Hi and welcome pitbull.

Painfull fingers at the beginning! Tell me about it.

I started with a Yamaha Accoustic and it was a very painfull business to start with. The pain diminished however as the finger tips hardened up. Then I decided I would switch over to electric guitar and , after a lot of research went for an Epiphone ES-339 semi-acoustic. The difference was magical. I set up the action properly, got some good quality strings and my playing has become much easier. I now require a much lighter touch on the strings.

Now after three weeks my fingers don't hurt much any more and are improving no end.

I think it would be worthwhile to visit guitar shops and try out a few. Do some research on the internet for other peoples feedback on the instruments Don't let the sales people pressure you. Be firm, listen to what they say and let their words pass on through and make it clear you are just trying some instruments out.

You don't have to shell out big bucks to get a decent guitar these days. Epiphone and Yamaha do some very good guitars. I would have a close look at these first and don't go straight to more expensive brands. You can do that later when you feel the need to.

You will not get long practice times at the beginning. 10 minutes here and there throughout the day will probably be your limit. But after a couple of weeks you will find you can extend this time as your finger tips harden up and the muscles for your hand and fingers begin to develope. It may seem a slow process but, believe me, the time goes by quite quickly By the end of the month, with regular practice you will notice a big improvement. After a couple of months you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about..

I wish you all the very best and don't hesitate to come back if you have any questions or comments at all We would love that.

Joe