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GMC Forum _ Ask an Instructor _ Hardened Calluses
Posted by: bryanmoore May 22 2011, 07:28 PM
Greetings GMC Instructors.
The callus covering the tip of my left middle finger has gotten so thick and hard that I'm losing control over whole tone bends. I notice if I grab the string above the callus and allow the string to "dig in" to some fresh skin I create a new groove in my finger and thus regain control. Problem is, after a bit of playing (especially when bending the G String) the string starts slipping out again and tries to find its way back down to its natural position in the hardened, grooveless callus.
Do any of you guys experience this? Is there a trick that I don't know about?
Maybe a surgical slit with a razor knife?
Bryan
Posted by: Azzaboi May 22 2011, 07:53 PM
I wouldn't suggest a razor knife as they are quite easy to breakdown/remove without the need of blood and injuring yourself (which means you might need to recover before playing again).
Use a butter knife or dull blade (run it under hot water).
Also a sanding wet stone or fine sandpaper would help.
Get some warm water in which to soak the hand(s). Soak them for ages, a warm shower/bath might be a easier option.
Towel dry them lightly.
Then gently rub the calluses with the knife edge or sandpaper, it should slowly breakdown and start skinning. Calluses are raised a bit and have turned white - dead skin. This should not be painful, stop if it hurts.
Resoak hands.
Posted by: bryanmoore May 22 2011, 08:04 PM
Use a butter knife or dull blade (run it under hot water).
Also a sanding wet stone or fine sandpaper would help.
Get some warm water in which to soak the hand(s). Soak them for ages, a warm shower/bath might be a easier option.
Towel dry them lightly.
Then gently rub the calluses with the knife edge or sandpaper, it should slowly breakdown and start skinning. Calluses are raised a bit and have turned white - dead skin. This should not be painful, stop if it hurts.
Resoak hands.
Thanks for the tip, but just to clarify...
I don't want to get rid of my calluses (in fact I'm quite proud of them), I just wanted to know if any of you guys had ever experimented with trying to recreate the desired "grooved line" in them with something other that just continued playing.
Posted by: bryanmoore May 23 2011, 12:41 AM
I don't want to get rid of my calluses (in fact I'm quite proud of them), I just wanted to know if any of you guys had ever experimented with trying to recreate the desired "grooved line" in them with something other that just continued playing.
Shouldv'e listened to you Azzaboi. Sharp objects on fingertips = injury. Went with a safety pin and just tried to scrap a little groove. What i discovered is that right under that callused skin lies fresh tender skin. Amazing Right!? Don't really know why I was convinced that was the solution to my problem. Too impulsive I guess; or maybe just not the sharpest stick in the pile.
Posted by: Azzaboi May 23 2011, 02:47 AM
I was under the impression you wanted to redevelop them, remove and recreate. All guitarist want good calluses.
People pin prick fingers to speed up calluses development, cutting them to much however I'm guessing would only draw blood or cause injury. Hopefully you can still play fine?
Posted by: bryanmoore May 23 2011, 03:29 AM
People pin prick fingers to speed up calluses development, cutting them to much however I'm guessing would only draw blood or cause injury. Hopefully you can still play fine?
No, I'm afraid not. Coach put me on the DL. Hope to get back in the lineup ASAP. I think next time I'll just use a fingernail file or something. String bending/ Vibrato has been a bit too addictve lately anyway. Haven't seen the kids in a while. I hear my daughter can write her name now. Don't want all their memories of me to be this voice from behind the bedroom door saying, "I'll be out in just a minute... go play."
Posted by: Azzaboi May 23 2011, 07:37 AM
Yeah, you got to even life out. Don't want to miss watching them grow.
It's not subconscious self-sabotage right? So you can hang out with your kids.
Get better soon.
Posted by: Ben Higgins May 23 2011, 08:56 AM
Yeah, it's usually the kids who don't want to come out their rooms.. you've swapped roles !
That sounds like a serious callus you developed.. you really must have put it through some intense bending sessions to get that ??!!
Posted by: bryanmoore May 23 2011, 03:05 PM
That sounds like a serious callus you developed.. you really must have put it through some intense bending sessions to get that ??!!
Yeah and it's all your fault Ben! You and all the other flame-throwin' hot shot instructors on this site! I was perfectly content playing acoustic jazz/ folk/ bluegrass until I stumbled into Kristofer Dahl saying, "ARE YOU READY!?" Now I'm focused, determined and within reach of being a hard rocker! My wife can't figure out what went wrong. She often asks, "are you going to ever play your acoustic again?"
Posted by: Azzaboi May 23 2011, 07:24 PM
hehe
Play's 'Metallica - Nothing else matters' - now that's still acoustic
Posted by: TylerT May 24 2011, 10:07 AM
Sure you can still play acoustic! Serenade her with Meshuggah like this LOL
Posted by: thefireball May 24 2011, 02:06 PM
Wow, I've never developed that thick of calluses before on my fingers. Mine are thin and just right.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 24 2011, 10:07 PM
Don't worry mate, in time you will develop normally distributed calluses. I advise you: do NOT apply surgical knife in any way
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