Feel the burn: getting used to the effects of playing guitar

Having fun learning to play guitar? Glad to hear it! There are some things you may not be aware of though, such as the effects that prolonged playing can have on your hands. I’ve been playing for twenty years now, so my hands are used to the rigours of fretting notes and playing at ridiculous speeds, but I’d be the first to admit that it wasn’t easy starting out.

For a good long while when I was starting to play guitar, I wondered what the hell was going on with my hands and my forearms. When you’re not used to the strain of fretting or hitting notes, you will notice some discomfort in your forearms.

This will pass as your arms adjust to playing for long periods. Make sure you take a rest when you feel this discomfort, as you don’t want to hurt yourself and thus impair your ability to play. Take it steady, and you’ll soon notice the progress you’re making. Perhaps you could try a different right hand technique.

Another thing to take note of is the change in the fingertips of your fretting hand. When you start out you’ll notice that the skin may be sore or split a little. This is normal.

Before too long the skin will harden a little in those fingertips and will stop being painful or splitting when you play. This is a normal thing, and once your fingers are accustomed to fretting, you’ll be able to do so without discomfort forever more.

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