Do Your Calluses bug you?

[Atalkingsausage]

Hopefully this doesn't fall under the TMI category but the calluses on my fingertips from playing always bug me. I pick at them constantly. Anyone else have this issue?

[Tone Monster]

???????

How long have you been playing?

[numb fingertips]

I'm a beginner and I'm still not use to it. It is weird losing a lot of the feeling of touch on my fingertips. Just feels odd picking up small things. Makes it more difficult. Any fix for this?

[MrMartyr]

I play so much that my callouses get thick and rutted. I can see string impressions in them for days. I use a glass emery board to sand and file them down, so at least they are smooth.

[Atalkingsausage]

I've been playing for close to 15 years, and I've always wondered if other guitarists have this issue. Never thought to ask on here till now though. My experience sounds exactly like MrMartyr's

[Atalkingsausage]

Originally Posted by numb fingertips

I'm a beginner and I'm still not use to it. It is weird losing a lot of the feeling of touch on my fingertips. Just feels odd picking up small things. Makes it more difficult. Any fix for this?

Not that I have found.

[MrMartyr]

Originally Posted by Atalkingsausage

I've been playing for close to 15 years, and I've always wondered if other guitarists have this issue. Never thought to ask on here till now though. My experience sounds exactly like MrMartyr's

Yeah. If you let the ruts get too deep, your going to run into problems properly fretting strings.

[Atalkingsausage]

Originally Posted by MrMartyr

Yeah. If you let the ruts get too deep, your going to run into problems properly fretting strings.

I've never had them that bad, but It sure does hurt when you dig too far down lol

Had them since I was like 12, so no, they don't bother me in that I don't pick at them. They did interfere with my ability to palpate a vein when starting IVs or a pulse when doing A-lines - I had to use the pads of my fingers. But for the most part, no problem.

[Frogstar]

Originally Posted by numb fingertips

I'm a beginner and I'm still not use to it. It is weird losing a lot of the feeling of touch on my fingertips. Just feels odd picking up small things. Makes it more difficult. Any fix for this?

Just wait, and you'll adjust.

[smurph1]

The only fix I can think of is to quit playing guitar, but that's probably not an option.

[JayWalkingBlues]

I have your solution..... there's a couple key points here:

-buy a black emery board....use to file your calluses smooth. It won't ruin them, but it will make them nice and smooth.

-Don't play your guitar within 30 minutes of getting out of the shower or washing dishes. Nothing will tare them up and make them all jagged quicker.

Taking just a couple steps to care for your callouses will make them far less annoying and more functional. Jagged callouses, or deep groves in your callouses can have a detrimental effect on your playing. It can grab strings and produce unintended notes. It can also interfere with quickly moving around the fret board.

Hope this helps.

[JimmerO]

Mine used to peel and catch on string and then I'd peel them off and I'd be back to square one. I started using emery boards and files to smooth them out so that I wasn't tempted to pick them off. I've had much better luck keeping them since that. I keep a file or emery board with me in my top pocket all the time.

[CycleBob]

The only annoying thing for me is that I can't use touch screens very well with the fingers on my left hand because of the calluses! I would like to thank posthumously whoever decided that your fretting hand should be the non-dominant one. On the other hand (see what I did there?), I have slightly longer nails on my right hand which is not always super convenient either. As a result have typed this entire message with the tip of my nose (well ok... I used my thumbs)

[jmkratt]

Well, no, I love my calluses!