed 65 I decided it was time to by a piano (keyboard) or I would never learn. I play the Hammond organ for the church now.

Its never too late to started learning something new. I joined two choirs in the past year. Children are NOT good for confidence building :( Now they've all left home, my musical talents are at last developing.
 
ahh never too old to learn! lol

I'd love to be able to play to my children when i have them! So i've got a few years to learn! lol
 
I stab the back of my finger just behind the nail.Having played the guitar since I was 11 I don't think I have any nerve endings in my fingers on my left hand.Saying that both sets of finger tips feel soft and girly. :lol:
 
I tried to learn when 17 or so, learned some chords and then gave up when it got too hard. Always found it impossible to learn to bar chords and couldnt bend my fingers enough to get them where they need to go!

Lots of practice required for flexible digits but I do remember how sore my fingers got! Cant imagine how it would be currently , as my fingers still kill me despite the intensive sos Balm i put on hands at night!

Good luck, lots of fun to be had Stu!

L
 
Good luck stuboy! Learning how to play any instrument on your own is quite a task, so perhaps you might want to consider a few lessons to point you in the right direction.

Other instruments? I used to play double bass, which really is tough on the fingers, harmonica in a couple of blues bands and more recently had a good go at Samba drumming but it hurt my ears too much.

My wife still plays with the band Sambangra, (wearing earplugs.) I think they're pretty good.
 
i've been practicing for a couple of hours tonight... finger tips a bit sore now, i've swtiched to testing on my other hand, which is fine, but it gets to the point where finger tips just go numb so i can carry on lol.

I've learned quite a few chords now, and a few more tonight, and some differen rhythm partterns... which is my downfall... dont have much rhthym!!! I hope i can get over that with some practice!

Im looking for my own guitar now... borrowed my sisters to see if i had any potential and if i enjoyed it... which i do! Laura's bought a saxophone to learn too which should arrive tomorrow so maybe one day we'll play together! lol

I'll look into the strings you mentioned when i get my own guitar...

Im looking at a couple at the mo...

a Cort SFX 1F... which i've held and really feel comfortable with it... only no one seems to have it in stock anymore, the one i held was sold the next day when i went back to get it!! :(

a Yamaha APX500... which i've seen on a website, looks pretty good for the price.

or a Crafter TCO-35.. which i've also seen on a website and will hopefully go and have a look later this week.

Any players out there with some advice on what to look for? I'd like an electro-accoustic, my budget is around the £250 mark.


Cheers!

Stu
 
My son came in on Friday with an electric guitar he had just bought. I gave my nylon-strung Spanish guitar to my daughter-i-l 10 years ago.

I tried his wire strung instrument & don't think I could play it as the strings are so much thinner & closer together. You might find an acoustic guitar better - easier on the fingers - for learning & practice, & an electric guitar for group work.
 
We have about eight guitars in our house, bass, electric and accoustic. I have tried to teach myself to play but my fingers aren't strong enough and I find I can't get my tiny hands round the neck to hold the strings down. Bummer, cos we have some gorgeous guitars. :(
 
I decided to learn myself to play the guitar 5 years ago, and 5 years on, i'm still trying to get to grips with it, thinking of going for lessons, i used to soak my fingertips in surgical spirit to toughen them, i suspect i've left it too late in life to learn :(
 
IanD said:
My son came in on Friday with an electric guitar he had just bought. I gave my nylon-strung Spanish guitar to my daughter-i-l 10 years ago.

I tried his wire strung instrument & don't think I could play it as the strings are so much thinner & closer together. You might find an acoustic guitar better - easier on the fingers - for learning & practice, & an electric guitar for group work.
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And now I've got it back - her 8-year old, Alex, has a nail problem & won't be learning it. Started re-learning today. When Alex's dad was his age I took him to a Saturday music school & learned classical G to grade 2! I shall now use it for singing, as my classical sounds like the McMillans radio ad. (No-one should suffer like that.)

And I found an old harmonica I bought but never got to grips with.
 
Been playing for 49 years now, testing for BG for only 3 weeks. The lance wouldn't penetrate the numb ends to my fingers on left hand so I puncture at the side of finger ends. My 1988 Gibson Epiphone semi acoustic is easy to play (and a second hand one can be bought for £250 so falls within your budget). I also have an acoustic jumbo guitar from 1967 which is just to big for me - or rather I am too big for it - my arms won't go round my oversize tummy and its wide body :oops:
 
forkhandles said:
I decided to learn myself to play the guitar 5 years ago, and 5 years on, i'm still trying to get to grips with it, thinking of going for lessons, i used to soak my fingertips in surgical spirit to toughen them, i suspect i've left it too late in life to learn :(
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It's never too late to learn something :) i am going to try and learn the saxaphone. Just need the money to buy one though :lol:
 
samcogle said:
It's never too late to learn something :) i am going to try and learn the saxaphone. Just need the money to buy one though :lol:
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Its an ill (wood)wind that nobody blows good :D

We were discussing music with my daughter-in-law & she expressed ignorance of Paul Robeson. I lent her a CD & my grandson said how much he enjoyed his singing. Much better than the Christian pop they listen to. He's saving for a saxaphone. Little sister plays violin & piano so the neighbours are in for free concerts :lol:
 
You have educated her well :)
Yep think I will be saving too as they are a bit expensive!! Just hope I can teach myself when I get one!
 
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