It’s so fun to jam on a guitar, but it’s a real pain when your fingers start hurting after a few minutes. Experienced guitarists build up hard calluses on their hands so it’s easier to play for a long time. Luckily, there are some things you can do to strengthen your fingers so you can keep playing and improving. We’ll walk you through a few ways to develop finger calluses and how to keep them tough so you can rock out!

1

Practice every day.

  1. Try to squeeze in 15 minutes a day to harden the calluses on your fingers. Be consistent with your practice routine so your calluses don’t go away. As your fingers start hurting less, try to do 3–4 daily practice sessions that are each 15 minutes long. If you don’t feel sore after finishing a session, switch over to a single 45- to 60-minute practice to see how you feel.[1]
    • Put your guitar down rest if you feel an intense or stinging pain in your fingers.
    • Avoid taking long breaks from playing your guitar, or else your fingertips will start softening again.
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2

Use medium or heavy strings.

3

Switch to an acoustic guitar.

  1. Acoustic guitars have thicker steel strings that toughen your hands faster. If you normally play or perform with an electric guitar, try using an acoustic while you’re practicing. Since they use larger strings that are higher off the frets, press down on them a little harder while you’re playing. The friction of the strings and added pressure from holding them down makes your fingers harder.[3]
    • Acoustic guitar is actually more difficult to play, so you’ll feel a lot more comfortable when you switch back to an electric guitar.
    • If you notice pain in your wrist or elbow while you’re practicing, try loosening your grip on the strings a little.
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4

Push your thumbnail into your fingertips.

  1. Apply pressure to your fingers with your thumbnail to harden the tips. When you aren’t playing guitar, press your thumbnail into the pad of your index finger. Push hard enough so your skin indents but not so much that it causes you pain. Go through each of your fingers one at a time to help the calluses form. You could also rub the tips of your fingers against the raised numbers on a credit card for similar results.[4]
    • Buy a finger strengthener tool online or from your local music store. The tool has 4 spring-loaded buttons that help you develop calluses and finger strength.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How long does it take for your fingers to get used to guitar?
    Aaron Asghari
    Aaron Asghari
    Professional Guitarist & Instructor
    Aaron Asghari is a Professional Guitarist and the lead guitarist of The Ghost Next Door. He received his degree in Guitar Performance from the Guitar Institute of Technology program in Los Angeles. In addition to writing and performing with The Ghost Next Door, he is the founder and primary guitar instructor of Asghari Guitar Lessons.
    Aaron Asghari
    Professional Guitarist & Instructor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    It can take a couple of weeks to a few months for your calluses to develop, depending on how often you practice.
  • Question
    What if I don't have a grip master and cannot buy one?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    If you don't have a grip master, try pressing your fingertips against the edge of a thin plastic card, such as a credit card or ID card.
  • Question
    How do I keep my fingers conditioned when I'm not able to play guitar?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you have fingernails on your thumbs, alternate pressing the nails against the tips of your other fingers.
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Warnings

  • Stop playing if you have a blister or cut on your finger.[13]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Some guitarists may recommend putting super glue on your fingertips to make artificial calluses, but you should avoid it since it could leave residue on your guitar or damage your skin.[14]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Aaron Asghari
Co-authored by:
Professional Guitarist & Instructor
This article was co-authored by Aaron Asghari and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Aaron Asghari is a Professional Guitarist and the lead guitarist of The Ghost Next Door. He received his degree in Guitar Performance from the Guitar Institute of Technology program in Los Angeles. In addition to writing and performing with The Ghost Next Door, he is the founder and primary guitar instructor of Asghari Guitar Lessons. This article has been viewed 181,079 times.
17 votes - 93%
Co-authors: 30
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 181,079
Categories: Guitar
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