Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

Well, I'm not sure I could get a hold of the book here in Denmark, but I'll try looking for it.

Maybe I'll scan and post some of the exercises for you. Email me if I forget:

kgmessier@gmail.com

 

[Sune]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

Alright man, but where will you post it if you remember it? here?

 

[Sune]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

You're so totally reminding me of the day I spent hours on just the opening chords and riff for "Back in Black" when I first started playing. It seemed like an insurmountable task back then, but now it's cake.

Oh, so you also like that kind of music..Well, then we have a couple of things in common I guess :laugh2:

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

I have done that exercise, and it's a good one. I totally agree with moving it up the neck if your fingers can't make the stretch; start up as high as you need to to comfortably reach the four frets, when you can execute that, move one fret down. The best advice for that exercise is to use a metronome, and set it as slow as you need, even if it's 40bpm, to in order to be able to play the exercise accurately. Then go one beat faster, repeat. If you have any pain, STOP what you're doing immediately!

 

[Sune]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

Well, since you're not the only one reccommending that, then I'll do that..Start up with the small frets and go down to the bigger ones. And about the metronome - that was actually what I was doing, with the tempo on 40bpm.

 

[A Skater]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

Don't worry about it dude, I have one year playing and I barely practiced at all until like 4 months ago. Go to http://www.power-tab.net/ and get Power Tab. I found a lesson to help you with this. It's really good, and you can adjust the speed to about anything you want. Practice makes perfect. (BTW, is it bad if I keep playing even if I'm in pain? I always thought "the pain is gain".)

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

I found that some players have ALOT of trouble stretching at first. I have really scrawny thin fingers and never had much trouble or pain related to guitar playing, but some people tend to have very stiff hands.

My advice-wash your hands in hot water before playing to loosen up your finger muscles.

 

[Ez74]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

one of the european guitar mags recently had steve vai's "10 hour workout"in it and it has alot of good excersizes in it... you should check it out

 

[tone?]

Re: Help, I can't stretch my fingers properly..

IM looking on the net right now to find you o few books with excersizes to twist your fingers like pretzles! LOL! im just kidding

ok here is one the i used

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0793509629/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-5603727-5177719#reader-page

It is by a guy named Troy Stetina or something like that.
i used this about 10 years ago or something with the cassette tape. i was already pretty good i remember but it has beggining excersizes in here as well as advanced.
I think he has beggining books as well.

if i remember correctly the excersize you posted is in the book.

Dont worry about not being able to do the total basics well yet.
It is REAL important though that you have half the brain to start out correctly.
Maybe even look for a good guitar teacher, one with great form so you can have a proper start in learning.
i have stressed this a billion times cause unlearning bad technique is WAAAAAy more difficult than getting it right the first time.

I took Piano for five years as well so i have been through the excersise phase as the other guy in here stated.

i still think you should buy a good book ( they are pretty cheap and you can get them over the net ANYWHERE) and practice sitting down on the couch, on the crapper, in your bedroom and anywhere you go. Thats what i did at least. i drove everyone nuts for years doing this but i can play the **** out of an electric guitar now! It is cool buying a book cause you can take it anywhere and not screw up your eyes constantly being in front of a PC.

Just remember that it takes TIME. there are things that really cannot be forced. and the weird thing is that some things come just with time. that is you could be practicing a string technique and not be able to get it down well no matter how much you practice ,and then a year later it comes to you just like that, naturally.

Get a book a practice till you have to buy new fingers!
i agree that you should practice until your notice discomfort and then take a break or play something totally easy to loosen your fingers up. Since you are young you probably can beat your fingers more before you need to take a break but it is still super important.


and remember to have fun!!