J_2012 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I've been playing guitar for a little over a month now(if you don't count the year that I played when I was younger) and have been making decent progress but lately i've been having some problems with my fingers and my hand. For the first week they were all blistered and bleeding like I expected. Then for the following weeks my fingers were firm and I got calises(sorry about the spelling)on the tips and I really began to make progress. But about a week ago my fingertips began to flake and pieces of hardened skin that were sticking up started getting caught on the strings and plucking the strings when I lifted my hands. I've also got indentations in my finger tips that make it difficult change chords quickly. I don't ever remember this happening when I played before. I've tried to file down the calis but that doesn't seem to work. If that wasn't enough a couple of days ago I pulled a nerve between my index and middle finger and now I've lost a lot of the strength in my fingers and can't use my thumb on the top string anymore. Can someone help me out. Im hoping this is something that all players go through, because i've havent been able to make any progress in the last week. I've actually gotten worse. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc_Lafrance Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 When I started out I found it tough to switch between chords becuase of the dents in my fingers. I just got used to it I guess because I still get the dents. My fingers also start to flake once in a while but I have very very dry sking so I think that is the cause of that problem. My callouses are really thick now that I've been playing my acoustic more often so now when the skin flakes off there is callouses on the new skin. "What's with these new bands, everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact." -Homer Simpson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarshallGibson_6 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Try a lighter gauge of strings. There's no rule that says you can't go as light as your sore fingertips require. You lose on volume and tone on the acoustics, (a pic up and eq can help here),tone on electrics (you're practicing so who cares-work your way up) Don't sell anything. Just keep it all. Let it pile up and see it grow tall. Up thru the roof and into the sky. More is always better so pile it sky high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_2012 Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 In the past, when some of that sort of thing happened to my calluses, I used a fingernail-clipper to trim off some of the excess skin sticking up, and a fine file to smooth out the fingertips. That may sound strange, but it worked. I had the worst of that when frequently playing an acoustic with very heavy strings; I think that I was sliding around the fretboard a lot then, too. Best of luck to you, I think that this will pass, given time! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James-Italy Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Originally posted by J_2012: I've been playing guitar for a little over a month now(if you don't count the year that I played when I was younger) and have been making decent progress but lately i've been having some problems with my fingers and my hand. For the first week they were all blistered and bleeding like I expected. Then for the following weeks my fingers were firm and I got calises(sorry about the spelling)on the tips and I really began to make progress. But about a week ago my fingertips began to flake and pieces of hardened skin that were sticking up started getting caught on the strings and plucking the strings when I lifted my hands. I've also got indentations in my finger tips that make it difficult change chords quickly. I don't ever remember this happening when I played before. I've tried to file down the calis but that doesn't seem to work. If that wasn't enough a couple of days ago I pulled a nerve between my index and middle finger and now I've lost a lot of the strength in my fingers and can't use my thumb on the top string anymore. Can someone help me out. Im hoping this is something that all players go through, because i've havent been able to make any progress in the last week. I've actually gotten worse. thanks.HOLD ON!!!! The callus part is normal. They will build up and flake off and then build up again, nothing to worry about there. The part about you pulling a nerve and losing strength in your hand is worrysome though. I'm no doctor, but man, your body is telling you something. Don't push it too much. You're not going to become a VanHalen in 6 months no matter how much you practise. It's much better that you build up your strength and speed gradual without overdoing it. Pulled nerves are a no no, IMO. Try excercising your fretting hand by squeezing a tennis ball or something. Make sure you stretch your hand and warm up properly before throwing yourself into a practise session (something I rarely do ). Hand around and enjoy all these really cool guys on the forum, you can learn a lot from them- I know I did. Good luck to you! My Gear My Attempts at Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Originally posted by CaevanO'Shite: In the past, when some of that sort of thing happened to my calluses, I used a fingernail-clipper to trim off some of the excess skin sticking up, and a fine file to smooth out the fingertips. That may sound strange, but it worked.I do the exact same thing. Also, James makes a good point. Take it slow and work up to the strength & speed you want - damaging your hands won't ever help you. If you haven't seen a doctor about this yet, you should; it's probably nothing serious, but why take chances. BTW, welcome to the forum! May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_2012 Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 I never really tried to exercise my hands or stretch them out before practicing but it seems to be helping now that I am. I'm thinking that some of the weakness in my hands might be due to the sudden climate change in my area too. thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Man, the other guys are right- take care of that hand/finger with the nerve-injury. I was tired, and didn't remember to also address that in my post, and it's the more serious of the two troubles! Hope that it heals well! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_2012 Posted October 3, 2003 Author Share Posted October 3, 2003 I think it's healing at a decent rate. I've been soaking it in hot water a couple times a day an it seems to loosen up the tightness a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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