When you’re new to playing guitar, there are many things to learn, but it is a painful lesson when it gives you calluses. Because strings rub against your skin repeatedly as you play, it damages your finger-skin. This leads to pain and cell death, which causes a callus to form. Are calluses bad? Can you do anything to prevent them or get rid of them? Do they go away on their own? Will you stop getting calluses after playing for years? I will walk you through everything you need to know about finger calluses from playing guitar. Having answers to these and other vital questions will help you play more comfortably. Best of all, when your fingers don’t hurt, you can play for longer and learn faster. I’ll help you keep your fingers in good condition so you can achieve your artistic ambitions.
Does playing guitar give you calluses? Guitar playing does give you calluses. The friction of strings on your fingers will lead to calluses over time by irritating the skin and causing a dead cell buildup. Moreover, playing an acoustic with slightly thicker strings will create calluses faster than playing electric guitar. Wider strings mean more pressure and rubbing, so you callus faster.
How Do You Prevent Calluses When Playing Guitar
Playing guitar is going to give you calluses. You can use finger guards to protect against this, but they will eventually wear through. That means having multiple sets at all times.
However, I don’t recommend this technique. You are supposed to develop calluses to protect your fingers. Instead of avoiding them, it’s best to treat them well so you can play when you want to.
To keep your calluses healthy, you need to moisturize them and use a rough stone such as pumice or another sanding implement to keep them smooth and minimal. They will continue building as long as you play.
You can try playing more gently, but calluses build to prevent swelling and damage when you have repetitive friction against the skin. Some discomfort is normal as you learn to play and build your calluses up, but if it lasts, or you experience numbness and tingling, you may have peripheral nerve damage or carpal tunnel. This can come from playing too long and hard, but it’s more likely from other hand-activities.
If you have calluses, I recommend a W.O.D. Welder 3 Step Hand Care Kit. You can easily salve your hands with this all-natural blend. Then sand it down with a real pumice stone. It doesn’t get better than practical and ethically sourced. Get yours from Amazon now when you click here.
Peeling, Loose and Torn Callus Treatment For Guitar Players
Calluses can get dry and rough over time. Especially if you aren’t used to moisturizing your hands daily. That goes double for the pandemic since we’re all using alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly. Doing this will dry out even the softest skin.
Before you remove any broken or torn sections, soak your hands in warm, clean water. Letting the calluses get entirely soaked through will soften them and make it easier to prevent tearing. After that, you can sand and trim.
Fingernail scissors or clippers work well for cutting away sections of dead skin. However, it would be best if you always aimed to cut a tiny bit at a time. If you crop too deeply, you will injure living tissue, and it will hurt.
Also, never peel away a layer by hand or with tweezers. This method is more likely to pull a long section and the live skin that is still attached. Instead, use a file or pumice stone to smooth out the callused skin.
Remember to sand only with the grain of the skin. Filing back and forth or against a tear will cause more tearing and pain. Once you’re done, dry your hands and moisturize well.
Many guitar players prefer to do this after a shower and before bed. A pair of white cotton gloves will help lock in the moisture as you sleep. Put these over the moisturizer. It feels weird at first, but you’ll get used to it.
Do Guitar Calluses Go Away
Calluses from playing guitar are normal, but they will also go away over time. Mainly if you stop playing or play much less than before, those protective pads will slowly slough off. Since they only exist to protect your fingers, they will ‘fade’ as you no longer need the protection.
Your body is continuously replacing skin cells. As new cells grow under the calluses, and you use your hands naturally, the calluses will slowly wear off. However, some callus on the fingers is expected for most regular guitar players, as the fingers get tougher.
Though it may take months or years, those calluses typically become unnecessary over time. This is an indication that your hands are getting used to the motions. It can take a month or more for a callus to disappear if you stop playing, so don’t worry if you still have them days or weeks after they’ve formed.
Additionally, the callus level will depend on how sensitive your fingers are and even what type of guitar you play. Electric guitars have narrower strings, and they do slightly less damage to beginners’ fingers. Alternately, you may want to start on an acoustic because it has wider strings, and you will build calluses faster.
How Long Does it Take to Get Calluses From Playing Guitar
Playing the guitar may not feel good at first. In fact, before you get calluses, playing the guitar can be downright painful for some people. Aching is a normal reaction to new muscle development, ligament stretching, and the abrasive quality of strings on the skin.
According to HealthLine, “Developing calluses on your fingertips can relieve a lot of the initial pain of learning to play guitar. On average, it takes 2 to 4 weeks for calluses to form fully. But callus formation differs from person to person…”
For you, it could take longer, or you might see calluses the first week. Naturally, it will depend on how often and how long you play. The type of music may also change how fast you get callused. For example, aspiring flamenco guitarists are probably hitting many more notes than, say, a kindergarten teacher who wants to learn a few slow nursery songs to calm kids.
When calluses form, grab a SandBar Original Callus Remover Kit from Amazon. Easy to clean and great for removing dead skin buildup, SandBar just works. You get the large version, plus a chapstick sized portable to take on the go. This patent-pending product is so good they are registering it to prevent cheap knockoffs. To read the Amazon reviews for yourself, click here.
Do Calluses Make Playing Guitar Easier
Not only do calluses make it easier to play the guitar, but they are an essential part of the process. These natural finger protectors show that you are practicing enough for your fingers to get sore, which is normal. Guitar strings are not easy on untrained hands.
It may seem counterproductive to do something until it hurts, but in this case, you should. Obviously, you don’t want to push so hard that it damages your body seriously. However, a good callus and some achy fingers are part of the learning process for this instrument.
Rather than considering them a ‘bad sign,’ wear your calluses as a badge of achievement. When you are dedicated to learning, some discomfort won’t stop you, but some calluses will help prevent the pain.
How Do You Soften Guitar Calluses
No matter how long it takes to form your calluses from playing the guitar, you will eventually want to soften them. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy ways to handle this. Warm water will do the trick if you soak your fingers a while, but it requires patience. Alternately, you can use moisturizer and gloves.
Merely soaking your calluses in warm water for long enough will soften the dead skin. Doing this makes it easier to smooth or remove. Alternately, you can start moisturizing your hands and wearing cotton gloves to bed at night. However, ultimately, you will likely need to do both at different times to manage your calluses.
Don’t put up with pain when you can grab a Rip Stopper Rip Prevention Kit from Amazon instead. Play hard, and treat your hands like the artistic tools they are by softening and removing those calluses. Get everything you need to smooth and hydrate in one easy to use package. Find out more by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
Simple Tricks to Develop Calluses Faster for “Guitar Playing” “Easy Guitar Lessons” – YouTube
Getting your first callus from playing guitar is a right of passage. Unless you barely practice or use finger protectors all the time, playing guitar is going to give you calluses eventually, and it’s a good thing. Those pads of built-up dead skin are a natural protection against more damage.
However, if you don’t soften and smooth your calluses, they will eventually crack and bleed. Not only does this hurt, but it can damage more skin and make a mess of your guitar. Proper hand care is essential for musicians.
By taking the time to learn about callus care, you are helping future-you be a better musician. No one wants to be in pain, but a little bit of callus buildup, when cared for properly, is part of being a guitar player.