The frets on my guitar cut up the palm of my hand just below my fingers. What can I do?

Question

Are they too sharp? Am I playing wrong? Can I fix them? I have an Ibanez grx40 electric.

LOL, thanks Snizzy, but I thought that stuff was good for the skin!

Answer 1

Sounds like the ends of the fretwires weren't sanded smooth and flush with the edge of the fingerboard as they should have been. Its not unheard of in cheap guitars.

Take it to a luthier and have him/her take care of it.

You should also take a look at your left hand position on the guitar neck. If your palm is resting on the edge of the fingerboard, you're probably palming the neck of the guitar as though it were a baseball bat, and that's wrong. Your palm should not be making contact with the back of the neck at all. The pad of your thumb should be in the center of the guitar neck to support your hand, your left wrist bent outward, and your fingers should be arched over the fretboard so that only the very tips of your fingers come down onto the fretboard at an almost vertical angle.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You definitely have a problem. I've never heard of that, nor can I figure out why your getting cut. Without seeing the guitar, I would suggest that you take it to a reliable guitar store, and see what can be gone. Very strange.

Answer 3

Your guitar needs corrective action that only a luthier or guitar technician at your local reputable music store can provide.

Don't try to correct the problem yourself.

Answer 4

i can think of two things that you could do. you can either hold your hand out a little more so long as its comfortable, or you could get some string lubricant, which if sprayed on the whole fret board, could make things smoother to the touch. for example, i use Tone : Finger Ease

Answer 5

I have a feeling that's not exactly why your hand is getting cut!! LOL Maybe you're overworking it elsewhere :p