Acoustic for Increasing left hand strength

[gcerq]

I use .10's gauge strings on my electric guitar but also have an acoustic Yamaha guitar strung with .13's and with high string action.

 

Do you think it's a good idea to use the acoustic with high action to strength the left hand? I really enjoy the sound of it but it is REALLY hard to play. Some chords (especially wide stretch ones) I just can´t press some strings correctly but when I pick my electric guitar it seems much easier to play! :-)

 

Cheers

[Wickerman]

Sounds like you need to find a good shop where you can have it set up (action lowered mainly) and get a set of .11s on your acoustic. The bronze strings will still have more resistance than your nickel or steel strings on your electric which will strenghten your hand but if you have .13s and terrible action, that's just a waste of effort.

[Tedly Nightshade]

It is a good idea to go up one guage at a time, from 10 to 11 to 12 and finally 13. Just like any other exercise, you don't want to start with 100 pound barbells.

I have high action and heavy strings on a demanding acoustic to play, a Collings, god damn it sounds good. I find it hard to go over to the Les Paul, even with high action and 12's it's just too miniature and cramped on the fingerboard.

Big strings are definitely worth it if you have the discipline to keep in shape and no wrist troubles.

[Stan_Frenchie]

I use .10's gauge strings on my electric guitar but also have an acoustic Yamaha guitar strung with .13's and with high string action.

 

Do you think it's a good idea to use the acoustic with high action to strength the left hand? I really enjoy the sound of it but it is REALLY hard to play. Some chords (especially wide stretch ones) I just can´t press some strings correctly but when I pick my electric guitar it seems much easier to play! :-)

 

Cheers

Hi,

 

It MAY be a good idea, but don't overdo it, play

the electric to warm-up your hands, then switch

to the accoustic for a short time ( 5-10 minutes

the first week, 10-15 the second week and so on ), or you will end up like me : unable to play

for more than a month because I tried to strengthen my left hand by playing for two hours

in a row from day one ...

 

Hope this helps.

 

Bests.

 

Stan

[whitefang]

I DO know a guy who has an acoustic that sounds like your setup which he uses for practice and left hand strength. He limits most of his practice on it to scales and simple chord patterns

because he, too, cramped up too much on those finger stretching chords. That high action is not only good for finger strength, but it keeps the calluses tough as well.

 

Whitefang

[dave251]

Yes, get the guitar setup for optimum playability....I like to use a 12-56 ga. on my flattops...light trebles and medium basses(12, 16, 25, 35, 45, 56...Martin strings). Use a heavy flatpick. If you're into fingerstyle, you may want a ga. lighter(11-52).

[Wewus432]

You have to remember that acoustic guitars are built for a certain gauge of strings. I know this is particularly true of Taylors. Most dreadnought guitars have the best sustain and volume with medium gauge strings if you use light gauge strings you lose some of that. The smaller acoustics use light gauge strings and WILL NOT sound better or louder with medium gauge, in fact the extra tension can tighten up the soundboard, choking the sound.

[PBBPaul]

I use a 12-string accoustic strung with 12s for practice. I find that it keeps me disciplined and away from string bending. I also practice with a lot of finger picking which I believe brings a more intimate relationship between you and the nuances of the guitar. This translates well into electric.