Fingers still getting sore

I know this subject has been covered before and most likely many times, but the latest thread I could find was 2012, also I couldn't really find answers to my queries.

I couldn't really find an answer to how long would it take for my fingers to stop hurting, only that to carry on until my fingers become hard etc, I have been playing every day for about nine months, apart from a day here and there where I wouldn't play because of going out or something (about 4 or 5 days in total) some days I only play for about 30 minutes but most days more like 4 or 5 hours, my fingers have developed calluses as far as I can tell, I have small round hard pads on my fingertips and the tips are flat instead of curved, so I guess that's what they are, but they still get sore sometimes to the point where I have to stop.

Yes I can play much longer than when I first started but how long is it usually before it stops hurting? also we are going away for a week in a couple of weeks time and my wife has banned me from taking any of my guitars, not even the acoustic, so will me having a week off be like me starting over again and when I come back and my fingers being even more tender again, or will it do them good to give them a week off?

So does anyone know how long it will be before I can be one of the ones who can say "I don't get that anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore" months, years?

I've been playing for 30 years and if I start playing more than I usually do, or start practicing a song that has more bends that what I normally play, my fingers will get sore. My finger tips will get tender and the muscles in my fingers will feel fatigued. It will go away quickly, in a day or so.

It would help to know what style of guitar you play (blues, metal, etc.) and what type of guitar (electric vs. acoustic).

It could be as simple as you need to add some variety to your practice routine. Just like a gym routine will one day be heavy on cardio and another heavy on strength training, you want varying emphasis on your practice routine. It could also be as simple as changing the guage of strings you use on your guitar.

Is the discomfort to the point where is is painful and bothers you in a significant way away from the guitar? If so, it may be a cause for concern and you should cut back or change your routine.

I play mostly electric but a couple of songs such as, country roads and breakfast at Tiffinys on acoustic, I was using 9 gauge strings but my music shop said that my guitar, which is a Gibson style guitar would be better with 10 gauge and 9 gauge if I had a strat, I have 11 gauge on my acoustic.

The songs we play are varied, for example, Twist and Shout, The last Time, Country roads but by Hermes Hermit Houseband and changed again to suit us, It's my Life by Bon Jovi, Dear Darlin Olly Murs, Wonderwall oasis and so on, so a mix of rock and pop, old and new.

I also have a second electric guitar which also has 10 gauge stings but tuned down, I only use this guitar for Sweet Child o' Mine which I'm learning the lead for, I've learnt the intro, the first two choruses and the interlude and I'm nearly up to speed, all I need to learn now are the two solos,

The pain isn't really significant away from the guitar, my fingers will be tender for a while after playing for a few hours on and off, but once I stop they are usually ok as long as I don't pick the guitar up again until the next day, we had a full dress rehearsal on Saturday at lunchtime, so about 12pm, then the gig started at 7-45pm and lasted 40 minutes, they were really sore after that, but I think that was partly due to the fact that my nerves got to me a bit and I was pressing too hard, it wasn't until we were on the 3rd song that I noticed and eased off a little, don't know if anyone else has done that?

Based on what you are saying, I think you are OK and it's normal. The guage strings you have on your guitars is fine. Due to the scale length difference between a strat and a lp, 10's on a lp have about the same tension as 9's on a strat. I happen to put 10's on my strat because the heavier guage strings hold up to my sweaty hands much better.

A few months ago, I was working on a bunch of songs that were all barre chords. At first, my hands started to cramp. After a few weeks, I built up endurance that that went away. Another time, I was working on a phrase in a solo that had a lot of bends. After about 2 hours of that, my finger tips were killing me. It went away after a day or two.

I'd be interested to hear what others' experience is...perhaps we are both wierd :-).

Your hands are so sore from playing guitar (and probably your whole body is sore...) is because every time you play guitar you are stressed out by something. That stress causes our muscles to tighten... So no matter how hard your calluses get, you'll just make your hands hurt in other ways. Like pushing them to play faster for example.

The way to stop being sore while playing is to really truly relax, take the time to enjoy every moment playing, and not to feel like you're rushed in any way. If you ever feel uncomfortable like you are not making progress fast enough, then you should slow down and focus on your love for playing. If you love playing, you will improve over time faster than if you try to force it.

And if you feel like you're not making progress fast enough, you should get a good guitar teacher. :)