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Should I still be forming calluses and having them basically shed all over the strings and then regrow?
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Bluegrass_Addict lemmy.ca Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-10-21
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I'm just over a year of playing, and I swear I've seen my fingers grow calluses and peel/flake off my fingertips at least a dozen times now.

is this normal? no pain, never bled, it doesn't bother me really. more curious is calluses should be growing and essentially being ripped off from the strings is normal or if I'm just pressing too hard still

17   Original
AFK BRB Chocolate (CA version) lemmy.ca AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-07-10
#2 · Quote Reply

The outer layer of mine peel off frequently. Even afterwards, there's still a reasonably thick pad at the ends though. If you're not having pain fretting the strings, you're fine.

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mannycalavera feddit.uk mannycalavera@feddit.uk
Joined: 2023-07-02
#3 · Quote Reply

I think mine stopped and healed after my first three months of playing. Honestly I can't remember it was so long ago. They don't re-peel and flake off though.

Maybe try softening your grip? Might help with speed and dexterity if you do that anyways.

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berty feddit.org berty@feddit.org
Joined: 2025-07-05
#4 · Quote Reply

One year of playing that doesn't sound normal to me. I think you use too much force. Actually you don't need that much to play. Press the strings and listen when the tone is there.
Did you just started with Barré-chrods?

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faythofdragons slrpnk.net faythofdragons@slrpnk.net
Joined: 2024-12-13
#5 · Quote Reply

Do you use lotion at all? I've heard that can be from dry skin.

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pH3ra lemmy.dbzer0.com pH3ra@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-06-18
#6 · Quote Reply

Is this normal? In my experience yes, the skin on my hands is pretty fragile and tends to flake off especially in winter and after long playing session (3+ hours).
Can something be done about it? Also yes, carry some hand cream/lotion with you to put on after you play.

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7uWqKj lemmy.world 7uWqKj@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-03-27
#7 · (edited) Quote Reply

Totally normal, but check if you can play with less pressure

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hardcoreufo lemmy.world hardcoreufo@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-09
#8 · Quote Reply

Mine have been doing that for 20 years. But I have soft hands and play 20-30 minutes a few times a week.

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glitchy_nobody leminal.space glitchy_nobody@leminal.space
Joined: 2024-04-20
#9 · Quote Reply

Might be a nickel allergy?

1
Bluegrass_Addict lemmy.ca Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-10-21
#10 · Quote Reply

Might be a nickel allergy?

don't think so, no other issues. I play a LOT. like 1-4 hours almost every day and have been for over a year now.

i suspect it's just excessive playing/practice

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y0kai [he/him] anarchist.nexus y0kai@anarchist.nexus
Joined: 2025-08-19
#11 · Quote Reply

Been playing for 20+ years. It never stops for me. And if I take a break for a few weeks to a month, my fingertips will be sore the next few times I play.

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Bluegrass_Addict lemmy.ca Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-10-21
#12 · Quote Reply

The outer layer of mine peel off frequently. Even afterwards, there's still a reasonably thick pad at the ends though. If you're not having pain fretting the strings, you're fine.

yeah no pain for sure, used to be sore but that's looong gone. guess I'll just change my strings more often insulted of trying to clean em lol

3
Bluegrass_Addict lemmy.ca Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-10-21
#13 · Quote Reply

Do you use lotion at all? I've heard that can be from dry skin.

I don't no, it's not really bothering me. I just assumed the callus wouldn't flake off. it's still hard skin and fretting and slides don't cause pain.

back to the endless learning and confidence playing :D

1
AFK BRB Chocolate (CA version) lemmy.ca AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-07-10
#14 · Quote Reply

yeah no pain for sure, used to be sore but that's looong gone. guess I'll just change my strings more often insulted of trying to clean em lol

That shouldn't have an impact on the calluses

2
Acklavidian lemmy.world Acklavidian@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-16
#15 · Quote Reply

Not for me, and practicing atleast that much too. My callus mostly just builds up and I have to cut them off. I do have a ton of hang nails and if I start pulling or biting them off instead of clipping I'll get a sore that will make the top layer of my callus peel. Sometimes the callus get so thick that my ring finger nail gets long and my bends with that finger start being crappy. Ill get bummed about my playing sounds like crap and I will realize eventually I just gotta trim my nail back. Sometimes I shave it off just to make my fingers sore again to help me practice a lighter freting technique.

1
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