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Guitar Question

Well, I got the guitar today, and I can already play three chords and part of a scale. BUT....hmmmm.....how to say this.....it is impossible to pick your nose when your fingertips are numb. HAHA.

Now I do have a real question for the players here. I know my fingers will get calouses(sp?) and not hurt anymore, but will the calouses help keep my fingertips from squishing so much? Right now when I press down the string my finger tip will squish out and hit one beside it. I really hope you know what I am saying here.
 
gardenkiller said:
...but will the calouses help keep my fingertips from squishing so much? Right now when I press down the string my finger tip will squish out and hit one beside it. I really hope you know what I am saying here.
Click to expand...

the calouses on my fingertips are over 1/8" thick and my fingertips are flat....yes, if you play enough, the calouses will grow and harden and not "squish" as much, however there is a downside...the flatness of the fingertips, although providing a good surface to mash the string against the fretboard, causes your finger tips to become bigger (tring to show in the picture - thumbnail, so click it to see better)...this is more of an issue for acoustic players than electric players IMHO



recomendation, keep your fingertips as close to 90 degrees to the fingerboard as you can...this will help eliminate "side loads" on the strings
 
Wow, you didn't need to go to all that work to help me out, but thanks it actually makes sense to me with the pic. After I posted last night I got it back out and kept trying and trying to train my fingers to the chord shapes and got a ton better about the squishing
 
not much work other than taking a pic and anotating it...

I assume the three chords you learned were G, C, & D?
 
short AND fat with a powerful grip
 
Action:

http://www.sempleguitars.com/index.php?seiten_nr=184

This is important. This is the kind of thing the guitar pro will be able to adjust. If your action is too high, you have to press really hard on the strings to get a clean tone. On the other hand, if your action is too low, you'll buzz.

Your fingers will be sore when you start, yes, but you'll have to use your best judgement on whether its bad action, or if you're just tender little flower ;)

Honestly, this is why I quit playing guitar. I was too young to know any better at the time (about 10 or 11), but my parents bought me a 27 dollar electric with action so high I could fit my fingers between the strings and the fret board. I thought this was normal. Obviously, the guitar had NEVER been properly set-up, and I was a kid - I didn't even know it was necessary. My father gave my brother his Gibson SG that was just incredible to play. It took me years to understand how my brother could practice for hours, and after 20 minutes my fingers hurt so bad I couldn't feel them. Needless to say, I gave up after a couple months.
 
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