Well, there is no perfect answer to any question, but from the information that is currently available, and what guitar teachers have to say, the answer would have to be yes! Most teachers recommend that students begin with an electric guitar because of the fact that it is guitar easier on the fingers when you are going through your guitar lessons.
* Read more – Is guitar bad for your fingers? – why is acoustic guitar harder than electric? – how hard is guitar? – Do longer fingers help guitar playing? – Why do open chords sound bad on electric guitar?
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The Upsides Of Electric Guitars
- The width of the neck is normally narrower than a typical acoustic guitar, making it easier to hold down basic major chords.
- The fact that the strings of the top electric guitars are softer, makes playing much easier on the fingers.
- Electric guitars are good for people with small hands.
- The lightness of the strings on an electric guitar makes it easier to play barre chords and beginner guitar songs from guitar tabs.
- It is possible to plug your headphones into your guitar, allowing your family and neighbors their beauty sleep while you practice.
The Downsides
- You will need to buy an amplifier, which does cost a few bucks.
- It is not always easy for beginners to find the correct tone, and some newbies might be put off if it sounds bad.
- If you can play something on an electric guitar, it does not mean that you will be able to play the same thing on an acoustic guitar or nylon string classical guitar.
Top Tips For Keeping Your Fingers From Hurting From Playing
- Keep your fingernails neat and short – When you have short nails, it is much easier to develop calluses than if you have long nails. Long nails also make it difficult to get good sound.
- Get the correct strings – You can get strings in a variety of gauges. It is easier to play when using light gauge strings, that if you had to use heavy or medium gauge strings. Light gauge strings will definitely cause less soreness to your fingers when playing. If you use heavy or medium gauge strings, they will hurt more, but you will also get some great calluses much quicker than if you used light gauge strings.
- Do not press hard on the strings – Most beginners guitar seem to press down too hard on the strings. Try to relax your fingers and only press hard enough to ensure that the string has firm contact with the fret. The danger of developing tendonitis is very real if you put too much pressure on the strings when playing. If this happens, you will not be able to play again until you recover completely.
- Refrain from playing with wet fingers – Your guitar finger calluses will soften up when you do things like washing dishes, bathing, and swimming, or after you apply hand lotion. It is very important that you wait until your hands are completely dry before playing, especially if your hands and fingers feel wrinkled after being in the water for a long period of time.
- Stop picking, biting, or shaving off your calluses – If you do any of the above, you will land up right where you were in the beginning and you will have to start all over again. It seems like common sense, we know, but you will see how tempting it becomes to bite the buggers off, especially when they are soft and wet after being in the water for a long period of time.
- Apple cider vinegar – soak those fingers – It is very simple to soak your fingers in apple cider vinegar for roughly 30 seconds each time before you play and after. It also helps to ice your fingertips before you start playing – this helps to prevent soreness. It is even possible for you to use topical anesthetic products, such as tooth care products, which contain benzocaine each time before and after you play.
- There are some guitarists who use a little drop of superglue to create “false” calluses on their fingertips, especially if they are very sensitive. You must just keep in mind that you cannot get your fingers stuck together or to the fret, which will cause damage to the finish. If you do end up developing a slit in one or more of your fingers, you can use any liquid bandage to keep the split closed.
- Rubbing alcohol – Using rubbing alcohol has been reported to be a tip that came from Eric Clapton. If you use rubbing alcohol three times per day for 1-2 weeks (beginners), it will cause your skin to dry out, which in turn helps to build calluses quicker. It is pretty easy to find, you just need to use what the health care providers use. Wipe your fingers with alcohol wipes, or alcohol-soaked cotton balls.
- Pocket gadgets are king – Many guitarists tend to keep an old credit card in their pockets to help maintain their calluses. They can play with the card while they are standing in bank, or grocery lines. There are a number of ways to make this tip work for you, and it is advisable that you ask the professionals exactly how they do it.
- Perseverance is key – Every single person who decides to take up the guitar will have to deal with sore fingers at first. This applies to those who are away from their instrument for a long period of time as well. The trick is to keep on playing and not give up, in the end it will be worth it. You need to toughen up if you want to see yourself doing well at your chosen pastime.
Remember that you have to work hard to get those calluses, so keep on looking after them and playing on a regular basis. The more you practice, the better for you and your calluses. Some famous guitar player have actually played until their fingers bled – now that is dedication, and you too can achieve your goal, you just need to focus on what you want and never give up on your dream. Who knows, you could become the next Eric Clapton if you want it bad enough. Move through the pain to greatness!