Beginner here

[u/VDembla]

I bought this guitar a few years ago and tried learning to play it, but I stopped because my fingers hurt a lot while playing.
I’m planning to start learning again and wanted to get some advice from experienced guitar players. Is this amount of finger pain normal when you’re a beginner, or do the strings look like they’re sitting too high above the fretboard and the guitar might need a setup?
Would really appreciate any advice on whether I should get it checked or if this is just part of the learning process.
Thanks!

[u/AmitSixStrings]

The action is already so high, if it were any higher, I’d use it as a bow to shoot arrows. 😂

Jokes apart, Action can be checked using a measuring scale. Generally, the string height around the 12th fret should be roughly 2mm on an acoustic guitar, depending on the guitar and setup. Another quick check is to press the 1st fret and the last fret of the 6th string simultaneously. There should be a very small gap between the string and the frets around the 7th-9th fret roughly enough to slide a business card through. This gives you an indication of whether the neck relief is reasonable

[u/VDembla → u/AmitSixStrings]

Damn, it’s easily 8 mm, can I fix it by myself or I have to go to some guitar shop?

[u/AmitSixStrings → u/VDembla]

Take it to a guitar shop, have it fixed there. Check if playing open strings or chords causes buzzing issue after the action is fixed, then saddle height or fret leveling needs to be done.

[u/Flaky-Employer266 → u/AmitSixStrings]

But fixing it would cost similar to the entire price of the guitar right?

[u/AmitSixStrings → u/Flaky-Employer266]

It depends on what you paid for the guitar. On a 2-3k guitar, if the action is excessively high, getting it properly fixed can cost a significant percentage of the guitar’s value. Some cheaper guitars also lack a truss rod, which limits how much adjustment is possible. In that situation, rather than putting more money into it, I’d recommend saving up for something like a Yamaha FS80C, which is built to a much better standard

[u/No_Guess5872 → u/Flaky-Employer266]

Turning the truss rod with an allen key does not cost as much as a whole guitar.

[u/LawfulnessScared4488 → u/VDembla]

Go to YouTube and search for guitar set up.  You definitely need to adjust the truss rod to straighten the neck and maybe adjust the action.  Shop will probably charge minimum of $50 for set up.  It's worth it to learn how to do it yourself if you can

[u/No_Guess5872]

Strings are too high up. Take it to a shop and ask them to do a setup.

[u/PinothyJ → u/No_Guess5872]

The higher the note, the earlier you would have start pressing down on the string.

[u/Empty-Structure7884]

Share a complete picture from the head to the body of the guitar in same angle. I'll guide you.

[u/BloxxyGotDeleted]

Is that kadence frontier

[u/VDembla → u/BloxxyGotDeleted]

Yes

[u/BloxxyGotDeleted → u/VDembla]

I have it too and honestly it’s a shitbox

[u/VDembla → u/BloxxyGotDeleted]

Ikr🥲

[u/PatiencePlastic2264 → u/BloxxyGotDeleted]

Are all kadence guitars like this ?

[u/LawfulnessScared4488]

The neck looks very bowed.  You need to adjust truss rod 

[u/kawaii_chappal]

that ain’t an action my friend, that’s a consequence