What Is Guitar Fingering?

What is guitar fingering, you may wonder? Well wonder no longer, as today we’ll take a closer look at what guitar fingering is, how easy or hard it is to learn, and a lot more.

So, What Is Guitar Fingering?

Guitar fingering is the action of pushing the strings against the fretboard to produce chords. Typically, your right hand is the one strumming the strings while your other hand pushes the strings against the fretboard to produce the sounds.

You must do this without pressing against the frets and space your fingers out enough to hit the correct chords without pushing multiple strings together. Learning how to do this can take time. However, there are some exercises you can do to help strengthen your fingers.

Check out this example of guitar fingering for beginners:

Is Guitar Fingering Hard To Learn?

Guitar fingering can be challenging for some people to learn. However, learning the correct placement of your fingers is crucial to avoiding injuries while learning. Placing your fingers in the wrong areas can cause strain on your hands throughout changing notes in a song.

It’s not uncommon for new players to struggle with finger placement. Many people avoid using their pinkies or will use their thumbs to hold the strings closer to them. It’s crucial to remember that you should never use your thumb to play notes, as this can cause excess strain on your hands and result in injury while playing.

Additionally, the pinky is vital for playing certain chords and should not be avoided. Practicing basic chords every day should help improve your finger placement.

For information about strumming patterns and tips for improving your skill, check out this article.

Does Learning Guitar Fingering Hurt?

Yes, finger injuries are common for new players learning guitar. This pain comes from the pressure that playing the chords puts on the soft tissue of your fingertips. After your first few practices, you may notice your fingertips become raw and sore due to the bluntness of the strings.

Guitar strings are typically nylon which can rub away at the top layers of skin in your fingers. Learning the guitar will most likely be a painful experience for your fingers until you develop calluses.

Additionally, you may notice pain in the tendons throughout your hand. Guitar fingering can be straining on those tendons. The prolonged strain on these tendons can lead to more health concerns like nerve damage and chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.

How Long Until My Fingers Get Used to Guitar Fingering?

It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to even months for your fingers to get used to the new strain of learning guitar. If you practice daily, this time will be shorter than if you only practice once a week.

After a few weeks of playing, your fingers will likely develop rough calluses. These calluses will help protect your fingertips from the repetitive trauma fingering causes. It is important to remember to take care of your finger until the calluses grow.

Tips for Treating Sore Fingers

Unfortunately, you cannot avoid having sore fingers when you begin learning the guitar. However, there are some easy things you can do to help ease the pain, including:

• Apply ice after long practice sessions.
• Use over-the-counter pain medications.
• Apply a topical numbing cream to the affected fingertips.

What Is Guitar Fingering? Final Thoughts

Guitar fingering is the action your fingers perform while playing chords on the guitar. Fingering also refers to where you should place your fingers on the fretboard as you play notes. Guitar fingering can take weeks to months to master.

You can expect to have some discomfort while learning to play guitar too. Remember to take breaks between long practices to let your fingers heal.

For more information on learning guitar at home, check out this article.