Callouses question

Bodies · #1 June 7th, 2006

I was just wondering if I'm doing something really wrong or if others have a similar problem. I practice quite a lot and of course, callouses have built up on my fingers. But instead of forming a kind of rounded surface, cavities have formed. By that, I mean that the strings have dug in into the skin where I play and the skin has hardened and stayed that way. Now, when I use my little finger, the strings don't sound right for some reason.

I usually always press down on the strings at the same spot on the tip of the fingers so that's probably why. Has that happened to anyone else? Should I stop playing for a while so that the callouses leave and then, build them up again differently?

This is probably very difficult to picture but it's kinda hard to describe. I can try to explain it better if no one understands. :|

cshude · #2 June 7th, 2006

I had that happen to me as well. All I can tell you is that you need to keep playing and keep your callouses smooth so they don't tear off by catching on anything. Eventually, new skin growing underneath will push out the dents. At least I think that's what happens. Bottom line- keep playing. It will take care of itself over time.

Bodies · #3 June 7th, 2006

So I'm not the only one. Phew!

Yea, I guess it does sort itself out but in the meantime, I got a f*cked up little finger. >.> Last time I went on vacation and wasn't playing, they went away.

It's just that I see these other guitarists with perfectly rounded callouses that are barely seen and mine are so obvious, it's weird.

Anyway, thanks for the reply! I'm glad your advice is to keep playing.

cshude · #4 June 7th, 2006

You're luck to only have your pinky doing this. Mine was every finger- for a couple months.

D-Dawn · #5 June 7th, 2006

I started taking an emery board to mine...just to smooth them out a bit... and the ridges/cavities/indentations are not as deep as they were before using this regularly....plus no little bits of skin to get caught on everything!

USGold · #6 June 7th, 2006

My string dents used to go away after a few hours-but lately i can see the string grooves in them for days after a long play. More or less permanent I guess now-they puff back up a little if I have them in water for long-which i avoid as then i can't play for a few hours-but aside from that the grooves are there about full time now.

Bodies · #7 June 7th, 2006

Very glad to know that this is common. I'll just have to get used to it. >.>

D-Dawn, I'd take an emery board to mine as well when it gets real bad but for some reason I just can't tolerate that thing. O.o