If you’ve recently started guitar lessons, you may notice that the tips of your fingers become sore after playing. Don’t be discouraged, as sore fingertips are part of the process. Since you’re new to the instrument, you haven’t built guitar calluses yet. Here’s what you need to know about these helpful calluses and how to develop them.

What Are Guitar Calluses?

Whether you’re playing casually for a few minutes or an hour in guitar lessons, these calluses develop on your fingertips as a result of strumming the instrument. Calluses are areas of thickened, hard skin that are yellow or pale in color. Since the skin has thickened, it’s less sensitive to the touch.

How Do Calluses Develop?

Calluses develop when your skin tries to protect an underlying area from friction, pressure, or rubbing. When you play the guitar, the fingers on your non-strumming hand are constantly pressing the fretboard. This frequent contact will cause calluses to develop. If you don’t use a pick, you may also develop a callus on your strumming hand, as your fingertips are in continuous contact with the metal strings.

How Do I Build Calluses?

Commit to practicing your instrument regularly and stick to short and frequent guitar lessons. Playing too long may earn you painful blisters instead of calluses. You should also keep your nails trimmed; long nails will get in the way of your playing and inhibit callus formation.

Start with medium or heavy strings instead of light gauge ones, which may cut your callus-free fingers. Additionally, avoid applying too much pressure on the strings. This is a common beginner mistake, and it can lead to tendonitis. Press on the strings just hard enough so that they meet the fret.

If you want more tips on how to play this instrument, head to Hawaii MusicWorks in Pearl City. This innovative music school welcomes students of all skill levels and offers a variety of classes, including drum, keyboard, voice, and guitar lessons. Send a message online to request more information about their classes, or call (808) 486-8600 to inquire about enrollment.