My fingers are killing me, how long will it take for callouses to come so this doesn't hurt. I'm playing about 15 minutes a day (I plan to play more when it doesn't hurt) and I'm really enjoy it.
I will push through this!
Thanks,
John
Also, if you know of any good sites that I can use to learn to play better then please share them.
iroteb
Favorite Answer
15 minutes a day? Really? When I started I couldn't set my guitar down. I practically slept with it. The callouses will come faster if you play more.
KrudKutter
Dude, it takes a long time... months. but let me give you a few tips that will help you play longer. Only spending 15 minutes/day it will take until you're my age before you have any calluses ;-)
1) Keep your hands and your guitar meticulously clean. Wash hands before and after you play.
2) Use products like Finger-Ease (a silicone lube/spray). I use that both as a help when playing and also as a string cleaner. Saturate a clean cotton cloth or strong paper towel with the finger-ease, and work it UNDER each string and around.. go up and down the string to clean the gunk off of the back side where you can't see it.
3) Clean the fingerboard - behind the frets too .
Lubricating the fingerboard/stings will let you play longer each time while your calluses are developing, and keeping everything ****-and-span clean will also keep your fingers from getting as sore.
4) Once you're playing more - change strings often. I never played more than 2 4 hr gigs on a set of strings - I changed them every other night.
But here's the big item - MAKE SURE your guitar is set up with as low an action as is possible without buzzes and dead spots. If you want a higher action later on - that's fine. For now, what you need is ease-of playing so your hands don't get torn up and you can play longer. I'd also go with the lightest strings you can tolerate as your calluses develop. Light strings - easy action - clean and well-lubricated playing surface will equal you being able to play longer each session - and that will help your calluses develop faster. Good luck to you.
?
It takes a while, but just hang in there and it'll happen. At first, the pain will pretty much regulate how much you can play. Play as much as you can.
It may take a few weeks to start getting some really good callouses. Once you've been playing a while they'll be more or less permanent.
The pleasure you'll get from the sweet sound of music you'll make will make it all worth it.
Guitarpicker
Your calluses will develop within two weeks, provided you practice more than 15 minutes each day. Put in a solid hour, at the least, and you should start to see results.
Keep the fingertips dry whenever possible and dry them immediately after showering.
I provide no Internet sites for you, but consider picking up additional material that may help you, such as a beginner's manual, a chord book, and instructions in music theory. You want to eventually learn how to read music for guitar, don't you?
JEM
My husband plays about an hour or more a day and it takes quite a while for the callouses to come. how long have you been playing?? id give it at least a month... maybe more