Great info. I have a new Ibanez Mikro because I have fairly small hands. The strings are much lighter than my other guitars and I keep wondering why I was out of tune. Must be pushing to hard. Thank you.

I want my index finger to turn into a capo

A point about the bit at the beginning You don’t have to blister to build callous. If you’re building callouses youre probably gonna blister, but if you play little and often. Maybe like five minutes every few hours. You will build callouses by playing little and often

I carry around an old credit card and press on it while I'm driving or watching tv. Works for me....So, it's like I'm fretting without a guitar in my downtime.

Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton once shared a tip on building callouses faster. His theory involves the reaction to callouses from moisture, that if a callous is wet, it retains more water and becomes soft. His trick is to apply isopropyl alcohol to your fingertips before playing to decrease the moisture in your tips. Remember, dry tips=harder callouses. Wet tips=Softer callouses. Edit: A better solution is mineral oil. Rubbing alcohol promotes cracking, peeling and splitting.

Thanks for the tips, I tuned my acoustic guitar down a half step and now my fat little fingers can play the A chord. 😁

I just started learning a week ago, never even touched a guitar before getting one. It hurt like hell on the first day but kept doing it 10-15-20 min a day in shorter sessions. After a couple of days my fingertips became hard and smooth/shiny and just feel numb, not just with the guitar but 24/7. It's good I guess? Cause now I can practice a lot longer and don't feel shit. But then again, I've been told by 3 tattoo artists and one dentist that I have an outrageous pain tolerance, maybe the numbness is what should have felt like pain lol.

The harder the tip is, the less you'll feel it... Am I sure I'm mature enough to be part of thos comunity

I am also a bassist who bends strings in almost every practice session. It is like a habit of mine. Bass strings a lot harder to bend than guitar strings because they are much thicker. And thicker strings demands stronger fingers. It's not a problem for me because my fingers pretty much adapated to my string bending habits.

All this talk about pain in the fingertips is reminding me about my beginner days in the sixties when there was no Internet just a chord book and the rest was up to me I was clueless but I figured it out on my own. and you can too.

This lesson is gold for a beginner like myself, without an in-person instructor or even an experienced player to bounce questions off of. I've been discovering many of these little realities on my own, like the pitch distortion that occurs if you press too hard on an electric. It's awesome to hear a lesson where all these little pragmatic points are discussed.

Quick tip salt water dip 3 times a day, removes the moisture and the skin will toughen up as well. My problem wasn't pain but clean sounding notes when fretting. 10 days in my finger tips are rock solid

For me it is just starting out on an acoustic guitar given to me by a friend. I made it into a lefty by turning the bone around and restringing. I know that is not ideal but for this first stages of learning it is okay.

Just remind your self every pain theres progress

“have aNOTHER GUTAR!” ha my broke self

i'm a "hard metal" ukulele player, where i pkay strum like super hard 😂 my fingers are cracked! it hurts so bad. on top of that, i play piano with sore fingers. glad i'm toughening all my fingers up for the long run.

You're a very clean player. That's the comfort level I'm aiming for rather than super technical playing. I just started though so I've got a ways to go

My calluses are pretty huge now. I can play for a while without pain. I don’t have to press nearly as hard to get a good sound now. It’s much much easier. It’s so hard starting out! My pinky for some reason has always been behind the rest of them 😂 there is callus there just not as much as the other three. I need to hammer it more and bend with it more.

Thank you, Gary. Great video and very helpful.

I take lessons from Guitar Tricks and they are always helpful, professional, and to the point.

I had two of my acoustics setup and tuned to Eb Tuning 2 yrs ago and until now I am loving it! But I still do practice with my other guitars tuned to Standard esp when I am teaching developing novice guitarists. Btw the content is really helpful and keep em coming!

i used to just forcefully press my fingers against the strings for long periods of time to give my self calluses faster ahah

Wow! These are all such great tips!

amazing tips, thank you very much

One of the best tutorials on guitar playing I've seen. Started fooling around with a guitar in college 50 years ago, but more or less gave it up. Pulled out the old Yamaha FG-180 every couple of years, but it hurt too much. Now you've got me inspired to take it up again. Great teacher!

