Let's talk about calluses


Manuel02
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Joined: 03/17/12
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Manuel02
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11/15/2013 5:29 am
Is there a trick to develop the well sought after calluses, I am coming to the point that the pain is stooping me to keep practicing.

How much should I sustain the pain? is it until the fingers blister?

Any product or home remedy trick to help out?

Don't be shy; tell us your experience
# 1
john of MT
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john of MT
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11/15/2013 3:55 pm
Time cures all but that's not much help when one is in pain. I've heard of tricks (I think Keith Richards promotes vinegar :) ) but I haven't used any myself.

When I picked up the guitar again after decades of inactivity my fingers hurt too. What worked best for me was multiple, short periods of practice/playing throughout the day. Instead of forcing my way through a half-hour of pain I tried two or three sessions of 10 minutes each or even less. That was a lot easier on me...the pain seemed to be less and the psychological boost knowing it was for a short time instead of "a whole half-hour!" made things easier too. Within a couple weeks I was up to half-hour sessions and soon much longer. Hang in there - "It gets better."

I personally don't think one should continue any activity once blisters are formed, guitar playing included. IMO, it's best to stop short of that...

And, hey! Welcome to the forum!!
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
# 2
Slipin Lizard
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Slipin Lizard
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11/15/2013 6:10 pm
Exactly what John said. It takes time to build them up... eventually your callouses will be so tough you won't feel any pain at all, but that can take several months. Just be patient.
# 3
haghj500
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haghj500
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11/15/2013 8:46 pm
My thoughts.
The pain is necessary.

It's what tells your body to build calluses. Play till you can feel a blister start to build under your skin. Stop for the day.

Play again the next day, not to that point, but let it hurt.
After 4 or 5 days of it, you will see the skin thicken and the pain will start going away from there on.

Fresh calluses will go away fast! 2 days off will erase 5 days of pain. So stay at it even if you just press your fingers on the strings as if youā€™re playing while you watch TV or whatever.

Don't play till you can see the blisters or they pop, that is an injury that has to heal. But they seem to build faster if you play till you can feel the blister.

It hurts, but in the long run....... it works.
# 4
Manuel02
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Manuel02
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11/16/2013 8:00 am
Thanks to all who bothered to respond to my call; it is certainly reassuring and somehow I feel better. Cheers
# 5
Petrichor
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Joined: 11/13/13
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Petrichor
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11/18/2013 5:49 am
How on earth do you use vinegar? Any insight to that?
# 6
compart1
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compart1
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11/18/2013 1:43 pm
I just poured a small amount on a cotton swab and then dabs it on my finger tip. Or you could pour some in a shallow dish and stick your fingers in the vinegar.
# 7
Terranaut
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Terranaut
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11/19/2013 1:42 am
Callouses will come much faster playing the medium gauge strings on an acoustic than super slinkies on an electric. If you have both, play both and you're electric will feel easier. Play songs you like with authority. Practicing scales is not likely to draw you into the pressure of really swinging with songs you enjoy (not to say don't practice scales at all). Use coated strings. They are "faster" because they cut down on squeak. And the friction from the squeak can be a little painful compared to the sleekness of good coateds. I find Elixir Nanowebs perfect whereas I found Martin's coated strings a few years back gunky and primitive. That may have changed though.
# 8

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