Left Hand Finger Cracking/flaking/peeling

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Left Hand Finger Cracking/flaking/peeling, What do you do about it?

RobM View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 08:46 AM
Aug 18 2007, 08:46 AM	GMC:er Posts: 300 Joined: 19-July 07 From: noneyaa	My left hand finger tips keep peeling, flaking and cracking. i've tried using a good hand lotion on them but it continues to happen. Some time it gets to the point where I'm playing and the skin peels up a bit and catches on the string. I'm past the point where I have any pain when I Play but I contine to lose the calouses because of this problem. I'm seriously thinking of covering the tips of my fingers with a hard clear fingernail polish or super glue. I used to do that in baseball when I would burn off a calous when pitching a game. Worked like a charm. Any help tips etc would be appreciated. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- You wish.

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DeepRoots View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 08:50 AM
Aug 18 2007, 08:50 AM	Get to da Chopper! Posts: 2.700 Joined: 18-March 07 From: South Wales, UK	QUOTE (RobM @ Aug 18 2007, 08:46 AM) My left hand finger tips keep peeling, flaking and cracking. i've tried using a good hand lotion on them but it continues to happen. Some time it gets to the point where I'm playing and the skin peels up a bit and catches on the string. I'm past the point where I have any pain when I Play but I contine to lose the calouses because of this problem. I'm seriously thinking of covering the tips of my fingers with a hard clear fingernail polish or super glue. I used to do that in baseball when I would burn off a calous when pitching a game. Worked like a charm. Any help tips etc would be appreciated. iv had this before, turned out my strings needed changing (didnt notice till my fingers peeled but the strings were kinda rusty) and also i gave my fretboard a good clean/conditioning which seemed to reduce pressure on my fingertips. Anybody else? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

RobM View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 09:24 AM
Aug 18 2007, 09:24 AM	GMC:er Posts: 300 Joined: 19-July 07 From: noneyaa	QUOTE (DeepRoots @ Aug 18 2007, 03:50 AM) iv had this before, turned out my strings needed changing (didnt notice till my fingers peeled but the strings were kinda rusty) and also i gave my fretboard a good clean/conditioning which seemed to reduce pressure on my fingertips. Anybody else? Can't be my problem as I just changed my strings and cleaned my fretboard. I'm also a nut when it comes to wiping down my guitar, I do it after every time I play, no exceptions. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- You wish.

DeepRoots View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 09:26 AM
Aug 18 2007, 09:26 AM	Get to da Chopper! Posts: 2.700 Joined: 18-March 07 From: South Wales, UK	QUOTE (RobM @ Aug 18 2007, 09:24 AM) Can't be my problem as I just changed my strings and cleaned my fretboard. I'm also a nut when it comes to wiping down my guitar, I do it after every time I play, no exceptions. Hmm strange, how long have you had this problem? Mine didn't linger for too long... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Hungus View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 09:42 AM
Aug 18 2007, 09:42 AM	GMC:er Posts: 368 Joined: 24-July 07 From: New Zealand	I had this same problem awhile ago but I found after about a month my fingers just hardened up and I didnt get callouses anymore. You could try changing how much pressure you put on the strings or what I used to do with annoying callouses (before I started guitar) was just shave them off with a knife or something... also I used to slightly burn the tips of my fingers most days.. dunno why You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! --------------------

Muris Varajic View Member Profile	Aug 18 2007, 07:58 PM
Aug 18 2007, 07:58 PM	Instructor Posts: 15.459 Joined: 22-June 07 From: Sarajevo,Bosnia	Yep,I guess these problems will be gone with time and more constant playing/practicing. Once again Rob,how long have you played guitar? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Youtube MySpace Website Album "Let It Out" on iTunes and CD Baby Check out my video lessons and instructor board! The Pianist tune is progress,check it out! "ok.. it is great.. :P have you myspace? Can i to personalize this for you guy?"

RobM View Member Profile	Aug 19 2007, 01:23 AM
Aug 19 2007, 01:23 AM	GMC:er Posts: 300 Joined: 19-July 07 From: noneyaa	QUOTE (muris @ Aug 18 2007, 02:58 PM) Yep,I guess these problems will be gone with time and more constant playing/practicing. Once again Rob,how long have you played guitar? I have been playing since fathers day this year, (since June 2007), I practice a minimum of 2.5 hours a day. and a lot of days I'll practice 3 hours then take a few hour break then practice again for 3 hours. I'm past the point of having any pain from my fingertips but the cracking/peeling problem gets to be a nuisance after awhile. B ut if you all say it will go away with time I'll believe you, lol. You all are much more experienced guitar players than I am. Thanks again. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- You wish.

