Hello from the UK


haydenpersonal
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Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
haydenpersonal
Registered User
Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
08/02/2015 9:18 pm
Evening from the UK everyone!

First time playing the guitar today and having an awesome time. I'm 23 and I've always wanted to play but was always too lazy to pick up the guitar.

Found this website after not being able to find any local lessons and I have to say, after getting off my butt and giving it a go, it's brilliant! It's like having a friend with you to teach you everything from the extreme basics.

I've been on the lessons for about 3-4 hours in total now and just made it up to the Major C video and I wish I could go further, but the finger pains get pretty bad haha.

A couple of questions if it's okay to ask here? When doing the spider exercise, is it natural to have to move the left hand when doing the top E and A strings? If I don't I'm unable to get a good push down with my index finger on the first fret and it becomes very uncomfortable.

Also do the finger pains fade away at some point?

Thanks in advance and nice to meet you all :)
# 1
GT Staff
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Joined: 06/29/15
Posts: 613
GT Staff
Administrator
Joined: 06/29/15
Posts: 613
08/02/2015 11:50 pm
Good to meet you and thanks for the introduction!

First of all, the finger pain will definitely go away. Takes a couple of weeks of consistent playing before your fingers get calloused, but it'll happen.

If I'm understanding what you're saying, it's perfectly normal to move your left hand for better positioning and reach. Although the movement should be pretty subtle.

Could you post the specific tab you're working on so I can give a better answer?
# 2
haydenpersonal
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Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
haydenpersonal
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Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
08/03/2015 12:18 am
Thanks for the reply, and the reassurance that the finger pain will go away haha. It's not so bad the first couple of hours but when you really push that wire down to the wood, you definitely feel it!

It's mostly the transition from the first three frets on the 6th string and then making my way down each string on the same three frets.

It's difficult to press down on the first fret with my index finger in a good position because I can't stretch my middle finger to the second fret. If I do stretch my middle finger then my index finger ends up going to a sideways angle rather than pushing the string down with my fingertip, causing a clunky sound.

This happens when I hold the back of the neck in the palm of my hand with my thumb slightly resting on the top of the neck. So to compensate I move my thumb maybe to the middle back of the neck which makes it a lot easier for my fingers to hold the strings down to the neck as it gives me more room to stretch my fingers.

I just didn't know if this was a bad habit or if it was the usual, judging from the tutorial it seems to be pretty normal (I'm hoping).

Sorry if this is confusing, first time ever using the lingo :p
# 3
GT Staff
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GT Staff
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Joined: 06/29/15
Posts: 613
08/03/2015 6:41 pm
My opinion is that this is totally normal. I actually use the same tactic fairly often. In fact, I'll drop my thumb down a lot, sometimes close to the bottom of the neck to be able to stretch for notes.

Now I can verify that it's "convention" but in my opinion it's not hurting your form as long as you're just using it as a stretching tactic.

Hope this helps you man!
# 4
haydenpersonal
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Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
haydenpersonal
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Joined: 08/02/15
Posts: 3
08/03/2015 7:44 pm
Thank you for the confirmation, really appreciate it! Went for round 2 today and I'm getting better at it already and it's comforting to know that it's a reasonable tactic to use :)

And thanks once again for having such a ridiculously easy to use website full of such in depth content. It's actually incredible what you offer for the price you ask for and I'm extremely grateful you guys/girls took the time to build everything we see!
# 5
daviddergute
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Joined: 02/13/15
Posts: 22
daviddergute
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Joined: 02/13/15
Posts: 22
08/04/2015 1:45 pm
Welcome. I feel the same way about Guitar Tricks.

2016 Standard Telecaster in Lake Placid Blue

2016 Yamaha FSX800c in Ruby Red

2016 Fender Super Champ X2

# 6

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