beginner guitar player....I can't play for too long cuz it hurts my fingers...how do I solve that?

Question

I know calluses will eventually form but yowza!

Answer 1

Well... play for a while, then take a break, then get right back in there and play some more! Get back up on the horse and ride on! What if Jimi Hendrix had quit when he was just starting? Good luck and keep on rockin'

Answer 2

Like any form of "work", all you can do is work through it. It is critical that you maintain good form in both your hands and body. After much practise you should have no discomfort playing. Check out the web site listed - Jamie has excellent advice!

I once practise for two hours daily and then developed tendinitis, which was likely caused by poor posture. My first guitar (almost 40 years ago) was a cheapo electric with horrible action. I used to play until my fingers bled! A well setup guitar will alleviate some of that stress. If you're impatient in developing finger tip callouses, try dabbing your fingers in ISOPROPYL Alcohol (not running alcohol which is less than 50% Isopropyl). Do that a couple of times a day for 2-3 weeks and your skin will toughen.

Don't get discouraged!

Answer 3

If you want to learn how to play the guitar, you will need to keep practicing. Yes, the blisters and eventually calluses will form.

Sometimes when I haven't played for a while (and my guitar has nylon strings), I would get a blister on my thumb. Easy solution, just put a bandaid on the thumb to prevent the blister. (Disregard if you have metal strings - just make sure to use the pick.)

Play regularly. If it hurts, stop, but remember to start up again later.

Answer 4

Developing and maintaing the necessary calluses is paramount to continued playing. Keep your hands dry and clean. Use talcum powder on your left hand so you can gracefully, with smoothness, slide up and down the fret board with ease. Wet fingertips are your worst scenario.

Musician's Friend magazine sells callus builders--a small apparatus held in the hand that can help build the corns when you're not on the guitar.

Take breaks as you need them.

Answer 5

No pain no gain....
Just keep playing. Eventually, it will become a second nature and you won't notice a difference.
Oh yes, first comes the blisters, then the calluses.

Answer 6

There is nothing you can really do to get rid of the pain in your fingers. Just try for 30 minutes a day, and after a bit Viola! Callouses appear on them *Trust me they aren't all too noticeable* And you stop feeling the pain. I've gone through that stage too.

Answer 7

i play bass and have for about six years and i can sugest two things, practice alot your fingures will eventually callous over and your stamina will increase, if its your finger, nut just the tip, you may want to look into those finger trainers they have at guitar center, i also invest in a good work out book. you can probobly pick a national guitar workshop one a guitar center. and remember always have fun
good luck

Answer 8

I take u mean ur chord hand (left) There are no short cuts, I'm afraid. Practise little and often. I have heard about soaking ur fingertips in surgical spirit, but I've never tried it (I heard about it after my fingertips got hard) so I don't know if it works. They do harden up naturally eventually, but until then, u have my sympathy.

Answer 9

u progress each day if u play from 5mins to a hower eventually ur hands will get used 2 it so keep on playing and ur hands will get adjusted

Answer 10

Light-gauge strings will help a little.