Korean Job Discussion Forums

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

While I'm still very much a novice, I've noticed that every time I pick up someone else's guitar I feel uncomfortable with it in my arms.

Like I'm romancing another man's woman.

Is this feeling natural? Should I try to combat it by getting many different guitars in my hands? Or should I stick to plucking my banjo?

Yes, I included the subtext on purpose.

CasperTheFriendlyGhost · Joined: 28 Feb 2007

It's a valid concern. I had a roomate years ago who would never play anyone else's guitar, like it was being unfaithful to his own.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Different makes of guitars have different necks, fretboards and fretmarkers.

After I first fell in love with a maple-necked Telecaster, it felt weird playing a rosewood fretboard.

Plus, after playing Fenders so much for so many years, I really don't like the feel of Gibson-style necks. Too wide a fretboard. My little stubby fingers are best on Fenders.

plus99 · Joined: 30 Dec 2007

i hate rosewood

JustJohn · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Location: Your computer screen

Well whatever you do, don't pluck your banjo. Think of the kittens.

Anyway, if you mean uncomfortable because you feel like your going to break it or like you're fornicating with it the by all means just stay away from other guitars.

If you mean your hands don't feel as natural on the fretboard you may want to try some more guitars. You should be able to feel comfortable on anything. Granted, you'll probably develop a preference for one kind of neck over another at some point, but there's really no excuse for feeling awkward on one kind in my mind.

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

Plucking a good banjo feels great.

When I pick up acoustics that are considerably bigger/smaller than I my own, I notice it. Esp. with neck board shapes and sizes.
I have a few acoustic instruments and a different acoustic guitars so I'm not stuck just to one thing and my hands aren't that bothered by strange guitars.

karma police · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

the neck, shape of the interior and material of your own personal guitar is of course different from most others. so, you become accustomed to strumming on that necks' strings, positioning your hands and pressing your fingers to hit the right chords. as a result, the notes you're playing require a certain hand position for each guitar making it all that more personal. through learning or practicing to play on one single guitar makes it your own.

like most other artists, painters have their own instruments they need to create, writers have their own and so do cartoonists... musicians become attached and are comfortable playing their own instruments... others may block their creativity or at least hamper it. best to learn by sticking to one guitar with which you feel most comfortable...

but you knew this, huh, G? tease... Smile

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

playing a different guitar forces you to alter your playing and adapt.

therefore it can be a really great catalyst for ideas.

there are no prenups with guitars, just rock out and be a tramp with as many different ones as you can.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

Justin Hale · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Location: the Straight Talk Express

I'm the opposite. Since I am a cheap bastard, I bought the one for 90,000 and not the one for 230,000 and although I thought it was satisfactory at the time, I can play others' (superior) guitars better. Mine has a wide neck and is generally difficult to play and I make many mistakes. Some guitars are so good that it's almost impossible to screw up. My electric guitar (sadly not in Korea) - a humble epiphone - is one such guitar.