Calluses?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:01 am

So does anyone take any steps to protect their guitar/bass calluses? I once heard that Eric Clapton wore a single glove in the shower to keep his from getting wet, but for all I know it's just an urban legend.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:11 am

When I play consistently, I don't notice the callusus...the skin is just tough. But when I don't play for awhile, I just endure the pain until the callus forms. I've played too many years to let the hurt stop me once I can pick up a guitar again...hence the quote in my profile.

I have heard of people putting mail polish on their fingertips...not me, so can't vouch for it.

I've also played gigs bleeding...very dramatic, very painful, but what are you gonna do? You finish the gig.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:12 am

*snicker* ...mail polish...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:29 am

I don't get those from the bass, but now that I have the GS330, I am getting my guitar ones back. I just realized that I need to pick up the 6 string every day, if even for 15 mins, just to keep them going....

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:32 am

PS - We're such callous folks!

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:37 am

Clapton advises soaking the fingertips in 'surgical spirits' (rubbing alcohol, I presume) for 10 to 15 minutes daily.

It's rare that I go a day without playing guitar and I've never had trouble with callouses -until this year. Now I seem to wear GROOVES in my index and middle fingers. Ugh!

Help.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:38 am

Just practice Dave Gilmour solos, or slower Joe Satriani instrumentals.
Those whole tone bends get your finger tips in shape quickly!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:46 am

Spot on, Charly. I play for at least an hour every day unless I'm interstate on business. Not long ago a long session would have the ends of my fingers screaming but now I don't have any problems. I also get grooves from time to time, Noel.... they seem to come and go for some reason.

This weekend will consist of 4 or 5 hours jamming with Ron Viney on Saturday and another 5 or 6 on Sunday at band practice. The only pain will be from my back and my arthritic left thumb!

I always try to let my finger tips harden up a bit after a shower or hand washing before I start playing. When I was in my teens I used to rub methylated spirits into the tips, which helped to harden the skin but it didn't do anything for the bruising underneath.

As Mark says, just keep playing through the pain barrier!

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:10 am

I play mostly acoustic, so those grooves are just normal--the nerve endings seem to get pushed back and I almost never feel pain...unless I put it down too long.

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:13 pm

You can always do what the baseball players that don't wear batting gloves do to toughen up their hands... pee on 'em!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:16 pm

EEWWW!!

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:34 pm

I play acoustic too. And like Mark, the grooves are permanent in the ends of my fingertips.

JimK

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:05 pm

Charly - playing bass doesn't give you calluses? You guys wouldn't believe the calluses on my RH fingertips!

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:44 am

Quote: "I just realized that I need to pick up the 6 string every day, if even for 15 mins, just to keep them going...."

Exactly the same here. I try to play at least 15 minutes on guitar every day. Otherwise it's back to blister time.

John, what I think Charly meant is that bass playing (with the thicker strings) does not produce calluses on the fretting hand.

One problem that seems to be unique to me - when I play guitar a lot, some of the skin from the top layers of the calluses starts to shred and peel of on my fretting fingers.

badeggs · Post by **badeggs** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:14 am

Mine just "vanish" over time. I could be playing constantly, every day, and occasionally they'll just break down. Next thing I know I got a new blister and my fingertips are on fire. Then I build them up again.

You'd think playing for 20 years would've made them permanent by now; I guess I have weak skin!