Well, I just started guitar like 3-4 months ago. When I first bought my guitar and played it - it hurt so bad. I asked some of my friends who has been playing guitar for more than 5 years. They told me it was normal when you start out with an acoustic because it has metal strings. But even after the skin peeling process, my finger still hurts. I told my friends about it and they tried my guitar. It hurts for them too. They told me my string was too far from the fret board so you will have to press harder thus making you tired fast and hurting your finger. Is there a way to lower down the strings? I was going to bring to TGS to ask if they can do anything about it but I should ask here first. One more thing it wasn't a cheap acoustic guitar i bought for rm100. TGS suggested i get the rm800 acoustic with no pickups (costs rm1k with it). But i seem to have a pretty bad deal. Any help?

RM100 for an accustic is still consider a cheap one....if u are trying to get something decent...go check out Guitar Collection at Mid Valley, they have some pretty decent China made accustic guitar...tried a few, quite playable for a 300 bucks accustic...alternatively u can also visit Woh Fatt, which carries many type of affordable accustic and electric, mainly from Korea and China, if accustic is your type...

it's ok to feel the pain while playing....it's pretty normal....all you have to do is practise, practise and practise...altho a better guitar do help abit.....

You can try to use nylon strings instead of metal ones...a lot less hurtful
Most of my frens started of with classical guitars...with nylon strings
For me..I first started out using metal strings too..it hurted my fingers..which is normal..

Good luck~~

My guitar costs RM800. It isn't me, my friends who have been playing guitars for years think the build on my guitar isn't too good. The strings are too far from the fret board. That's why I can't do bar chords with my guitar but picking up other acoustic guitars i can play bar chords without any muted sound. Chaning them to nylon won't allow me to bend my strings i play alot of electric guitar songs on my acoustic so i need to bend alot.

u may need to adjust ur string action
send it to a shop to get it done
and of course, play more.. soon u'll get used to it..
and remember, ur on guitar... bass players have a harder time...

[GeNe],

I dont think it's anything to do with your guitar, IMHO ... I think its you.

Just don't simply blame the guitar (which everyone does). If you actually bought an acoustic guitar worth Rm5000 and still your finger hurts, so what or who are you going to blame now ?

I'm guessing you're a right handed person so the fingers that are in pain is the one on the left hand right ? (The fingers that are forming the chords). It's because the edge of the fingers are not seasoned yet. Seasoned meaning that your fingers are actaully harder then your right hand fingers.

Your fingers will actually get seasoned by the materials of the strings (regardless of metal or plastic) and your sweat. These two agents will make the edge of your fingers harder.

Don't believe me ?,

You actaully said that you experience skin peeling right ? The skin that is coming out is the hard type. My friends told me that you're actaully peeling off the seasoned layer of your fingers. They'll rather keep it then peeling them off.

So all I can say is .... keep playing and playing.

No Pain, No Gain.

It could be your guitar. You can lower the action. Or it could just be normal. Play more and built up a thick layer of skin. When you can poke your finger tips with needles and don't feel anything then you're on your way to becoming a master guitarist.

Lower the Bridge at the Saddle and the one in front.
How to do it:
1. Take apart the strings, and remove da saddle (just a light push shud take it out)
2. Buy a sandpaper, preferabbly a rough one and a fine one.
3. Place sandpaper on a flat surface. Or else the shape of your bridge wl run
4. Move the bridge on the paper Until you get the desired height.

Thats how i DIY
Shops wanted to charge me rm80 for that..

BTW, wat brand is your guitar?
An rm800 acoustic cudnt be so bad in quality.

no pain no gain....
juz leave the callus(sp?) alone

I started on a 1 meter (exaggeration) action guitar too.
I felt it was damn hard,
But everything was good for my electric guitar, because after that I felt so easy playing it.
If you're not thinking of moving on to electric, try to get Classical.

get it set up by a shop if u dont dare to do it diy. i think its the setup. the action is too high.

higher strings always benefit you in the end.. keep on playing! don't give up! of course.. don't peel away the callouses as they develop. keep them. and later, you'll even amaze girls on how hard your finger edges are..

opps sorry dude, my bad...too much weed i guess....
if that the case, then i suggest u bring ur guitar to the shop and get them to lower the action for u....and while u are at it, try on other accustic guitar to feel their action...compare to your guitar

@nerd....how to impress the gals with hard finger???? .....

@Whacker.
I know it's part me. I'm a beginner and yes these things happen but i'm pretty sure the strings are a little too far from the fret boards. I'm training hard.

@m|ng.
Yes, that's what i'm looking for. I'm sending it to the shop to do it, i seem to screw up stuff

Anyway, thanks y'all.

ur guitar is jumbo frets one? the seller told me that jumbo frets guitar is for the 'white people' one.....haha
just got my guitar back and felling good now...it's an electric guitar....after my class start i'll tell u what i felt.....

Get your guitar setup properly and see if it still hurts that much. If so, there're a few things you need to check :
1) Strings gauge - you might be using a string that's too thick for you, try a lighter set.
2) You sitting posture & playing technique. Make sure you're sitting at a right posture, back's straight, no chicken-flipping-out arms etc... They might seem insignificant but they contribute to your overall performance (& injuries too). Make sure you're using the right or recommended technique too.
3) The pressure you apply on the strings. When you fret your chords or notes, try to make sure that you apply just enough pressure and not overdoing it. Otherwise the more prone you're to injuries.

oh ya.....thx u...i've to correct my sitting style....coz i was slept on the bed and play the guitar just now....

One suggestion,

Whatever music instruments you start to play, you will feel it's hard in the beginning. The better way is just practice and practice everyday, so you will be used to it. Every music instruments you learn it's hard, but after a long time, you will feel normal with it.

i dont know how but i certainly noe y!!
must be his other "finger" isnt hard enuff, so must use his real fingers that are hard to impress girls
lol jk

@gene
prolly cuz ur fingers not really developed yet? maybe the string action is too high?

u said 3-4 month . Do you practise everyday ?? Not like play 1 day then rest 1 week . Like this for sure 3-4month also not enuff for u man . Practise at least 5min a day . Every guitarist went through this , i passed this period in 2 weeks. I agree what nerd says , if u play classical , u have to stretch yr finger alot. Practise make thing perfect , even my mom this year is 58 liao , she can passed this suffering period in 3 weeks.