Intro to guitar 1/2 -- how learning the guitar works, how to strum a guitar

[froznic]

So um.. I've started learning but apparently having shorter fingers makes this a bigger pain then it would be with longer fingers.. Not to mention the fact that I feel like the strings are going through my fingers just to make it not sound all messed up.. Is that normal? Cuz after 30 seconds of pushing the strings in I have to take a break for 20 minutes for my fingers to stop stinging.. You make it look like it doesn't hurt at all.. Am I losing my mind?

[froznic]

@froznic Never mind.. Apparently I have to bathe my fingertips in rubbing alcohol every 10 minutes!

[Cathode0]

@froznic I've heard that stuff before (I heard peroxide before actually). But I've never tried it, I just played as much as I could stand at first until finally I lost my sense of feeling =P

[sirsilwil]

@froznic no it's normal if you play alot your fingers will get tough then the strings won't hurt he probably has caluses (no idea how to spell it.)i have caluses and my fingers don't hurt anymore

[crash9321]

Does it work with electric guitars

[Cathode0]

@crash9321 yeah, as long as you use standard tuning (EADGBE) the instruments are mostly identical (electric and acoustic). Note though, that finger-picking on electric doesn't sound as good as flat picking on electric (from what I've noticed). There's probably foot pedals that make it cooler and amp settings but I don't know too much about that.

[siege86]

wow i got something major outta this vid bro thanks, its a lot easier to slide using your pinky and ring finger.

[yarrboots]

you're a really good teacher! i know nothing about playing guitar... i dusted mine off and i'll start playing that E chord. thanks for posting!

[Cathode0]

mediums .013-.056

Phosphor Bronze (mine are made by D'Addario)

I just restrung about 2 weeks ago so they're pretty fresh.

[hatagata]

what kind of strings do you use?