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Dry Thumb

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CaliaMoko:
Here's a weird one fro you. My strumming thumb is all dry and cracked and sometimes even bleeding. I never connected the problem with playing guitar, but that's what my doctor thinks it is. Anyone ever heard of such a thing? If true, more motivation to get used to a pick, I guess.

cowparsleyman:
@CaliaMoko - Vicky, never heard of it, sorry, but I never strum with my thumb...

jacksimmons:
When I first started playing guitar and I was using my thumb I had a problem with blisters but I always use a pick now. I had blisters and sore fingers on my chord hands which I think is pretty common but eventually they calloused up. Maybe if you give your thumb time to heal you will eventually get callouses there which will help with the strumming.

Bill Saunders:
As far as strumming is concerned, I’ve only ever used a pick. It’s a failing of mine, but whenever I tried using fingers or thumb for strumming, it almost felt like a different instrument, and basically sounded terrible! Potentially very different techniques.

Skub:
@CaliaMoko

Yo Vicki.

I rarely use a plectrum,it's usually fingernails with me,even for lead passages.

When I was gigging regularly there were times when my fingers were skinned and nails shredded. Eventually I used a combination of superglue and Acrylic painted on to get the job done. When you consider you are hitting skin off metal strings,it's not surprising there can be abrasions! Wilco Johnson used a red pick guard on his Telecaster to hide the blood.  :o

When you play,try to check what you do and to see if your style is causing the injury for sure,before changing style.

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