man, my fingers hurt..

[JohnVH]

Haha, first post here. Anyway, just got my RD20 today, and practicing on some chords, what is the average time you out there practice a day or week? My first lesson is saturday so Im trying to get a little head start on the program by getting comfortable with the guitar. This is my first guitar, and first time making noise on one.

Thanks

[Leedogg]

Keep up the playing my friend. You will notice that very soon you will be developing righteous callouses on your fretting fingertips. Do not be alarmed. Wear these like badges of honor. :D


Just keep playing and eventually your body will adjust. I've played for 8+ hours before and not got tired. In fact, Steve Vai (you should look this guy up because he is awesome), has a 30 hour exercise routine (10 hours for 3 days). So there's virtually no limit to how long you can play with a little conditioning.


Some advice about starting lessons. I hope you luck out and get a teacher that makes you wanna keep playing. You will get frustrated, every neophyte guitarist does. In fact, I quit twice before my third attempt at learning guitar was successful in that I stuck with it. Have patience and believe that you will someday be able to play the songs your favorite guitarists play.


If you have any further questions I'd be more than happy to help you out. Good luck dude! :)

[JohnVH]

Thank you! probably one of the hard things for me right now is only hitting the string I want, my fingers are not that big, but sometimes they tend to touch the ones next to them deadening the sound on that string.. but Ill keep working at it.

Nice to have help out here:)

[Leedogg]

That's completely normal. Keep fumbling around with those chords, and soon they'll all be really clear and smooth. Only regular practice over time will make your fingers more accurate and dextrous.

[Dr_simon]

hey dude, welcome board ! You might find these helpful:

http://www.guitartricks.com/beginners.php

[vettra]

I'd classify myself as a medium-level shredder. Lately I've been playing at times all day, like 10+ hours. recently my index finger (#1, left hand) doesn't
bend in all the way w/out some pain. my other fingers are OK. I've read how
with some serious guitarists who get tendonitis - it doesn't go away and
there's no cure. Scary - AIDS equivalent for musicians?! Wondering how
do you know if you get it?
--greg

[Akira]

Dude, go to your doc, and get your hand checked out. Tendonitis results in a whole 6 months off from guitar.

As regards the dude who's just starting out... Good luck! I hope learning/playing guitar opens up a new path in your life. Hopefully you teacher will be able to guide you through any problems you have, and if not, you always have us here on the GT forums. ;) :D

[Silimtao]

I'd classify myself as a medium-level shredder. Lately I've been playing at times all day, like 10+ hours. recently my index finger (#1, left hand) doesn't
bend in all the way w/out some pain. my other fingers are OK. I've read how
with some serious guitarists who get tendonitis - it doesn't go away and
there's no cure. Scary - AIDS equivalent for musicians?! Wondering how
do you know if you get it?
--greg

Heya vetra-

Tendonitis is simply an inflammation of the tendon in a given area. There *is* a cure for it- I used to suffer from it in both my elbows. If you can't see a doc now, or can't afford it, I'd suggest resting that finger, ice it to reduce inflammation, and take an NSAID (non-steroidol anit-inflammatory drug) like aspirin if your stomach can handle it, or ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation. Acetominafen (I know I spelled that wrong) wont help inflammation, but would help with the pain. Tendonitis is more often caused by overuse/abuse of a joint. Still, it's best to have a doc make the call; could be you have something entirely different like a fracture or somethin (fractured my pinky finger on fretting hand about 5 times.) At the very least, rest it, and if you don't feel significantly better in about a week, definitely try to see a doc. Feel better.

[JohnVH]

Thanks all. Im really going to enjoy this, all I can think about all day is getting home and practicing so I can actually play a song. Gonna be fun!

[Silimtao]

Haha, first post here. Anyway, just got my RD20 today, and practicing on some chords, what is the average time you out there practice a day or week? My first lesson is saturday so Im trying to get a little head start on the program by getting comfortable with the guitar. This is my first guitar, and first time making noise on one.

Thanks

Hi- sorry I went off topic and responded to another question. I'm just getting back to playing after a roughly 15+ yr. layoff and lucky to get 3 hrs. a WEEK (kids, work, etc.). But when I first started when I was 13 (over 30 yrs. ago,
:eek: ), and really had only school, I probably averaged 6 hrs. a day on a really cheap guitar that gave me callouses so thick I had to shave them with a razor. Later on, in college, I switched majors and ran off to the Berklee College of Music for 2 1/2 yrs as a performance major- biggest mistake of my life, but another story in itself; so 'tween playing in class, practicing for my homework and jamming, it wasn't abnormal to be playing 15+ hrs. a day.

I suggest playing a minimum of an hr. a day to build up your callouses, and hopefully also to keep your frustration level to a minimum- or play MORE if you can handle it! Give yourself a rest at the start if you're feeling fatigued or your fretting hand gets crampy. Don't let frustration set you back; it DOES get easier. After such a long layoff, I'm feeling like a cold beginner again myself, so don't too down on yourself if you feel you've peaked out and getting nowhere; there's almost always a time when you need to just step back and take a break to re-energize yourself when you feel kinda flat. Kinda like exercise; you kinda peak out, take a break, then jump back in again feeling fresh. Good luck! This site is GREAT btw; man, I wish there was an internet when I was learning! The information here is mind boggling, and the members here seem to be really helpful.

[Leedogg]

I switched majors and ran off to the Berklee College of Music for 2 1/2 yrs as a performance major- biggest mistake of my life, but another story in itself

A story I'd very much like to hear.

[Silimtao]

A story I'd very much like to hear.


I just happened to tell the story in this thread:http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11518

I've finally forgotten most of what I learned there, so I'm ready to begin again in my old age. This is one smokin' site.