Guitar calluses. What to do if your fingers hurt from the guitar

Guitar calluses. general information

When the first own instrument is bought, the strings are tuned and there is the first song with chords, there is everything to conquer the musical heights. But the young rocker may face a purely physiological moment that shakes his faith in the desire to master the six-string lyre. Guitar calluses are the scourge of a novice guitarist. And the greater the desire to learn your favorite songs and solo cult groups, the more likely it is that the problem will be overcome.

How to reduce guitar finger pain without giving up regular practice. Key Tips:

1. Exercise more often, but in short bursts of 10-20 minutes

When the motivational speech is over, let’s move on to practical advice. First of all, calluses on the fingers from the guitar appear as a result of intense and long-term mechanical impact on unusual areas of the skin. Our task is to earn them.

This must be done gradually. The main mistake is to try to do it in a short period of time. Picking up a guitar once a week and trying to catch up for five hours is certainly commendable, but you can still be left without hands. It is necessary to develop the habit of playing for half an hour, but daily. And yes – the hands will still “burn”. But you will speed up the process of “stuffing bumps” and get rid of unpleasant sensations faster.

2. Set the strings to a smaller gauge (Light 9-45 or 10-47)

Painful calluses from the guitar can also form if the strings are too thick and “heavy” on the instrument. They rub a large area on the pad and generally act rudely and ruthlessly. To weaken the effect, it is better to change the calibration. Which strings are best install?

The strings marked “Light” are suitable for classical guitar. For acoustics such as dreadnought, western, the so-called “nine” is suitable (the first string is 0,9 mm in diameter). On an electric guitar, you can even put an “eight” to start with (but they are torn much faster). True, I think that this caliber is especially useless for those who are not going to do high-speed cuts with a lot of glam metal or speed metal bands yet.

3. Play only steel strings and only acoustic guitar to get used to it.

No offense to the classics of course. Still, most fans buy acoustics with steel. If you already play metal strings, you don’t need to change to nylon strings. Of course, it will be easier to clamp chords, but you will also have to play many times more. And when you pick up your dreadnought again, the pain may well return out of habit.

In fairness, it should be said that both classics and “electricians” earn themselves calluses from guitar strings – it all depends on the degree of diligence, as well as on the genre being performed. For example, sweeping blues braces for one and a half and two tones set the “set on edge” no worse than “scratch” on acoustics.

4. Adjust the height of the strings on the fretboard

On my first guitar from the city of Bobrov, the strings were stretched so high that my mother did not grieve. Therefore, holding any chord beyond the third fret was already a feat. But this is how the steel was tempered at the fingertips. And they burned almost like in a foundry.

Do not get carried away with such an extreme, but rather adjust the height of the anchor. Then the strings will “lie down” above the fingerboard, and it will become somewhat easier to clamp them.

See also: What should be the height of the strings on the guitar

5. Don’t overstretch the strings.

Find the optimal degree of depression at which the desired note sounds, but the fingers do not overstrain. It would be useful to familiarize yourself with how to hold a guitar.

6. Be sure to rest

Weary fingers need to be rested. This can happen during classes (3-5 minutes) and after the game (from a day or more).

7. Relieve pain after play

Cool your “burning” fingers and try not to blister (although they most likely will). Dip your “working” fingers in apple cider vinegar or smear with painkillers (cooling ointment).

8. Dry your fingertips with alcohol

For the speedy hardening of newly formed seals, try drying the skin with alcohol.

9. Get dry calluses even when you’re not playing.

Peculiar guitar trainer should always be at hand. You can fill dry calluses by, say, rubbing your fingers on a pencil or other hard, rough object.

10. Keep your nails trimmed

This applies to the left hand (the classics have a special policy for the right hand). You should not cut them completely to the root – this way you expose the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbcontact between the string and the pad.

11. Be patient and don’t give up!

It is worth saying that you are not the only one so unique with delicate fingertips. For a guitarist, this is always really “labor calluses”. They are an indicator that you are not just practicing on your favorite instrument, but also on the right path. After all, those who pick up a guitar once a month to play with friends (which is not at all shameful) are unlikely to develop a “protective layer” to play large and serious works. Remember – you are on the right track, it remains only to be patient a little and the “initiation” into the guitar workaholic will be passed.

When your fingers hurt from the guitar. What is undesirable to do before the calluses have not yet formed

Do not use superglue to create a protective layer

This will slow down the natural keratinization of the skin.

Don’t play guitar right after showering/washing hands/bathing

Steamed and softened pads become easy prey for hard steel strings. So wait about half an hour for your fingers to dry.

Do not tear, bite, cut dry calluses

Guitar calluses are the body’s defense mechanism. It prevents further destruction of the skin and damage to already soft tissues. Therefore, let this layer form naturally and do not remove it. By the way, the habit of biting the nails / skin on the fingers or around the nail will have to be abandoned, otherwise you will add discomfort to yourself and slow down the growth of the protective layer.

Don’t wet your fingers unnecessarily

For calluses to form, the skin must be dry. You can wipe the tips with alcohol wipes or cotton balls a couple of times a day.

Do not use finger caps

The thing is certainly interesting. But the fact is that you can get used to them and not “fill your hand” (in the literal sense). So it doesn’t make much sense to buy them.

Do not use electrical tape or plasters for protection

First, they are very uncomfortable to play with. Secondly, if you needed to close up the resulting blister with a band-aid, then it would be better to give the skin a break, and not torment the wound with additional exposure.

Stages of the appearance of hard corns from the guitar

First week

Play carefully, because your skin is not used to such a “bombardment” of metal. Take breaks and be careful not to form blisters. Many beginners complain that their fingers hurt from playing the guitar. This phenomenon is temporary, you just need to correctly alternate work and rest.

The second week

The result will already be noticeable. On thinner strings, the pain will decrease and cease to be burning and throbbing. Perhaps you should spend more time learning chords on thick strings. Also useful finger stretch. And the solo or harmonies on the upper strings can be slightly reduced.

One month later

Clogged corns will begin to move away. They should not be removed. This is an already accumulated layer that will facilitate your studies.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

How long does it take for guitar calluses to form and be played without pain?

The first calluses are formed after 7-10 days of regular exercise. Harder – in a month. After 4-6 months, you will be able to take breaks for 1-2 weeks and return to the game without any problems.

Fingers hurt when playing the guitar. What can I do to relieve finger pain?

If your fingers hurt when playing the guitar, you can apply ice from the refrigerator to the tips. Mint toothpaste or anesthetic ointments may also help.

I have blisters on my fingers! What to do?

Temporarily stop playing. The author himself faced this problem (moreover, on the right hand when trying to play solo on his “log”). Treat the sore with baby cream or solcoseryl ointment and wait a few days.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Protective Finger Caps?

They should not be categorically rejected. But why “rape” your hands if your fingers hurt after playing the guitar? It is better to let them rest than to resort to artificial methods of protection.

Why not use skin lotions (like Lotion Newskin)?

For a beginner, it is expensive and not particularly rational. They cost at least a couple of thousand rubles. Rather, they are suitable for concert musicians who need to keep their hands in working condition for a long time.