Hey, Pete

They all hurt until you get your calluses. What gauge strings are you using and what axe are playing?

D5

Yeah, I’m pretty clumsy on the first string, bends are difficult for me it seems because the string is so close to the edge of the neck I can’t get ahold of it to bend well. I have a difficult time with vibrato now and then on the first string also, the string slips off the neck….oops lol… But both problems have improved over time, just not where it needs to be yet.

First string is hardest for me too. I am improving with practice though. (using .09s)

I find vibrato hard on that string, I keep pulling it off the frets over the edge of the neck – doh!

I hear all you guys when it comes to vibrato, and believe me, I’m far from being an expert. The other strings are easier because you can vibrato up and down. Of course on the top string you end up pulling it off the fretboard. So practice vibrato up, then to the original position, and up, and so on. It takes a lot of getting used to and I screw it up all the time. Nothing like a solo buzz kill than pulling your e string off the board. If you watch BB, he tends to use a violin type vibrato, side to side rather than up and down. Trial and error, my fellow musicians. In the words of Carlos Santana, “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.”

D5

It would be good for you to check out Fingerease at your local music store. Its about 5 bucks a can and is a lubricant of sorts that helps the fingers to not get so sore in the beginning plus its good for your fingerboard.

when I started, I could only practice for 10 mins per day co’s my fingers would get so sore, now I can practice for much longer and I hardly notice my fingers at all now.

I hear you guys when you pull the 1st string off the board, I find I have more issues with the 6th string though, I HATE using that string and try to avoid it.

Neil.

before finger ease came into being good old chap stick worked great.
I still use when i’m out of finger-ease…

i do not want any one to misunderstand my use of chap stick … i would use chap stick to ease some of the soreness in my finger tips not as a string lubricant…

As for string bending. Use more fingers…HUh?

when making a bend use more than one finger to make the bend .
1st string 3rd fret bending to 5th fret g – a
place 1st finger on first string first fret
2nd 2nd
3rd 3rd
use all three fingers to make the bend…
Now i ain’t a teacher i am a southern southpaw that has played and loved the
guitar for fifty years If anyone can explain better please do……………..

Any bend on any string on the second fret always bring the frown.

.

When i started to learn guitar with loaned guitar, it had daddario .11 strings and first bends was horrible. I fingers were sored before minute. Then very soon i changed to Elixir .10 strings and after those to Martin .10 strings. Bends and vibratos and slides take time and practise to get used to.
I suggest to practise 10 minutes in every day just bends constantly. Then try something else(chordings, some songs,riffs,licks etc) and again bends. At first week try e and b string bends in different frets all over the neck. Just improvise freely and try.Play some backtrack also.Add thentrings and some slides and vibratos and even hummer on’sa dn pull offs . This so called exercise well help improve your techinique and help to memorize fret positions. It helped me. First I bended with full hand and later with my fingers only. For example, i strum 5 fret with index finger and bend 7 fret with ring finger etc.
Hope it helped .
one last thing when talking about must have accessories:
GHS Fast Fret – i use everyday, before and after playing to clean strings. Its good and save freatboard also. It cost 6-8 bucks or smonting and last long time. For me this is must have accessories in my guitar bag
one demonstrative picture i found in google http://www.banzaimusic.com/image.php?id=3820&type=D
Every music store are selling this.

Greetings,
Tanel