So far so good thanks to you lot!

Hi crevs - Music stores sell a variety of gizmos designed to aid in strengthening your fingers. A cheap, easy way I used to exercise my fingers was using a few of the little binder clips I snagged from work. I kept various sizes in my truck and while driving down the road would squeeze and hold between my thumb and alternating all fingers of my fretting hand.

Look for a product in first aid supply called NEW SKIN,that and switching to a very well set up Guild 12 string for a week or two seemed to help my big fat fingers lol,also when you sit down to practice warm up first,I'd kind of get into a trip of just rambling thru the chords that I knew till it kind of comes out like a weird kind of music.Then I'd sit down and practice songs off the easy songbooks menu,B chords and much below the 3rd fret still do me a number,to many years logging and injurys make for stiff wrists and fingers. Having a well set up guitar with compatible strings also takes a lot of the work out of it. Hope that this helps you.
                                                                                              George

A properly set up "Cheap" guitar is easier to play than an expensive guitar set-up poorly. Make sure that your guitar is set up for you and your style of playing. Now try this - pick a chord, any chord - lets say "D".

Form an open "D" chord on your guitar as you normally would and strum. After you have done this remove your hand from the fretboard, shake it out a few times and then reform the open "D" chord BUT place your fingers down VERY lightly. And strum. How is the sound? Does it ring clear? If it does, good, if not then increase your finger pressure slightly and strum again. How does this sound? By doing this you will begin to see just how lightly you need press down on the fretboard to form chords. Pressing down too hard with our fingertips is something all of us do. It take time and practice ot overcome this habit. Keep at it and practice, practice, practice.

Nela