I started on ukelele with nylon strings with the goal of moving on to guitar. I had the strings changed on my first guitar to the lightest gage and that helped with pain. I'm at the point where I practice 6 to 8 hours a week. I often want to play longer but can't / won't because I know I won't be able to play the next day if I push it too far. I'll switch to electric sometimes 🎸 and turn it up to 11 ! But seriously 😄 figuring out the pressure needed to get the right sound is the best advice in this video. Why torture yourself (and your pillows) for no reason!

I have a guitar but I recently got a ukulele and I didn’t really play the guitar very much but I was playing my ukulele for 8 hours yesterday (the first time I really committed to uke) and now my fingers aren’t blistered BUT the skin is peeling and they are probably going to blister soon, but other then that I’m hooked and I’m committed to get callouses because I think ukulele is such a beautiful instrument 💖

Great video! Very useful tips 👌

It's been three days since I started playing Guitar, And btw I am in love with this person's guitar.

Great lesson! Cheers!

That's a gorgeous guitar..

Very good hints!!!

Thank you, lots of helpful information, much appreciated!

great video youre very knowledgable and articulate

Priceless video .. thank you forever 🙏 😊

Very good info, I started out but was a bit discouraged because of the pain....I think my teacher should have explained me this

Thanks buddy. Very good advices.

I saw a fella in a bar strumming a song and as he leaned into the guitar the high e tiny string broke and it stabbed his eye! Everyone one was saying 'OMG OMG OMG OM OM OMG' The dude pulled it out and cursed a lot, put a new string on then asked for some tape to keep his poked eye closed and played another 90 minutes. To top it off this guy was only being paid $300 per night! Many, including me, put $20's in his tip jar that night. His name was Toby Gandelf. He sung like a cross between Axl Rose and Garth Brooks, beautiful voice and played liked his hands were robots.

This video was very helpful.

Great vid! Thanks

I haven’t played in five years and I completely lost my calluses. Now I picked up a guitar again and my fingers feel like a beginner while my brain and muscle memory are still pretty much where they were last time I played. It’s far more frustrating then the first time I started learning.

Lots of really great info, thank you for that.

I actually play ukulele but this tips video was really good! I learned alotta new tips to use on my ukulele! Thanks!

Thank you for these tips! I have an acoustic guitar with steel strings I’ve had for years but it doesn’t cause me pain surprisingly. I began playing for an hour consistently a week ago and my fingers tingle afterwards which I now see is my skin toughening.💪🏽awesome, great video!

Yeah!! FINALLY! Determined to finally build Callouses, I gave myself 1 Month but came in at 3 weeks! Starting out, I blistered, I cried, I sent Pics to friends (for sympathy) lol, I scabbed, etc. Thru the Day/Eve, whenever I passed by my Guitar I'd pick it up & press out some Chords. (1-2 min). Next time, 5 min.etc. Made my Practice Sessions more Frequent but LESS Time each. Gloves to do Dishes! Try to keep Hands dry during this Process. No Hand Cream for a few weeks. I also bought this weird "Gadget" Fretboard I took in my Purse. ($11 Amz) Its JUST Steel Strings on a Slide Out piece of Wood w/some Frets. You don't play it, just there to BUILD or KEEP Callouses. (I actually panicked going away w/out Guitar for a weekend worrying I had put in so much time & pain, didn't want skip even One Day! For the first 2 Weeks, I wished I could just take my Fretboard only to carry around & couldn't believe it when I found my Wish on Amazon. ! ? That was Freaky. ) I pulled Fake Fretboard out in Dr Waiting Rms, Bank Line, my A.M. Coffee at Cafe,. I was almost obsessed trying to build Callouses. Thought I never would but I got there (still working on the Pinkie). Will admit my Fingertips are Numb & feel strange but I'll take it as I can now play longer. NOW, its all about building Finger STRENGTH! Lol. Always something ... I just went WAY over Budget, indulged & bought a gorgeous Larrivee (LV10) - both a Reward & Incentive to keep going! Hell. Building Callouses is NO Joke. So I feel I EARNED that Guitar ;)

