Soft Fingers
I broke a fingernail at work a couple of weeks ago. In that time I was able to repair it with this amazing super-glue that you brush on like nail polish. Last night I decided to knock it off since I hadn't had time to play my classical guitar anyway, so I cut them all off. I won't touch the classical guitar until they grow back. My teacher said that not having them is like a violinist not having a bow.
In the meantime, I don't really have calluses on my finger tips because nylon strings don't really do that to you. I have other guitars to play, ones that I play with a pick, with steal strings. That's what I'll be doing until my claw grows back.
Soft fingers on steal strings. Ever since I took up distance running and weight lifting, almost simultaneously I have had a slight addiction to pain. Not S&M, not self mutilation, but that kind which comes of physical exertion ending up in a rush of endorphins. Usually exercise. There is another venue for this bizarre addiction which comes from playing a steel string guitar with sensitive fingertips. I grew up playing really cheep steel stringers, ones where the necks were slightly bowed, the tuning pegs rusty and in need of pushing down really hard. My classical teacher keeps asking me why I'm gripping the neck of my guitar like I'm trying to crush it, and this is why. But I'm fascinated by getting sounds from playing guitars so I have associated that pain with pleasure. My steel string guitar is much better than the ones I used to have. I actually can't wait to grow my nails back. Now both hands have really sensitive fingers. It feels weird to type and not have to make concessions for the nails on one hand. Kind of like shaving off a beard, the feeling is different and strange.
In the meantime, I don't really have calluses on my finger tips because nylon strings don't really do that to you. I have other guitars to play, ones that I play with a pick, with steal strings. That's what I'll be doing until my claw grows back.
Soft fingers on steal strings. Ever since I took up distance running and weight lifting, almost simultaneously I have had a slight addiction to pain. Not S&M, not self mutilation, but that kind which comes of physical exertion ending up in a rush of endorphins. Usually exercise. There is another venue for this bizarre addiction which comes from playing a steel string guitar with sensitive fingertips. I grew up playing really cheep steel stringers, ones where the necks were slightly bowed, the tuning pegs rusty and in need of pushing down really hard. My classical teacher keeps asking me why I'm gripping the neck of my guitar like I'm trying to crush it, and this is why. But I'm fascinated by getting sounds from playing guitars so I have associated that pain with pleasure. My steel string guitar is much better than the ones I used to have. I actually can't wait to grow my nails back. Now both hands have really sensitive fingers. It feels weird to type and not have to make concessions for the nails on one hand. Kind of like shaving off a beard, the feeling is different and strange.