Painful finger tips

[pennylink]

Does anybody else have problems with the skin on the tip of their fretting fingers separating slightly from underneath the nail?

Admittedly I like to do blues bends, but only play about one hour a day on average. I play electrics mostly, set up with low action and 10-46 nickel wound strings, and keep the exposed part of my fingernails fairly short (approx. 1/32" - 1mm). Not picking up a guitar for a day or two is enough to let it heal, but then it comes back after I start playing again and it can be quite uncomfortable.

Any tips on how to avoid this condition? I really prefer not to switch to super-light strings if I can help it.

[Clifford-D]

Does anybody else have problems with the skin on the tip of their fretting fingers separating slightly from underneath the nail?

Admittedly I like to do blues bends, but only play about one hour a day on average. I play electrics mostly, set up with low action and 10-46 nickel wound strings, and keep the exposed part of my fingernails fairly short (approx. 1/32" - 1mm). Not picking up a guitar for a day or two is enough to let it heal, but then it comes back after I start playing again and it can be quite uncomfortable.

Any tips on how to avoid this condition? I really prefer not to switch to super-light strings if I can help it.
I play with a fairly high action

When I bend I will "roll" my finger

This does two things

1. It "catches and lifts" the next string I'm bending into

2. It give me a more forward thrust when bending.

I don't bend with my finger pushing sideways
The fingernail separation could come from bending sideways.
This probably comes from using your middle joint for the bend.
My bends come from my whole forarm working and sharing part
of the "bending load" fairly equally.
I see my students executing bends just using that middle joint.
Not good technique.
I whack em with the ruler and make em run laps.

And I totally prefer 10s over any lighter string.
The resistance is an important part of the bend.




.

[jpfeiff]

I have the same problem--drives me nuts. It usually doesn't happen until about the third hour or so of playing for me--so, nearly every gig. Hurts like a bugger for the next day or two. Good thing we ain't too successful and almost never have back to back gigs!!

[Stephen Davis]

I had some problems when I lost a callous on a finger. It killed me to play, but I had a lot of gigs to do. So, super glue to the rescue. It does work if you need some help.

[Jon]

Don't forget to use moisturiser on your hands fairly regularly (although not when you're about to play as I'm sure it will kill the strings) - the drier your skin the more prone to splitting and cracking. I have trouble with vertical splits in the skin on my thumb tips (doesn't affect playing really, but hurts like f*ck) but using moisturiser regularly tends to stop them happening.