Is there anything that can help speed up the toughening of left fingers when learning guitar?
Louise asked:
I’m just a beginner and have signed up for a week of guitar camp. I won’t make it with metal strings on my guitar for 7 full days. Ouch! Need to toughen my fingers fast! Would another guitar with plastic strings help as a stepping stone? Thanks.
I’m just a beginner and have signed up for a week of guitar camp. I won’t make it with metal strings on my guitar for 7 full days. Ouch! Need to toughen my fingers fast! Would another guitar with plastic strings help as a stepping stone? Thanks.
playing more.
find something that resembles the neck of a guitar, and practice the fingering.
No it’s about the same. It takes time for caluses to form. Nylon strings are softer but the sound falls short. Steel is more tougher but there is no quick way. Mine only hurt for a couple of days so the only thing you can do is keep practicing and they’ll form soon enough
Plastic strings are actually more softer and weaker than steel, so if you have steel it may be a little tougher on your fingers, but they’re stronger than nylon. Just keep practicing, it’s all you can do 
Eventually it’ll go away. Not playing for awhile either can hurt your fingers if the caluses wear off of your fingers too.
You can try the mini bandages on your fingers too if it hurts that much but not much you can do about it, it happens to everyone but good luck! In my opinion I prefer steel, so it may take longer because it is tougher, but even with nylon your fingers would still hurt because it needs the caluses to form. However you spell that word. >.< Everyone’s different. For some it goes away quickly, others it doesn’t. Rest assured any other beginners with you probably have some sore digits too.
Yes, nylon strings are easier but if the action is too high, you will still need to go through the process of pain / callouses. As for making it with your guitar, you can. Think about it !!!
But extra-light gauge strings and replace the existing one. That will soften the action considerably and you will make it through the 7 days, no sweat.
I’ve been there and I taught at many camps LOL. I tell my students that a little cheating on the action is allowed and many guitarist, nowadays, use super light gauge on their electric. It doesn’t take away your skills but rather, helps you play with ease and to execute your riff better.
An old trick is to tap on the table with the fingers 1-2-3-4-3-2-1. That will harden the tip eventually and help you in your fingering process as well :))
There used to be a product called “Tough Skin” I have not seen it for years.
A sub is to spray your finger tips liberally with hair spray and to get rid of the sticky you can powder them.
This won’t actually toughen the skin, but acts like tough skin until you build up the callouses.
Take a can of hairspray at some baby powder with you.
Buy a pair of hand grips.
Similar to these, but they come in different weights, get a pair that would fit your hand strengths.
My forearms are huge from hand grips, I have a set of 5 lbs and I do 500 squeezes on each arm every day, not to mention my fingers are extremely touch.
Other things to do over a long period of item to strengthen fingers are typing or playing Guitar Hero.
After playing Guitar Hero for 2 years, my fingers are amazingly durable and fast, and my typing speed is 102 wpm.
Yo dude. Get the nylong string. Its easier to play and like Leftie and others said, put lighter gauge strings on the steel string guitar. At least, it will be eeasier to play. The callouses is a process that you need to pass through. It doesn’t nean you have to suffer either. LOL
When you get a blister, pop it and fill ‘er up with super glue.
You may say, “Ouch!”
Which is true, but it’s always worked for me. Only way I could do it was to play through the pain.
It takes time to build callouses but here are some things you can do to help before then:
- Play as much as possible to help develop callouses.
- Check the setup on your guitar. Make sure the action is low (ie. the strings are close to the neck).
- Use light gauge strings. They are easier to play.
- I’ve heard soaking your fingers in salt water can help toughen them up.
Good luck!
Brian
Host of The Beginning Guitar Podcast