[Honkerman]

Well, I took my classical guitar to the music store to get a new tuning key put on and new strings, and there's a crack at the base of the neck, so they were unwilling to re-string it for me without fixing it, and that would have cost more than the guitar was worth...So I have a new Ibanez accoustic with steel strings instead of nylon and my fingers hurt!

On the plus side, I'm slowly learning chords and love the sound of the new instrument. I've been working on it for about ten minutes at a time several times a day, just to give my fingers a rest. The resources here are nice, but I've found I really need to practice more with individual chords and get them memorized before I dive into anything. Sheesh, it's such a different way of playing from what I learned back in high school...almost 20 years ago...I'm starting to feel old.

[Dark Helmet]

do 10-minute stints one day, try to do 12s the next, then 15s...

I did a 3hr session last week... it was awesome. and I started playing (after a 15 year break) about 60 days ago, and I'm a desk jockey (no calluses.

[AudioAUnderdog]

During my first week of playing guitar I played 1-3 hours a day everyday for a week (just chords on an acoustic steel string) and I've had calluses ever since. It's brutal at first, but one thing I found that helped was playing up until you couldn't stand it and then taking a half hour to an hour break and coming back to it after that. So those 1-3 hours a day I did weren't solid hours, I took breaks.

[Honkerman]

Yeah, that's what I've been doing. I'm really enjoying myself, despite the discomfort. I have a chord book that I've had for years which never did me any good with my old guitar, but it's really helpful now.

I also found a simple praise music book at the local music store, which I will be buying with my next paycheck (the cost of the guitar by itself was enough to pinch my budget for this pay period).

I was amazed at all the stuff that came with the guitar. It has a shoulder strap, a tuner, some picks, a carrying case for all that stuff, and even a full size soft guitar case (though I prefer my old one).

[Giga Hertz]

I fixed the problem by learning bass first.

A nice five-string bass with heavy, thick strings.

Doing slides on a nice five-string bass with heavy, thick strings.

[1/2-Fast Player]

Ibanez makes some decent acoustics; I've had an AW100 for many years that I'll never part with. Which one did you get?

[AudioAUnderdog]

Originally Posted by 1/2-Fast Player

Ibanez makes some decent acoustics; I've had an AW100 for many years that I'll never part with. Which one did you get?

+1

I have an Ibanez AW300 and I absolutely love it.

[Honkerman]

Mine is just the basic model. I can't really decipher the model number. It's very long. heh.

I played for almost an hour straight tonight. Getting the hang of the G,C, D, and Em chords (Enough to play Amazing Grace). It's so nice. God is good, and all I wish I had now is a harmonica holder so I can play them both at once.

[Honkerman]

I spent another hour playing today, and the chords are coming along. I've only got four memorized (the basic four of course), but am working on three more, and transitioning between the chords is becoming easier. I actually played through "Shout to the Lord" with only minimal stutter when switching to the D chord from a G or C.

I found a great Tab/chord app for my iPod that has been fantastic. It doesn't have every song I looked for, but it has a ton.

[metropolis4]

Ah, I remember those days

The guitar I learned on was an old 1972 Yamaha acoustic with strings about a half inch off the fret board! I'd play until my fingers were raw, then play some more.

The thing to remember is that this too shall pass. Eventually as you play more your callouses will build and it won't hurt so much. Pain is progress, learn to eat bitterness now

[Stratopastor]

What metropolis said.

I remember moving from nylon to steel and for 2 weeks thinking "hey, I'm gettng away with this" Then my fingertips disintegrated. But after a month of pain I was back on track. And these days the pain is confined to those listening to my playing..