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Posted by: CathShadow Nov 18 2009, 10:42 PM

So i've developed the bad habbit of scraping my skin from my index finger on the strings on my downstrokes when I'm strumming (ESPECIALLY on faster songs thats just downpicking or so :S) :S

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Nov 19 2009, 12:36 AM

ugh! i had the problem a few years ago!


try playing with your pinky supporting your hand on the body of the guitar, instead of palm resting on the strings. that will help for strumming. or, you could get used to playing with the pick sticking out more.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Nov 19 2009, 12:38 AM

Change your grip on the pick a little, that should change the angle of your indexfinger aswell so you don't hit the stings anymore!

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Nov 19 2009, 04:05 AM

yeah, try holding the pick differently

Posted by: CathShadow Nov 19 2009, 08:59 AM

Hehe yeah... i'm gonna try different ways of holding it... lol.. only thing is I have to really THINK about my grip when I play in order to change it lol.. mind you I already do ... scrape ouch scrape ouch

Posted by: djohnneay Nov 19 2009, 08:19 PM

The simple solution : keep doing it, you'll grow some calluses, and it won't hurt anymore!

Posted by: CathShadow Nov 19 2009, 08:48 PM

Hahahah yeah a friend of mine said the same... but I'm worried its not the best habbit so now that I noticed (froma very tender finger) that I'm doing it I wanna break it

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 20 2009, 12:34 AM

I have the same "bad" habit. I must say I don't consider this a bad habit tho.

I often tend to get blood on my finger because, from playing, the skin beneath the nail on the index finger (picking hand) is being teared apart by the strings (my guitar ended kind bloody couple of times, looked like a horror movie, but the show must go on ).

What you need to do is be careful that it is not that prominent. It can happen and it will happen. After a while, the skin will become hardened, developing calluses, and you will not be able to tear it in that place.