Hi Xman,<BR>Thanks for saying HI on the other thread. How's it going?<P>I remembered that you play guitar (and other stringed instruments), so I have a question for you.<P>I took guitar lessons for a few months. I religiously practiced about 5 days a week, and was able to play a few songs here and there. I was even able to start pulling songs off the CD to play. Here's my problem though..<P>In all that time, I could never get my last two fingers to stretch out. It was very hard for me to make certain chords as a result. It always hurt my playing and I found it next to impossible to play continuously because of it. Long time guitar players tell me that this is common and can take awhile. Eventually, my frustration (and getting my dogs!!) made me put it down. I'd really like to learn someday. Did you have this problem, and how long did it take you before your fingers were "stretched out"?<P>Any other guitar players out there with this problem?

TS,<P>My best friend has played guitar for 15+ years, I'll ask him and get back to you. I'd love to learn, however God only blessed me with 7 fingers...Thank heavens for my astonishingly good looks! <P>Bill

TheStudent,<P>When I first started playing, I actually did exercises to help build up the strength in my hand and also to make them more flexible. The easiest way to get started would be to go anywhere they sell home gym equipment and look for a forearm builder (not sure of the exact name) - It is in the shape of a "V" and at the vertex of the "V" is a wire coil that gives you resistance. All you do is hold it in your hand and squeeze together so that the "V" closes.<P>For flexibility you can buy a set of the Chinese balls (no not "those" balls). They are about the size of half dollar and come in pairs. You hold them both in one hand and move them around with your fingers. (They are supposed to help remove stress in your life, but are great for building flexibility).<P>The last solution of course is to practice, practice and practice. When you do pick up the guitar to play, don't forget you should do some warm up exercises before you jump into trying to play a song. Sometimes if you just try to start playing cold, you get discouraged - but it really isn't your skill, it could just be that your hands are "cold".<P>Just some thoughts for you!<P>Mike<P>------------------<BR>God always waits for the right time to do the right thing in the right way.<p>[This message has been edited by SoTired2000 (edited January 25, 2001).]

Hi Stu!<P>Don't mention it! Can't think of anybody in ALL of cyberspace I'd rather say HI to! I'm fine, thanks. I'm always glad to see you on here giving your take on things....You state your beliefs SO eloquently....and you respond to your critics with such grace and civility. Even when a poster says you're "sick". Where did you get your asbestos bloomers, anyway?....did you stitch em up yourself or buy em at Wal-Mart? LOL Anyhoo...please keep posting....YOU (and Sysiphus and GDP and a few others) are why I stop by this site every chance I get! There IS intelligent life on this planet after all!<P>Oh! Your question about guitar pickin.....I know you aint gonna wanna hear this, but it's practice, practice, and then some more practice. Incidently,....I'm NOT a guitar player. My axe is the 5-string banjo (Bluegrass!), which doesn't require near the "stretch" you're struggling with.....but, to just bang around on a guitar, you gotta be able to span 5 frets, and as you've found, it AINT natural! I know guys that have had fingers broken and reset so they could play better.....SoTired had some good suggestions, but I aint sure about those metal balls.....Capt. Quieg and the "Caine Mutiny" come to mind LOL.<P>My personal story.....When the flick "Bonnie & Clyde" came out in '67 I was a typical suburban teenager....big Rock & Roll fan.....but that scene with Clyde driving that V-8 Ford down through that field with "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" blaring blew my mind! I became a "hillbilly" that night! My mom bought me a used Gibson Mastertone that Christmas (still have it!) and I set off on my quest to play banjer like Earl (Scruggs). Well, 33 years later, I still ain't there......but I'm real damn close. In fact sometimes I'm BETTER than Earl! (I've picked with him...) BUT (LOL) he just celebrated his 77th birthday and, you know, he's getting a little "arthur"(itis) in his third finger on his right hand! Don't want to "blow my cover" but there's a movie out now that I helped out with the soundtrack of....<P>Soooo, Stu, all I can say is practice till ya wanna smash the thing over sumthin. It's funny (in my experience) once it (your playing) starts to come together, It happens <almost> overnight. But it CAN take years.....Ya gotta have the time to fool with it and eventually things fall into place. <P>On second thought....I think the best thing for you to do Stu, is use the guitar to relax......you've got SO many irons in the fire it ain't even funny! Don't worry if you can't play like the "pros" on the CD's, just play it for yourself.....and don't be surprised if one day, you can reach 6 frets with your pinkie!<P>Take care, Stu, and please keep challenging our minds with your posts! You're wonderful....IMHO<P>Bill

Xman,<P>"I know you aint gonna wanna hear this, but it's practice, practice, and then some more practice." <P>Actually, that is what I wanted to hear. I'm glad to hear it is more likely a matter of practice than just believing I don't have the physical requirements for it. I have long fingers (so that is a blessing). Ok. Time to start stretching!!<P>It was getting to the point where it wasn't fun. I was pushing myself so much trying to get some of the more difficult chords. <P>Training my dogs has given me alot more patience. I diligently tried for months to get my one dog to play frisbee. After awhile I gave it up and just threw a ball, which she liked better. After awhile, I noticed she really got into catching a ball in the air before it bounced, so I replaced the ball with the frisbee one day....and wha-la...FRISBEE DOG!!! It was only when I stopped focusing on the goal that it finally came together. <P>Hey, what movie soundtrack did you put together? Come on...fess up!! Don't be shy <P>Thanks for the guitar tips!! That goes for Bill and SoTired too!!<BR>