• Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 8

Topic: Developing good calluses

I'm a newbie with about three weeks of playing.  I practice for an hour or two total daily, but usually only 10-15 minutes at a time.  My fingers are starting to harden up, but I have some questions about the care & feeding of calluses.

1)  I have enough thickness so that my fingers don't hurt much anymore, but at the same time, I might as well be wearing leather gloves when it comes to using my fingertips for just about anything.  Will I still be able to feel the strings when these really develop?

2)  Is it normal for each fingertip to have a groove cut in the callus?  I don't mean a dent left over from fretting hard, but an actual groove cut into the hardened skin.  It looks I've been playing the ignition file, not the guitar.

3)  Should I emery down my calluses slightly to give a flat surface or anything similar?  Is there any trick to it?

4)  I've heard about soaking my fingers in lemon juice or vinegar before practice, but I've also heard that I'm not supposed to get my fingers wet before practice.  What's this about?

5)  If I should be so lucky, will my lover object to my scratchy calluses?  Does anyone have any recommendations?  (Not about finding a new GF -- just about the callus bit.  And let's keep this one clean, folks.)


Thanks much everyone.

-- Etan

  • From: Ontario
  • Registered: 2007-06-09
  • Posts: 25

Re: Developing good calluses

1. Yes, you will be able to feel them, but the tips will lose some finer sensitivity (nothing to worry about unless you read braille with your fretting hand)

2. Yep.. well based on experience anyway, doesn't bother me.

3. I don't.. eventually after the initial buildup I find that the actually size and bulk of the calluses go to down and their more smooth and sleek, but still hard at the same time.

4.  I wouldn't recommended any of those, and yeah keep your fingers dry.

5.  Haha they may be annoying at first, but like I said, theyll tame down.  If your like me, its the tips that are callused, not the pads themselves.  So just use the pads of your fingers for any touching you need to do..

  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2007-07-16
  • Posts: 282

Re: Developing good calluses

Man, I remember when I wanted to play so bad, but my fingers hurt so bad!!  At work, I'd press my fingers against the corner of my desk all day hoping that would speed up the process...don't know if it worked but the tips of my left hand now are like stone...and they're flat, which is sort of crazy.
I tried the emery board thing, but it made my fingertips too smooth and they wouldn't hold the string very well...if that makes any sense.  If I get a ridge or something that's bugging me, I cut it off with a fingernail clipper.
I'm not even touching #5!

  • Registered: 2007-03-24
  • Posts: 1,108

Re: Developing good calluses

Ahhh..I remember...I never fretted (no pun intended) about the calluses; they just sort of work themselves in and I just got used to them. They eventually get smaller but never softer. It's probably not wise or advisable but I used to try to practice after showering when the tips of my fingers were the softest. They'd get really "banged up" then. A little bit of pain but it doesn't take long to build them and then it's never a problem again. Unless you take a "vacation" from playing. I play everyday at least an hour sometimes up to 3.

I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.
Elvis Costello
  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: Developing good calluses

A very good training for the fingertips is playing on a 12-string guitar, that is one of the most painful instruments.
Even a 6-string making your fingertips "stronger", if you stop playing a few weeks, it starts again.
This brings me to an idea or question: is there a kind of material, compared to a glove (not a good one but..) to put on your fingers, you use on the strings and protecting them?

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 8

Re: Developing good calluses

Thanks, guys.  I guess the short answer is: play a lot and don't fret over the calluses -- just fret with them.  I can live with that.

-- Etan

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Developing good calluses

ebenami wrote:

Thanks, guys.  I guess the short answer is: play a lot and don't fret over the calluses -- just fret with them.  I can live with that.

-- Etan

You've got it.  On your question #5, your lover called me and told me that she doesn't mind the callouses so long as you sing to her while you're learning.

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • Zurf
  • Zurf
  • Blunt but well meaning moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: Developing good calluses

It just occurred to me that you only have four posts and maybe don't know that I'm joking.  Please don't show up at my house in a jealous rage with an axe or anything.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2007-07-31
  • Posts: 950

Re: Developing good calluses

well im no expert, but i know the way i did it was this:
I played and played and played, and didn't worry too much about my fingers. Sometimes the skin will start peeling, and it doesn't hurt to get it out of the way if it bugs you. The line's normal, you've probly been playing the e and B strings alot....
I don't have much feeling left in my finger tips, but you don't just go numb. As you learn to play you'll become familiar with where your fingers need to go and it wont be a problem.

All You Need is Love smile

HannahBeth's Website

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Developing good calluses

ebenami wrote:

I'm a newbie with about three weeks of playing.  I practice for an hour or two total daily, but usually only 10-15 minutes at a time.  My fingers are starting to harden up, but I have some questions about the care & feeding of calluses.

1)  I have enough thickness so that my fingers don't hurt much anymore, but at the same time, I might as well be wearing leather gloves when it comes to using my fingertips for just about anything.  Will I still be able to feel the strings when these really develop?

2)  Is it normal for each fingertip to have a groove cut in the callus?  I don't mean a dent left over from fretting hard, but an actual groove cut into the hardened skin.  It looks I've been playing the ignition file, not the guitar.

3)  Should I emery down my calluses slightly to give a flat surface or anything similar?  Is there any trick to it?

4)  I've heard about soaking my fingers in lemon juice or vinegar before practice, but I've also heard that I'm not supposed to get my fingers wet before practice.  What's this about?

5)  If I should be so lucky, will my lover object to my scratchy calluses?  Does anyone have any recommendations?  (Not about finding a new GF -- just about the callus bit.  And let's keep this one clean, folks.)


Thanks much everyone.

-- Etan

When you play long enough and everyday the tips of your playing fingers will have flat spot on thew top from playing.

Bootlegger.