Pavel View Member Profile	Aug 19 2007, 01:41 AM
Aug 19 2007, 01:41 AM	Instructor Posts: 3.764 Joined: 8-January 07 From: Rijeka, Croatia	Man don't put any stupid glue or something else on your fingers!! It's ridiculous to GLUE your fingers! REALLY! Just practice and it will be gone with time! I felt some pain in my fingers when i was starting on classical guitar but it was gone very fast since i played every day. Also - you might be having problem of OVER-PLAYING. You started only in June so take it easy on long hours until your fingers heal and get some strength. later you'll be able to play the whole day - but be careful in the beginning! Good luck! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- "It isn't how many years you have been playing, it's how many hours." -- Prashant Aswani "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!" -- Michael Angelo Batio Check out my video lessons and instructor board!

shredmandan View Member Profile	Aug 19 2007, 02:17 AM
Aug 19 2007, 02:17 AM	GMC:er Posts: 1.311 Joined: 26-February 07 From: Tennessee , USA	HeyMan You havent been playing that long so i would say thats oneof the causes.I have seen my fingers do that but i still would have pain and ive played straight for over 10 years.What i do though is take a few hours off and then go at it again or one day off on the hard stuff at max.Some tips i would say that could maybe help this would be use a lower gauge string than you currently are.I dont know what size you are using now but that could be the problem.Also when they get that bad maybe even tune your guitar down low and play so the strings arnt so tight and hard on your finger's.Ofcourse if you dont play metal style of music you may not like tunning down but atleast you could still play while finger's are soar and would be more comfortable. Good luck and if you need anymore help just ask. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My Gear Cort X-2 electric with 24 frets and 2 humbucker's dark Blue Kustom DFX100 With Celestion Speakers,and thats it now (lol) My Advice Figure out what you want in life early.Wether it's the girl,the partying or mastering the guitar.Adding any 2 together will get in your way.

lost-jgs View Member Profile	Aug 19 2007, 07:32 AM
Aug 19 2007, 07:32 AM	GMC:er Posts: 40 Joined: 20-May 07 From: British Colombia , Canada	i have the same problem , been playin about 2.5 months no pain at all in my fingers for some reason last few weeks my hands have really been drying out , espcially my finger tips , the callouses like to peel play on average 2-4 hours a day 7 days a week lots of bending and i play on 11 gauge strings You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars : PRS Santana SE Stop Tail, Jackson RR3 Amps: Vox DA5 Amp , Vox AD30VT Effects: Line 6 Dr. Distorto

Hardtail View Member Profile	Aug 20 2007, 11:24 PM
Aug 20 2007, 11:24 PM	GMC:er Posts: 299 Joined: 1-June 07	This is because as your fingers develop callouses it starts from the outer layer of skin then works its way in. So in other words as your callouses develop your body keeps growing weak skin layers which keep getting shredded off. As the callous gets deeper the lower skin layers get tougher... and your fingers will grow tougher skin to cover them. Eventually your finger tips will be hard but not have that dry flaky aspect to them. When I was a teen I had to go to the Dermatologist and I happened to just be learning guitar and asked him this very question. That is what he told me to the best of my memory. Hope it helps! Hardtail You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy)

RobM View Member Profile	Aug 21 2007, 03:06 AM
Aug 21 2007, 03:06 AM	GMC:er Posts: 300 Joined: 19-July 07 From: noneyaa	QUOTE (Hardtail @ Aug 20 2007, 06:24 PM) This is because as your fingers develop callouses it starts from the outer layer of skin then works its way in. So in other words as your callouses develop your body keeps growing weak skin layers which keep getting shredded off. As the callous gets deeper the lower skin layers get tougher... and your fingers will grow tougher skin to cover them. Eventually your finger tips will be hard but not have that dry flaky aspect to them. When I was a teen I had to go to the Dermatologist and I happened to just be learning guitar and asked him this very question. That is what he told me to the best of my memory. Hope it helps! Hardtail Thanks, great answer! Thanks again to everyone who answered me as well. BTW, I use .009 - .042 strings and as I said it's not a pain thing it's just the skin flaking thing, but I guess with more time it'll be gone. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- You wish.

