Newbie needs your opinion..

Hi friends,

I have picked a new hobby át. Age of 56.... Playing guitar !..:grin:

I have a chord sheet And have Been practicing... One problem i am having is my fingers get tired And kinda luck up For lack of better explanation of the sensation...i know i am An. Older guy but is there any remedy from our older players..??

Also, de to my irregular work schedule, I can not go to a guitar class to take lessons....can you recommend a cd/DVD to learn playing guitar in a proper way..?

Thx for your input..

try you tube...lots of lessons and help

Now I know this is a telecaster site but the following link to free lessons on the Gibson site may help - some of them are fairly advanced so you may have to do some searching to find your level:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Lessons/


It's never too late to start - I'm older than you are and have started to gig in Blues clubs. I jump on that wah pedal and am 21 again, just like when I was on the road doing clubs and arena-rock.

Been doing this since 1956 - as your hands develop the problem will diminish but it's not an overnight thing and may take a year or more depending upon your situation and how often you practice.

When I'm not in shape the thumb on my left hand sometimes locks closed.

I' ve been using the Learn and Master Guitar series DVD's. They start off with the absolute basics and progressively get more advanced. They also come with jam track cd's. I really like the lessons which are far more structured than YouTube. Next I'll be getting the Learn and Master Blues Guitar series. Check it out at learnandmaster.com.

Thx for the replies so far and will look into all advise and practice on my Telecoustic more.

Is there any string that is easier on old fingers... LOL...?? Or you would recommend..??

There are many good lessons, as suggested here. Go to YouTube & search for 'guitar lessons' or 'guitar licks' & you'll be amazed.

But you are also mentioning locked & tired fingers. I'm 61 & know that drill so: drink plenty of water, stretch your hands & fingers before & while playing & if it hurts (joints and stuff, not your fingertips) take a break for a day or two.

Robben Ford sez he learned from this book: Mickey Baker's Complete Course in Jazz Guitar vol 1. Learn all the chords and then some songs. You'll be on your way! The book's less than $10.

If your telecoustic is like most, the set up could be horrible ie strings too high which can make you very sore. Might have it looked at by an expert. The one I had was terrible.

Another idea is to think about a fatter neck. It's a lot easier on the hands. A lot of old guys I jam with use them. I personally don't care too much for them. But yeah. Next time you buy. Think about it.

Thx for the replies so far and will look into all advise and practice on my Telecoustic more.

Is there any string that is easier on old fingers... LOL...?? Or you would recommend..??

Your guitar isn't helping you any. They're not very easy to play. You might put lighter gauge strings on it.

Interesting Topic and replies. I learned few tips here too !

I've had very good luck with trigger point massage techniques. Find a pencil with a full eraser on the end. When your hand cramps up, press the eraser into it. If this causes a sharp, needle-like pain, you'll know that you have hit a trigger point (an area where muscle fibers are dense). Hold for 15 seconds, stretch, then repeat. Now play the same thing and see if things haven't loosened up for you.

In general, hot packs, hot % cold water, and stretches help. The trigger points are very specific and can be "cleared" in a day to a few weeks. It is worth reading about on the internet.

Also, massaging and kneading the forearms can help a great deal.

Pick four frets that are reasonably close together (say 5-6-7-8) on the low (sounding) E string. Put your first finger on 5 follow it with you second on 6, then third on 7 until you have all your fingers on the fretboard. Now, without taking your 2nd, 3rd or pinky fingers off the E string, move your first finger to the 5th fret of the A string, then your 2nd and so on until all you fingers are all on the A string. Repeat it up and down all the strings. Boring as bat**** but it'll make a difference.
I used to soak my fingertips in methylated spirits to toughen them up. Probably very unhealthy but I'm still playing.

I'm 52 this year and just took up guitar again. I have played a wee bit here & there since I was 14 but never got past a few chords.

I got serious about it last year & decided I needed some decent instruction.

Found Justin Sandercoe and have really made some progress.

www.justinguitar.com

Good luck :)

PS,

One of those squeezy foam balls (tennis ball sized) are great for building strength and keeping your fingers supple. Actually, I think playing guitar is great for keeping your fingers & hands in good shape as we age. Arthritis etc.

5 minutes a day for each hand just squeezing away works wonders, great for building strength for playing barre chords etc.

If it is your finger joints giving you trouble, drinking tart cherry juice may help.