Finger tip care

[Rondeauboy]

I would say I play an average of two hours /day, and as such, have developed fairly thick calluses on my left hand fingers. This really isn't a big deal, but since I switched my strings to Elixers (I find them slippery), my fingers tend to slip of the strings once and a while due to the hard callused tips. As well, the longer my session is, the bigger the string imprint on my finger tips which causes some chord formations to become difficult to form (think of driving your car in ruts....wheels want to stay in the ruts) properly and sound right.

So I guess my questions is...Does anyone else have this problem? Do you peel the calluses off when they get too thick?

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I use an emory board to sand down the calluses when needed.

As for Elixer strings, I prefer the Nano over the Poly strings.
They are not slippery and still last a long time.
I don't use Elixer strings very often though. I like the sound of PB uncoated strings better.

 

[walrus]

Yep, the occasional emory board...

walrus

 

[dane]

Yep. Emory board here too. Works well to get the calluses down, and in a pinch to get the nails down too.

Dane

 

[killdeer43]

In all my guitar cases I carry a 4X5 piece of foam, 1/2' thick, covered on both sides by a fine grit sandpaper coating. You can pick them up in a variety of grits at your local harware store.
They work really well, since you can bend them into any shape for maximum coverage while you're working on a particular finger, etc.
They're also great for working on your nails if you fingerpick with your natural "picks."

I've used these in my cabinet shop for years for sanding rounded corners, etc., and discovered this new use one day by accident.

Joe

 

[Graham]

This serves double dooty in my house.

 

[GardMan]

Like the others, I use an emory board to smooth out the "ruts" on my fingertips. I also get callouses towards the middle of the pad of my thumb from wrapping the neck, and at the first joint of my index finger (from barring my Ds). The latter one gets sore and needs smoothing with an emory on a routine basis (I think my wife finds it rather humorous that I'll sit here in the evening grooming my nails and filing down my callouses). D

 

[Rondeauboy]

Mmmmm.....an emory board. Duh. I should have thought of this earlier. There is only like a thousand of them lying around my house, thanks to my wife and daughter.

Thanks all!

 

[killdeer43]

Always happy to add to the treasure trove of misc. info to be gleaned here, I submit my two favorite (and unsung) guitar-player accessories.

L. GF-400
R. GFR-200XL

Both are (North)Westerly products, and they work really well.
Leave the ladies' nail care products behind and step up to the counter at your favorite hardware store! 8)

Filling in for Tim the Toolman and Bob the Builder,
Joe

 

[fused]

Ok, I don't, but I do know someone who uses the shop grinder.
I even cringe when I see him do that.... One slip and.....

Actually only run into this problem with the acoustics.
Electrics, even arch tops, have light actions.
Doesn't take much pressure to get a note.

 

[Rondeauboy]

To Kildeer43 - please tell me that is sawdust on the sanding sponges and not your calluses.

 

[killdeer43]

To Killdeer43 - please tell me that is sawdust on the sanding sponges and not your calluses.

Actually, it's a pretty good blend of both.
Anytime I use one of those sponge, I usually run my fingertips over them, just out of habit I guess.
Keeps the calluses under control quite well, though, especially those hard edges that hang up on a string now and then.

I draw the line at using my belt sander! :wink:
Joe

 

[GuildsSing]

I always chew them off, either swallow them or spit out and make sure I get a bit of nail too. Double duty. Then I start over.

 

[dreadnut]

Geez you guys, I've spent almost 40 years building up my callouses...

I can honestly say I've never heard of anyone sanding them off!

 

[robinbirdd]

clearly i need to play more, my fingertips are merely flat and not rutted.

 

[killdeer43]

Geez you guys, I've spent almost 40 years building up my callouses...

I can honestly say I've never heard of anyone sanding them off!

Not 'sanding 'em off ' :lol: , just smoothing off the dry skin/rough edges that pop up now and then. It would take some serious surgery to sand off these calluses. :shock: and OUCH!

Joe

 

[playsvintageguilds]

Emory board here as well.

 

[killdeer43]

Emory board here as well.

Do you have any of the custom jobs, Raj?

http://yardsigns.org/emery.html


Joe

 

[playsvintageguilds]

Whoa...Who woulda thought !
I better suggest that to my wife for my stocking stuffer !
Hey,Happy Thanksgiving,Joe...and to ALL you LTGrs !

 

[adorshki]

Geez you guys, I've spent almost 40 years building up my callouses...
I can honestly say I've never heard of anyone sanding them off!

I'm in your camp. It's hard enough keepin' 'em tough. Got soft nails too. Hey! that might be a song!