Help: Sore Fingers

Subject: Sore Fingers
From: Larkin
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:30 AM

I've recently started playing again after a break of about 10 years and after the initial soreness of fingers I've now developed nice big callouses . My fingers are now really sore underneath the hard bits - i can't remember them being like this before . Do I persevere or soften my ends? ( Ooh 'er Mis

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: harpmaker
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:59 AM

I would rest up for a while. When I used to busk playing the harp, my fingers got realy sore under the hard bits too. I found the more I played, the worse it got! It got so bad, I had to stop playing. If, (like me) you've GOT to play, I found a different instrument helped. Hope this helps. John.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 01:31 PM

rubbing with surgical spirit helps... it hardens the skin. I used to use it when I was a bellringer. I'd stop for a week or two and then rip the skin off my hands completely when I started again. Rubbing my hands with surgical spirit (I'd guess it would be rubbing alcohol) in between times did the trick.

Mind you, you stink like a hospital ward!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: brezey
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 03:57 PM

Which instrument are you playing? if its a steel strung guitar,once your through the pain barrier your home. 2 hours used to be the limit but by playing every day, the pain goes away, then you can go on and on and on and on and

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: DancingMom
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 07:28 PM

I'm dealing with this now, too, with my new guitar. Stopping the B string with my index finger is just about unbearable. I want to practice and practice but I can only tolerate about 15 minutes at a time. I'll try the alcohol. I already smell like a hospital, my kid has informed me when I come home from work. Sharon

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: Tweed
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 07:39 PM

Take a day off and get some lighter gage strings. How's your guitar set up? Is the neck still fairly straight?

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: RichM
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 07:48 PM

STOP!
If your fingers are in unbearable pain, your body is telling you to stop. You CAN do yourself harm.
There's no need to 'work' through the pain; ease up on practice time, and stop clamping the neck.
Use only the minimum pressure needed to sound a note clearly. Lift your hand often, and don't hold a chord for more than a few beats while practicing.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 07:49 PM

I'd agree - rest. After even a few days without playing it gets a little painful if you play too long. After a long time off, you need to build up gradually.

Work at it too hard and too masochistically and you might even get some kind of blister under the callus, and it'd slew off...

Play till it starts hurting enough to make it not fun playing any more, and then rest it. Maybe just one tune or somg. If it hurts too much even to do that, give up for the time being and try a different way. Toughening up the fingers with surgical spirit might be a good idea, or breaking them in with something a bit softer, like nylon strings.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: 53
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 08:24 PM

I've heard that rubbing aloe on your fingertips helps, I've never tried it though maybe it's worth a try.

Subject: Lyr Add: TALKING GUITAR BLUES
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 09:03 PM

Talkin' Gittar Blues

If you wanna to get in trouble let me tell you how to do it
Getcha a gittar and you're right into it
Practice all day and half the night
Folk's keep sayin' ya' never will get it right
Always fussing atcha'
Griping,
Grousin' around
Won't let you practice.
Tryin' to run ya' out into the henhouse.

I bought a gittar 'bout a year ago,
The feller said I'd learn in a week or so
Gave me a Book and a pick or two,
Said, "There ya' go, Bub, it's up to you."
That dirty Dog!
Wish I could see him now,
Charged me $4.95....
Every cent of money I had too.......

For weeks and weeks I labored hard,
Just tryin' to learn them three old chords
The book said it was easy as A.B.C.
But man my fingers was a-killin' me,
Got right sore on the ends,
Couldn't mash the strings down.
Felt wore out....
Disgusted......
Wanted ta' quit......

But I practiced hard both night and day,
I could see Ma's hair was turnin' gray.
Her face was lined with discontent,
She said her patience was damn near spent!
Said her ears was ringing,
Felt nervous....
Agitated........
Wanted to scream......

My sister took it worst of all,
She got married that coming fall,
She says it was love, but I got my doubts,
I think my gittar chased her out,
She's a game gal,
Won't admit it though,
Real Cool....
Just couldn't take it.

My Father he took it in a different way,
Said, "Son, you may turn your Ma's hair gray,
And run your sister from home, but Son,
Either me or you one is a-goin' roamin',
And I ain't leaving Boy......
I never intended to.....
You figger it out."

But since I'd already spent my dough,
I couldn't let it go to waste, ya' know?
So I took my Guitar, Book and all,
I was a-headin' out....standin' tall
Mebbee go ta' Nashville,
Get me a big Hat,
Fancy checkered shirt.....
Snakeskin boots......
Re-paint my Guitar,
Make it look like a D-28....
Mebbee not......

Next morning, I slung my gittar acrosst my back,
I headed down the railroad track.
I caught the end of a long freight train,
To search the world for my share of Fame,
But I ain't found any........
Nothin but heartaches......
Hardship......
Hand-outs....
Would someone please pass the offering plate?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 09:11 PM

Larkin: Break up your playing with a little slide guitar. It's easy to pick up and gives the tips of your fingers a little break. Yep, just stick the gitfiddle, in open tuning and have a ball...

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: khandu
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 09:13 PM

Doctor Didlittle always said, "Soak 'em inside her." Or was that "Soak 'em in cider"?

khandu

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: lardingo
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 09:40 PM

I know some weekend warriors that use super glue, but never having tried it, I can't recommend it one way or the other.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: Louie Roy
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 09:43 PM

Buy a 1 oz bottle of new skin at any drug store and apply to the finger tips about 15 minute before you start playng and you will get instant relief.Also apply when you get through playing.This is also excellent for cuts or scratches but it does burn a little bit for about 30 seconds it actually forms a new skin on cuts and keeps the air and contamination out.Louie Roy

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fingers
From: Larkin
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 06:01 AM

Fantastic response- thanks everyone , particularly Catspaw for the great lyric. My fingers aren't excruciating - perhaps they're not helped by getting a Cittern last week and I can't keep my hands off it- It's a Fylde and sounds incredible . Perhaps I'll take the suggestion of lighter strings Ta !