I have been a very-long-time beginner. Couldn't really figure out why I wasn't progressing. Even took lessons for a short time. Never was mentioned that I didn't have the calluses. Followed advice of learning basic songs with simple chords C-G-D. But my finger tips were mushy and after 10 minutes, I was muting strings and pressing harder and harder. I think that I wasn't getting enough variation of positions on my finger tips to build calluses. So I switched to practicing about 10 chords and then playing the simple tunes. Now I am developing stiffer fingertips and much better results with less pressure.

If your gonna play electric just get electric. Don't be disappointed when your kid don't play that acoustic after a week. Finger condoms, if ya wanna be made fun of. You were warned.

Thanks Sir. This is exactly what I'm looking for. The Capo technique is awesome.

Excellent, so much information, thanks.😃

2:47 I did NOT know u could make does sounds with acoustic! Absolutely LOVEEE it!

Thanks man

The world shall know pain - nagato

i’ve been playing guitar for a week and my fingers BURNNN😭🤕🔥🔥🔥

Thank you so much i subscribed

First time I played, I felt that pain and I was guessing it was normal so I kept going, after a week, I was used to it...and it was a Paracho I played...double string made it kinda painful lol.

Great info really enjoyed the video. I like the sound of your Acoustic Guitar what brand is it?

I had an idea that my hammer-on’s sucked because my fingers aren’t hard enough, so I looked up “do hard fingers help you play guitar” and then boom! this came up, I feel a lot better now.

I just started playing guitar and My fingers are starting to peel. I practice everyday and IM IN PAIN AGH

Pain also can come from being on the strings to long trying to get the chord right. When you get better and faster you will only be on the chord for maybe a spit second before you move on, verses hit and go ,just hang in there pain will be gone before you even know it.

Thank you very nice and informative video. You actually made thinking to buy an acoustic, and not just for building more strength. Also about the gorilla tips, it seems they are also useful when your fingertips want to become intimate with other fingertips :p I've tried rock-tips in the past and was so and so. Like you said if you had an accident and really need to play they'll be good

Buy a VARIGRIP and on one side of the grip the made stripes which feel and look like a string, press the top of your fingers on the stripes. Do it every time when you have the time and after a couple of days you feel Calluses on your fingers. it really helps and I have nothing to do with VARIGRIP. (but the always can send me a present :-) Good luck

Bends help a lot for calluses 🤕

This was absolutely perfect. No BS, plenty of tips, straightforward and understandable. I’ve been playing for roughly 15 years but over the years I’ve practised less and less which in turn made my fingers hurt like freaking hell all the time when I DO get to play. So I was obviously aware that practise helps but I was searching for a clip like this to find out if there are any tricks. Thanks for this! I do have a question: will tuning down the Guitar help even when you don’t use a capo and consequently don’t shrink the scale length? Isn’t string tension softer when tuned down, regardless of scale length? Furthermore, wouldn’t this mean that the higher you put the capo, the easier it is to press down the strings, making it easier for your fingers? I can’t really confirm that

Great video, very informative. I just started with ukulele but your tips are helpful for those too. I would love to give a like and subscribe but my fingers are still in pain... anyway thank you very much.

that close to the fret wire tip just blew my mind

Thanks bro. Appreciate your time and tips.

