For me, the most painful for me, I think I have yet to discover. I kind of dread that, as well. I mean, I know that you are supposed to develop calluses but, sometimes, the fingers feel like they might fall into an upheaval of lacerations and bloody cuts through the strings if pressed-down on too hard. My old school guitar instructor from my last two years of high school had his thumb ("OR", some other finger. I don't remember which exactly, but I know that it was from his left hand) bandaged. I don't know if that was from playing the dam thing or something else.
[Edited 7/17/07 2:19am]

I've never had any injury of any type.

richierich said:

I'm just kind of wondering because my fingers were kind of sore after playing last night (The sorest they have ever been, in fact) and throughout most of that "healthy indulgence", I was focusing on my speed with going up and down the strings with the "Chromatic Scale", and I seem not to even be good at that. Then again, I do have a tendency rather pull-off and hammer-on moreso than I do use the actually fingerpicking/standard picking technique or both/all four. So, that could be the issue. I seem to think that it is really necessary for me to be able to shred that way without much use of the right hand. I don't know why, but I just seem to tend to that, subconsciously.

Worst I've had is creaky, stiff fingers, nothing serious - just fatigue after repetitive exercises.

Rowdy said:

Well, me, too, so far! I was just was wondering what would be considered overdoing it, as far as when it comes to effort whilst under my "HEALTHY INDULGENCE" with my guitar and the results of such.

Once, when I was attempting to play guitar and sing, my neighbor came at me with a 2x4.

Girdle said:

That is hilarious ,but only as hilarious as an injury can be. I tell u what ,,, how about when your leg falls asleep. Thats some shit right there ,,,

I seriously crushed my modesty one day. Pretty much broke it off... So now I have no modesty whatsoever. I stop shows to congratulate myself on being awesome. I ask people to take a moment out of respect of my talent. I tell folks what an honor it is for them to be hearing me.

It's a curse really.

beauhall said:

You should meet my neighbor.

i shattered a fingernail on one of my Jaguar dials once, when i was strumming extra hard. i barely survived.

I made some eardrums bleed once. Thankfully, they weren't mine.

Sometimes I miss my electric guitar, having sold it a while ago (a really robust, definitely notan easy-to-play Fender Stratocaster). What I don't miss are the always sore fingertips that had the feel of old rubber.

richierich said:

Wait, you do develop calluses, don't you? I heard somewhere that might be a necessity. Well, am I right with my assumptions or what? With these strings and this guitar, I am getting really frustrated, and, sometimes the calluses won't block off the pain. In fact, sometimes it seems like they leave my fingers more vulnerable to susceptibility of elevated levels of pain.
[Edited 7/29/07 23:54pm]

this is kinda off topic but its the worst thing ever,
i once must been sleeping like lieng on my arm(left arm attached to my fretting hand ) and i woke up and my arm was freezing cold and it took ages for it 2 get warm again then when i was playing guitar it was like pins and needles in my arm it was awfull it lasted for hours haha thankfully its all good now!

georgeguitar said:

Ouch, when did this happen?!? I just get these damn calluses, at least I think that's what they are. Are they supposed to look like encrusted burnt rubber, or is it just me? And then, not only that, but sometimes the pressing down on the frets of string can be a bit piercing. What I wonder is if it is supposed to hurt or sting a little when you press down on the frets, whilst receiving calluses. It especially hurts when I slide back and forth through the frets of a string. Sheesh!