Playing Classical

[Flight959]

Does playing Classical guitar require greater finger strength that standard acoustic guitar?? Ive been playing some classical today as someone kindly gave me a cheap a$$ classical guitar and my fingers for the first time in years are sore...

 

Regards

[TommyK]

Maybe not greater strength. but.. nylon strings have to be a bit larger diameter than steels for a given string position. Your fingers may just need to adapt.

[pohatu771]

I assume you're referring to your fretting hand... I find steel strings to be much easier than nylon. Not because of strength, but because of the diameter, as has been said. It's especially bad on my smallest finger, since it is used much more (by me, anyway) in classical guitar than folk.

[eds111]

The nylon strings have drastically less tension so it should be easier. Some classical music has some big finger stretches that can be difficult, but in general I find it easier.

 

I've found the 12 fret neck and reduced string tension more than make up for the wider neck; improving ease of playability.

[Flight959]

Thanks...

 

Maybe im being a little ambitious...... Im learning Bach's Fugue Lute Suite No 2 in Cm.... It'sa bit tricky...LOL but im getting there!

 

Regards

[BigKahune]

Good info has been offered.

 

Also, in case you might not know - classical strings come in different tensions: Light, Normal and Hard. If you're getting sore, try a decent set of Light tension strings. I use D'Addario.

[TommyK]

The nylon strings have drastically less tension so it should be easier...

 

Maybe you need a lighter touch. Is it possible you're fretting with the same grip as with steels and are mashing down on the larger diameter strings harder than you need to?

[ksdaddy]

someone kindly gave me a cheap a$$ classical guitar

 

Well.... I figure a classical requires just as much attention to setup as a steel string. While the tension is lower, it can still suck. And on a 2" wide neck, you will have more tendency to use each individual finger to press on the strings, where sometimes on a steel string with a narrower neck our fingers sometimes lean on other fingers or borrow strength from them. And the flat board changes the whole dynamic too.

 

Now I want to drag out one of my classicals.

[Rame]

For me it is the 2" wide fingerboard that makes my fingers more sore after playing a classical. Chords become a little harder to play and that fatigue adds up over a short amount of time. At least for me. 30 minutes of playing on classical can wear my finger muscles out.

[pohatu771]

That's another point. A classical guitar is not the same instrument as a steel-string guitar. Trying to play them like they are will most likely result in some kind of discomfort.