The Uncreator View Member Profile	Aug 21 2007, 04:29 AM
Aug 21 2007, 04:29 AM	Fire Up The Blades, Moderator Posts: 8.933 Joined: 6-March 07 From: St. Petersburg, Florida	Its probably just a callouse, no big deal, my finger tips do it occasionally but after awhile your fingers adjust and there is no problem You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

swingline View Member Profile	Aug 21 2007, 05:15 AM
Aug 21 2007, 05:15 AM	GMC:er Posts: 789 Joined: 2-August 07 From: Hemet, California	It could be that something got under your skin. I got a Nitrous, Ethanol, Octane blend on my hand and it went right under the callous lifted it and it peeled. It was very painful, but I think even more common things could do that like gas or acetone. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- -------------------- The Gear: Jackson Dinky 2M Snow White Line 6 Spider III 75 watt Line 6 FBV Express Foot Controller

Spiderusalem View Member Profile	Aug 22 2007, 06:59 PM
Aug 22 2007, 06:59 PM	GMC:er Posts: 569 Joined: 15-August 07 From: San Francisco, California	Ok this is gonna sound kinda nasty but I know a way to solve those problems. Nail Clipper. It usually gets bad when the peeled skin gets caught on the string and gets peeled back more. So take a nail clipper and clip the loose skin as you would long nails. Then if you get bad skin stubble, you can file it down a bit to a smoother finger surface. Without a latch, the strings cannot peel back your skin. Take care of the tips of your fretting fingers and they'll take care of you. Also, I suggest keeping around a nail clipper just because. The are unbelievably handy for guitarists. They easily cut strings when its time to change them, get the dirt out between hard to reach places (like gig-bag fluff in your bridge/tailpiece), and believe it or not they've also been known to cut long finger nails. And Kris. My uncle was a fisherman and he kept a nail clipper around because he said it takes up less space than a line cutter and even cuts em' better. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Equipment: Classical/Jazz hybrid guitar. blunt/black humor. Success is the best revenge.

JCJXXL View Member Profile	Aug 22 2007, 09:20 PM
Aug 22 2007, 09:20 PM	GMC:er Posts: 327 Joined: 22-January 07 From: AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!	I usually just stick one finger at a time in my nose before playing. The coating I get from that creates a nice protective barrier. Just kidding Like the others have said just give it time. I had that happen to me once in the beginning and it hasn't happened since. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

AliMo View Member Profile	Aug 27 2007, 02:06 AM
Aug 27 2007, 02:06 AM	GMC:er Posts: 148 Joined: 19-May 07 From: NY	I have sort of a different problem but its in the same category as this so I didn't wanna make a new topic about it. I have been playing almost a year now and thought I was past all of the finger troubles because they seemed to have hardened and not hurt anymore and there was no callouses anymore. But yesterday I sort of made one of those tiny breakthroughs with my playing, no big deal but I knew I had improved a bit, and I ended up finally playing the fade to black intro solo perfectly up to tempo and I was really excited. So basically I played for two hours in the afternoon, and at night my friend came over and we were jamming on and off out in my garage all night. Today when I woke up I had major pain in my left hand fingertips, i've already put lotion on them twice today and a few hours later i tried to play and it hurt too much. Should I just take a break for a day or so to keep them from getting worse? I can play some easier things without much pain but any quick alt picking or any legato or vibrato is just out of the question. So basically I would like to know if I should just put the guitar down for a day or 2 or practice lighter material for a short amount of time You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Guitars: Ibanez RG4EX1 - Schecter Spitfire-6 Amp: Line6 SpiderIII 30W Effects: PodXT Live

mattacuk View Member Profile	Aug 27 2007, 02:12 AM
Aug 27 2007, 02:12 AM	Lets go fishing! Posts: 5.526 Joined: 21-December 06 From: illinois	I had this problem for months when i started! i can assure you if you work through the pain your fingers just harden up with constant practice! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- *mysql> SELECT FROM master_name WHERE ((firstname = 'Paul') AND (lastname = 'Gilbert')); "The Fundimental Difference between Paul Gilbert and Buckethead is that Paul Explores the Good side of the force, while Buckethead Explores the Dark Side of the Force" :)**

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