For me, it doesn’t really hurt that often. I’ve been playing ukulele for years, so I already had calluses and my skin was hard. It still does sometimes hurt, when I’ve been playing for a while. Right now my fingers are beginning to blister, but at least then I’ll get new skin? I do prefer playing steel-stringed guitar, they sound nicer to me.

ty Bruzz

I like you! Thanks for this video! Made me hopeful I can do it to!! 🥰

What guitar is that? It's gorgeous!

thanks so much!:)

im only 13 but im so glad i started with a crappy guitar that has a rlly thick strings, and the distance between the string and the fretboards are further than usual, i got used to it so it means its going to be easy for me to play electric :) i havent touched an electric guitar my entire life

Nice Eastman. I have a D 10

I was playing eruption tapping it hurts my fingers and now it works thank you

Pure gold buddy!! I just spent a lot and you gave me the immediate solution. For free. Knowledge is always king. Money is just permission to buy. My money gets married to Knowledge. That's how I'm able to live just as well as people with 4 times my income. I'm smart enough to know that I am stupid. Pride stops people from learning. That's why I like SMARTER THAN A SIX GRADER.

My guitar has half nylon half steel, does that have an effect on the sound it makes? I have only just started and the strings were like this when I got it

Everything you said is on point... Thanks for the video....

I’m playing for several hours a day, I don’t feel my fingertips anymore, best strategy. And I play a classical so it has nylon strings, which I suppose are easier to press than steel on acoustic.

I barely have real calluses anymore because I've been playing for years. I keep my guitar neck as straight as possible and my action low. My problem is my fingertips blistering from bass plucking.

Got my first Acoustic yesterday, ready to start this journey with it🤟🏼

I remember having finger pain in my middle finger cuz of playing with a yoyo, it took me about 3 months of daily playing to develop calluses there, can’t wait to get them on the fingertips too

I started playing guitar when I was really young so I don’t really remember getting that sort of pain when I started out

I play with phospher bronze strings. Are these just as good as steel? I think it sounds better but is it just as good to build my fingers?

my prob is that i develop the calluses but then they get in the way of the strings n i have to cut them off n then im back to square one. I might buy lighter strings for the electric cos i think im using stock standard 10's

I use a tin box with rice in it. I JAM MY FINGER TIPS IN THE RICE TO DEVELOP TOUGHNESS.... WORKS FOR ME

I'm at 1:01 and I wasnt even going to listen at all but the intro sounded nice. You already hit it in first minute! Play a lot, often, as much as you can.

easy for YOU to say!~ omg, it's so hard to get those calouses to still press as light as you look to be pressing to get that noise.

Can you use nylon strings in steel string guitar?

This is turning into a controversy for me. When I tell my instructor I have finger joint (not finger tip) pain,finger knuckle pain,wrist pain, he wants me to take time off. My callouses are forming a bit oddly. My fingertips bottom out on the fretboard before the string is held down (I see this only on the 'high E" string.) I used to play a Yamaha FG830 with the action lowered and thinner strings. One month ago I bought a Martin D16E. No action work needed but I can still wear myself out (the other pain places). I do have osteoarthritis in my fretting hand fingers.

Pain is progress, you know the right kind of pain and the wrong kind of pain. Then you start to enjoy it, knowing you've nailed your practice and just at that point...no more pain 🤣

Whats that song he played when he put the finger tips on

Worthwhile, comprehensive & useful vid, but as always, frustrating for those not genetically gifted with them seeing the huge advantage long slender non-fleshy characteristic ectomorph's fingers are with this instrument.

Well that makes me feel happy

I took a break, lost my callouses. I don’t know why, but it I remembered it hurting a lot more.

Solid video. Question: I'm finding calluses sometimes prevent me from properly bending notes - and generally playing lead - because the string slips a bit. Is there a happy medium that would allow me to keep my callused fingertips while also maintaining grip? Thanks.

Lost all my calluses ages ago and I haven’t had them since I was so mad lol

Been playing everyday for a week for about 2 hours each day and I got this odd cut, it’s not on the first layer of skin tho it’s beneath it and it makes it really hard to play, also have a blister on the same finger…

Sadly it's not just the fingertips, it's also the hands, the shoulder, the forearms, everything hurts.

If you're having nerve pain, don't push through it. There are other types of pain as well that you should listen to. Just adding to the convo.

"And if you wanna give your fingers a break switch over to the electric" If only I had one😅