I have been away from this forum and practicing guitar for three years. I will be starting over from scratch. I no longer have my nylon string guitar, so I will be picking up my acoustic guitar, which I typically have avoided playing due to finger pain.
I tend to listen to mostly older music on CDs, so I am way out of date. I listen to just about any genre except jazz. My favorite genre is folk. Specifically, I am most interested in sea songs and shanties.
Welcome, planetluvver! This site isn't as busy as others I've been to, so I'm hoping the newcomers (or "re-newcomers" such as yourself) can help liven it up.
Finger pain is a not-unusual experience for those who aren't practicing with regularity. Since I returned to the guitar after a long layoff, I had no calluses, so my early practices lasted only a short while. Within three weeks, roughly, my calluses have returned, and I find I can play longer.
I'm not John Lennon ("I've got blisters on my fingers!") so I don't play until my fingers bleed. But I do try to practice every day. Some days it's only for 5-15 minutes. Other days I can go for several hours. But I try not to miss a day. I've become so dedicated to that prospect that I went and bought a travel/practice guitar. Last week I went on a business trip, and every night in my hotel room I spent time practicing.
So, keep it up, planetluvver. Practice only until it starts to become uncomfortable. Or less. But practice! Make it a point. Put it on your calendar, if you must. Set aside a time each if it helps. Find a practice room/area where you can devote your attention to playing without distraction. And soon, you'll be there!
Duke Ellington said it best: "If it sounds good, it IS good!"
Welcome to Guitar Noise.
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
