Got myself a guitar and decided to practice like never before. I have to admit I get the whole theory around it, trying it is something else. Unfortunately, the pain in my fingers just gets worse and yet I am determined to continue to play against all odds.
So here is my tip - Pick an electric guitar if you want to make this journey easy. Second of all, hope that the winter cold does not show up, just when you think you have conditioned your fingers and lastly keep up the morale even if things are going slow.
The journey starts with understanding the fret board! Then playing the basic notes over and over again. Your fingers will initially never stretch or press against the string to make the sound clear, but keep trying and you will soon find things working.
If you have an iPad or even a PC download a guitar tuning application. Learn the basic chords - C, G , D, Am, E, Dm and finally move onto F. If you can play the F you have moved up the chain suddenly (Hoorah!). There are heaps of videos out there that can teach you how to play these. Pick up a song that you can try these on and fortunately for me since I drum, the strumming pattern just happens. Given than I have a keen ear, I am overly critical of my playing when it sounds even a little off. Your fingers will turn from soft hurting fingers to hardened hurting fingers. Your shoulders may begin to ache even and finally you will have Aha moments where you can play your first chord, then you learn to change chords and finally you may actually play a song. Its been 1 week of active work for me to play a few solos and 3 songs on my guitar. However, I do know that I have a long way to go before the sound are clear and I am not covering up for the mistakes I make.
You will find heaps of advise on the internet but here is what worked for me: Focus on freeing up your fingers, making them stretch, playing with the tips of your fingers and by pressing hard against the fret board. Focus on movements of chords. Watch how your fingers move from a chord to the other. Ask yourself, is this logically the easiest way to do it or is there a better approach to changing chords. Finally, celebrating moments of success is very important.
Besides my guitar, I have my key board opened up and have spent a lot of time working on my fingering and getting the left side more co-ordinated. Its the first week I have realized how playing is easy but mastering very very tough! I have learnt that hours are spent in a day strumming or playing and yet I have not made much of a breakthrough. However, the good thing is that this has opened up my world suddenly with a zillion more possibilities. I imagine mastering the most complex pieces of guitaring and playing away on an electric guitar soon. I fancy myself playing a symphony on a piano and despite my sore fingers, I have a refreshed soul!
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