Calluses from guitar

A callus (or callosity) is a toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. A person may get calluses from a number of different things including weightlifting, playing stringed instruments, running, etc. Calluses mostly form on the hands and feet, but they can form wherever there is repeated friction. Some violinist will form calluses on their chin from holding the violin on their chin.

In the band I play in, we typically practice for an hour, eat dinner, and then perform for about 15 minutes. If we do not play songs the entire hour, then my calluses won’t form. Last week we played the entire hour without any breaks because we were learning a new song and we played it over and over. Within that hour calluses were forming on my fingers. It hurts to actually form the calluses because your fingers get tired and the skin hurts from the strings pushing on them from the guitar. Lactic acid can build up in your fingers from playing the guitar. After the extended period of playing guitar your finger will start to heal. Eventually, in a few days, the tips of the fingers start to become very hard and the skin feels way different. The next time you pick up the guitar, the callus will have formed and it won’t hurt anymore. Calluses are good for guitar players when they are built up. If you do not keep up the friction, it is possible to lose your calluses. In a week or two the calluses from the fingers will be gone. It is like you never had them. You would have to rebuild the callus to have it again for guitar. I have played guitar for many years now and I built calluses but then lost them many times.

There five things you can do to help the calluses when they are forming. 1) Soaking your fingers in rubbing alcohol a few minutes a day will dry out the area and help the calluses form faster. 2) Sometimes rest is the best solution. The fingers need time to heal and to build the skin tougher. 3) An obvious one: don’t push your fingers so hard into the guitar. 4) Buy light strings that are easy to push down on rather than heavy strings. 5) Try to avoid submerging your fingers in water, and moisturize your fingers.