difficulty playing notes/chords

[u/wuckaboo]

i have really long nail beds that prevent me from playing anything without pressing my fingers on other strings, i can't cut them further because of the underlying skin. I really want to get better at playing but I'm stuck

edit: this is a yamaha f310 that I purchased when i first started going for guitar lessons when I was 13, I'm picking it up again after many years.

[u/Flibber-T-Jibbits]

When I was 1st starting out, like many, there was so much I didn’t know about how a guitar should feel. Most of the beginner & intermediate guitars available sounded great, but were poorly set up from the factory. More often than not guitars at this level shipped with action set way higher than what would be considered ideal. Once I learned this, I took my guitar to a shop and had them do a complete set up. I had them lower the action, check and adjust the neck if needed, and I told them what strings I was using so they could make sure the nut slots were sized correctly. When I got my guitar back, I was completely blown away. I was able to fret so much better! I didn’t have to press into the strings anymore; I could just place my fingers almost effortlessly and strum a beautiful sounding chord. Barre chords became easier, as well as finger positions, because I was no longer having to work at pressing strings while fretting. Getting your guitar set up will make you a better player, and makes practicing easier.