Hi There

Thought I would just post a quick introduction.

I'm from the UK and joined GT a couple of hours ago. I am really looking forward to the challenge of being able to play a tune on the acoustic and electric guitars that have been ornaments on the wall of my room for decades having given them ago many years ago and lost faith.

I took three private lessons at the time but due to my progress (with an inability to find time to practice inbetween) I decided it would probably be easier to just post him the fee and save on the fuel costs!!!!

This online course and the ability to take a lesson without the need to book and drive to a tutor really appeals and I am determined to give it a better go this time around.

Have got to the "spider practice" (or something like that) and it amazes me how my ring finger doesn't seem to be jointed in the same way as the instructors, she places it against the fret with the index and middle fingers in place so easily, where my hand feels like the fingers are banded together.

Just holding onto the hope that this is normal and your hand learns to move in a way it hasn't needed to for 51 years.

Finger crossed (no pun intended)

D

Nice to meet you. I'm just slightly ahead of the spider fingers 🤗 You're moving along quickly! I'm only doing around 20min to half hour a day. If it's any consolation my fingers wouldn't sit on one string without interfering with another for ages. I can play Simple C, G, A minor and E now (though transitions are still very dodgy).

Prior to this I also had thoughts like 'I can't do this as my fingers don't work, my fingers are too fat, my hands are wrong, the guitars too big!' This was just over a week ago.. so you're doing ok! 😊

Just a couple of lessons on - it's amazing sometimes if you nip forward a lesson, practice, go back and compare how you've got that bit better without realising. Spider fingers apparantly is just an exercise. Do it regularly. I haven't got it, but I'm better than I was.

BTW UK here too.

Hi all, from the Spider Farmer,

Just ATTEMPTING to do the exercise to the best of your ability each day, is enough. You may not noitce the micro-changes right away, but what is happening physiologicallly is that you are gently stretching and increasing the flexibility of your finger muscles. You are genetly exercising and increasing their physical strength. You are helping to train your hand in relaly good positioning. You are helping develop your calluoses. [br][br]

These kinds of physiological changes take time, just like ramping it up at the gym, little by little. [br][br]

The exercise will remain eternally useful - I still do it every time I practice, and Ive been at this a Looooooooong time!

- Lisa

Hello! I am also a newbie, so welcome to the club. I love playing guitar and writing songs.

Thank you for all your comments, I am really looking forward to make a go of this and have now got to lesson 5 of the Simple Chords A Minor and E Major and does feel good playing along with an actual song (however simple).

I am nervous about the ramp up to major chords and trying to get three fingers moving in unison but am already enjoying the journey.

It does feel like Lisa is taking you on a progressive journey which wasn't the case when I picked up the guiter many years ago when I bought books, watched videos and tried to run before I could walk (resulting in me getting tired of falling over and giving up).

Really glad I took the plunge again.

Thanks again

Dave