Skin

[Eternal Dragon]

I was just wondering what the record would be for the most layers of skin removed from guitar strings. I've only really started taking notice recently and it seems to be around 3 before it starts to heal. But yeh when u play lots of hard bends on a not-so-good guitar it tends to rip pretty good. I even killed a nerve the other day and couldnt play with that finger for 2 days :s.

 

[Pharaoh]

You must turn the guitar around and play with the other hand. If you are not ambidexterous, it's time to learn how to be. When the skin goes on that hand, you go to the toes, one foot, then the other. By the time your toes are all raw, the fingers on the original hand should be healed up enough. Walk softly and carry a big pick.
Dr. Stu

On a serious "note" (pardon the pun)....this is a good question to ask a pro like Matt Moliti or to present as a question to Mike Romeo when he has another chat session. Seems to me that good solid callouses are the answer to forever avoid this. Takes patience.

 

[Kenneth R.]

there have been occasions coupled with events i would rather forget, where the strings have run red.

 

[PoisonSeed]

there have been occasions coupled with events i would rather forget, where the strings have run red.

= slides .. ouch!!

 

[Anonymous]

I've actually never cut myself with strings before. But I use 10-52s so they arent as thin and cutty I guess. I do lots of slides too, but my fingertips are hard enough by now to handle the abuse.

 

[Horus]

Using 9's I cut myself on my strings whenever I use a finger. But I rarely do, so it doesn't happen too often.

 

[Jaen]

...whenever I use a finger...

care to explain?

 

[Horus]

I was actually talking about the fingers on my right hand. Although I rarely do finger picking on steel string guitars, but when I do it, sometimes, I do cut myself.

 

[Jaen]

oh ok, i got a bit confused as to what hand you were referring to

 

[Tubbs]

I've never cut myself with strings. I always use Ernie Ball super slinky's .009 to .042.

And I really have to work on my ambidextrosity. How in the hell does someone acquire the same strength within both arms? It seems impossible to me.

 

[Anonymous]

I never even bothered. There's not much of a point in learning to play right and left handed..

 

[Eternal Dragon]

Yeh I've never cut myself either. My callusses are probably as developed as they will ever be, but that doesnt meant that cos u have callusses u wont have ur skin ripped off. Its definately a good trick to show ppl how much u can rip urself up cos it doesnt hurt at all, lol. The main reason I think it happens is that my guitar isnt that great and u have to bend further for bends and play harder for better response.....so if I had a good guitar I guess there would be less of an effect.

 

[Kenneth R.]

Callusses or not, it's only a matter of hours.

 

[OfSinsAndShred]

I've never cut myself on guitar strings before - ouch! I feel for those who do.

 

[1by4by9]

I've never cut myself either on strings but since I spend also lots of time on wood working I get some small cuts which tend to open again when playing guitar. One time I had bandages almost on every finger and still managed to play. Not just slowhand but slowly healing hand.

 

[ToRuinAll05]

im a bassist so i never get cut...i get sore if i play for hours on end but my best suggestion is to build up calluses

 

[Anonymous]

Its definately a good trick to show ppl how much u can rip urself up cos it doesnt hurt at all, lol.

So I'm not the only one

 

[J-Dubya 777]

I'll have to try to find a copy of a Dan/Don Costa pic from an ancient Kerrang magazine. He'd scoff at your string cuts. He has a cheese grater on the back of his bass...

J-Dubya

 

[NegativeVolume]

One time I was sliding on an acoustic with strings older than the cosmos and a neck more warped than the Twilight Zone...good lord was I bloody :'(

 

[Anonymous]

I'va played on a Twilight Cosmos acoustic before, it wasn't very fun... I wasnt bloody but my fingers hurt for a few days and they were all red and wrecked.