• From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: The Gentle Touch

Anyone got any practise tips/techniques/exercises for fretting gently. I'm getting finger pain and I know it's because I grab and grip too hard. But how to get out of the habit?

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • NELA
  • Honoured Member
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  • From: West Monroe, La. 71292
  • Registered: 2007-11-28
  • Posts: 1,303

Re: The Gentle Touch

I kinda have the same problem. I play rythem guitar with a lotta open chords (some barre chords thrown in when I can) so I tend to develope calouses on my finger tips. I keep them "filed" by using a finger nail file and that seems to help. Over time the calouse on my index finger will get extremly hard (and sore) and as I file it down you can see the outline of it. After filing it down to a certian point and with a help this "kernel" will sorta "pop" out leaving a hole (depression) in my finger tip (and the pain goes away. Does any one else have this problem?

Nela

NELA's Website

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: The Gentle Touch

cytania wrote:

Anyone got any practise tips/techniques/exercises for fretting gently. I'm getting finger pain and I know it's because I grab and grip too hard. But how to get out of the habit?

It's kind of difficult to asess without seeing you play but right away my instinct tells me to reccommend thumb placement with your fretting hand. The thumb should be in the middle to the lower third of the back of the neck. It's all about leverage and ease of reach.
If you're already practicing good thumb technique my only other advice is simply to try and relax. You are aware of your problem so you know what you need to do. As you well know not only does over-grabbing and over-gripping cause pain but it also will affect pitch, making your in-tune guitar sound out of tune..........
Finally, if all else fails switch to thinner guage set of strings.

Give everything but up.
  • From: Central Flatland
  • Registered: 2007-05-30
  • Posts: 223

Re: The Gentle Touch

Changing habits is difficult.  I try to pay attention to 1) thumb position, as SouthPaw describes above; 2) getting my fingertips as close to the fret as I can, 3) concentrate (I mean, really spend some time on this) on applying JUST ENOUGH pressure to get a clean sound.  Do it enough so that you know how much pressure it takes, so that you can take note when you're tensing up and squeezing too hard.  Patience, and paying attention are the keys.

Good luck.

"There's such a fine line between genius and stupidity."
                              --David St. Hubbins
  • From: Orpington London
  • Registered: 2006-10-22
  • Posts: 390

Re: The Gentle Touch

i have joint problems if i play for long periods and press too hard on the fret board

spend some time with scales applying just enough pressure to fret the note

other tips

  - dont bend the heavier strings

  - use hybrid slinky or super slinky

  - don't play for long periods at a time

johncross21's Website

  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2007-07-16
  • Posts: 282

Re: The Gentle Touch

I'm having the same kind of issues--I'm used to fretting on my acoustic, and I'm applying the same pressure to my new electric, and it's just not necessarry.  I'm playing 90% barre chords on the electric so I'm cramping up pretty good after just a few songs....I guess the answer is like everytihg else, PRACTICE. 

And I have a pretty good calous on the inside of my left thumb--down near the joint, is that a sign of too much presure or does everybody get that just from the normal friction?

  • tonydr
  • tonydr
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  • From: New Jersey
  • Registered: 2008-03-06
  • Posts: 144

Re: The Gentle Touch

never get the thumb callous.

That's alright, I got my guitar
-Jimi Hendrix