Lessons/Tutorials

The first few weeks of playing guitar can be some of the most difficult for any aspiring musician. Not only do you have to deal with the emotional trauma of messing up your favorite riffs, you also have to confront the physical pain: the soreness of your fingers. It takes several weeks to build up the calluses in your fingertips to be able to press down the strings effortlessly and painlessly. For those looking for a bit of relief, here are several tips to reduce the pain in your fingers:

• Don't press down excessively on the strings - Use only as much force as necessary to establish a clear tone. Don't apply maximum force to the fretboard if your notes and chords are not ringing out. Continue increasing/decreasing pressure until you find that perfect sound.
  
  
• Install lighter strings - Lighter-gauge strings are easier to press down and bend. You sacrifice a bit of tone but that shouldn't matter when you're just starting out. Consider a string change to a smaller diameter if you continue struggling.
  
  

• ·        Try out different products for your hands - Epsom salt? Tea tree oil? Apple cider vinegar? All these products have all been recommended to reduce the swelling in your fingers. See if any of them work for you. For more information, visit this website
  
  

• Take it easy - Learning guitar is hard. Take some time off if the pain is too intense - you can always supplement your learning by studying music theory or watching your favorite guitarists perform. Your fingers will feel fine quicker than you think.

Do you ever find yourself looking for a heavier sound from your axe?  Many players tune one or more of the strings on their guitar down to achieve a "lower" sound, which some feel makes the tone meaner and heavier. One of the most common alternate tunings is Drop-D.

The great thing about Drop-D is that it requires you to change the pitch of only one string. In this tuning, the low E string is tuned down one whole step to a D.  The strings, from the sixth (the one closest to you) to the first (the "highest" one), thus become D A D G B E.

For guitarists who love power chords, this tuning is a blessing. By shifting the notes on the E string up two frets, you can now play power chords with a single finger by barring. For example, to play a G5 power chord, place your finger on the 5^th fret (now the G note), make sure you are pressing down on the three lowest strings, and strum the three strings simultaneously.

Changing strings can be an annoying burden for any guitarist.  The unwinding, the pulling, the aligning, the rewinding, the tuning, the retuning --- it's no surprise many delay installing a fresh pair of strings. We want to practice our favorite riff or play songs for our friends, not twist knobs. But in order for our guitars to continue sounding as bright as the day we bought them, we have to take care of them.

So why change your strings?  First, your fingers add oils, sweat, dirt, and grime to the strings and fretboard every single time you play. Even if you wash your hands, even if you use string cleaners, it is unavoidable. The buildup of these substances eventually causes the strings to corrode and vibrate unevenly. Did you know that dirty strings can actually throw your guitar out of tune?

Additionally, the strings are always under tension, including when you're not playing the guitar.  When you tune your instrument, they are stretched with different magnitudes. Over time, the forces reduce the elasticity (ability to stretch) of the strings.  They become weaker and are unable to vibrate as powerfully as before.

Professionals will tell you to change your strings as soon as soon as they start sounding dull.  But for beginners just starting out, it may be difficult to distinguish differences in brightness and tone.  So exactly how long should you wait if you're a beginner or a casual player?

Go for 15-30 hours on a single set of strings.  Assuming an hour of play per day, this works out to once every 2-4 weeks.  Remember to take some time with a new set to distinguish the bright sound of the guitar.  Over time, your hearing will build up and you will be able to tell when it's time to switch.