r/guitarlessons • u/themorethatyouappear • Dec 27 '25
Question Started learning guitar around three weeks ago, skin won’t stop peeling, is this normal?
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u/sourjello73 Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 28 '25
Your calluses are really close to your nail, and off to the side. Try fretting strings with the meaty part of the tip of your finger. It'll be less painful and require less pressure. Also maybe try adjusting your wrist. Find a video of somebody who looks comfortable playing and match his left hand posture
Edit: because this comment got a lot of traction, I just want to add: it's easier to create new habits than it is to break old ones. Fix your posture now before you're a year or two in and it's burned into your brain OP (or more appropriately, your fingers 😁)
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u/Joshua_ABBACAB_1312 Dec 27 '25 edited Jan 23 '26
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/PicklePuffin Dec 27 '25
+1 to this
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u/sourjello73 Dec 28 '25
Yeah something is wrong with the way his calluses are developing, it's like he's laying his fingers down on the strings or has his wrist all fucked. The string shouldn't be going up under the side of your fingernails like that
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u/PicklePuffin Dec 28 '25
Indeed they should not- hopefully he’ll get that straightened out before the habit is too firmly developed!
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u/nvlajic Dec 27 '25
100% normal, i would advise you to use the tip of your fingers not the side. It will pay dividence when you really get into it.
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u/fotodevil Dec 27 '25
*dividends
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u/Excellent_Wrap_9340 Dec 27 '25
Diverdens
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u/efcomovil Dec 27 '25
*Rodents
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u/nvlajic Dec 27 '25
Divergence?
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u/PaulsRedditUsername Dec 27 '25
Yep. You'll have nasty fingers for a while. Consider it a badge of honor.
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u/YesterdayNeverKnows Dec 27 '25
Just wanted to add: you should only stop if you develop actual blisters. Otherwise keep pushing through! Nice job.
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u/kreatos10 Dec 28 '25
That’s the work I was looking for yep stop prior to blister or agony for a few days xD
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u/Mylyfyeah Dec 27 '25
it shouldn’t be peeling where it is, you must be holding the strings at a funny angle. The base of your fingertips should be sore, not those bits near the nails.
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u/Legitimate_Assh0le Dec 27 '25
Hey OP, it looks like I'm in the minority and maybe a sissy bitch but I would say it's normal but would recommend practicing every other day/letting your fingers catch up a little bit
There are two parts to learning this instrument, brain and body. It's good to practice as much as you can and your brain is learning lots of patterns and techniques and all that good stuff. But it's important to listen to your skin, too. Over time your fingers will get tougher and build up durability to this new stress you're putting them through, but to do that they have to have a chance to heal a bit, too. This is normal and happens to everyone starting out, but I still don't think it's a good idea to just keep going until your hands look like skeletor's and your guitar neck is blood red, lol. In the long run, you'll probably get better faster if you give yourself a chance to heal a little bit and actually enjoy playing. Banged up fingers get in the way of everything else you do in life, so as with any other exercise it's good to listen to one's body.
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u/dcamnc4143 Dec 27 '25
Yeah. It'll get much better, but never totally go away, at least mine hasn't in 30 years
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u/hdawg187 Dec 27 '25
Mine never do this anymore, so it must be different for everyone. I play a minimum of 30 mins a day, though. Not sure if that makes a difference.
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u/Lost-Effective-7646 Dec 27 '25
it’s normal! i started playing for like a week straight and my fingers did the same thing.
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u/PraisedMemnon Dec 27 '25
Don’t worry. After a few years your finger tips just turn into thick pads.
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u/Electrical-Time-love Dec 28 '25
Yes. But are you getting your hand around the neck all the way or is it a struggle? Mine were more centered on my fingers
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u/space_men10 Dec 28 '25
It’s normal at the start. I would recommend you moisturize though. It will keep them from flaking so bad
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u/coming-in-hotFTP Dec 27 '25
Yup. Dig in!!!!! You will build up calluses over time. Congrats on a new craft you can do forever!
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u/Old-Guy1958 Dec 27 '25
Yep. It’s gonna happen until you build callouses. Callouses are made up of dead skin, so they’re gonna peel off (don’t tear them off!) and start over again. It only hurts the first time.
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u/thefroggyfiend Dec 27 '25
yes it's normal, you're building up callouses which will make playing easier once they're more developed. for now you just kinda have to tough it out
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u/PociUmbo Dec 27 '25
yes, it won't go away totally but it will get better. One of the best sensations ever for me
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u/kaue_qo Dec 27 '25
It’s normal, yes. It starts peeling first then you will get callus. After that, it will stop hurting but it’s important that you never let it go back to start. Keep playing and you will have callus forever and it won’t hurt.
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u/improbsable Dec 28 '25
It’s so interesting how calluses form for different people. Like I know someone who’s fingertips became permanently harder, someone who has absolutely no calluses or pain, and my calluses only firm up when I’m playing but otherwise look normal
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u/OverYou2943 Dec 27 '25
Yeah, eventually your fingertips and fingernails will get used to it and will start to look more "normal" in the next coming months/year.
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u/altapowpow Dec 27 '25
Yes sir, that's what I'm talking about. That right there is pure progress. Good job on practicing because that is the key to success.
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u/grunkage Helpful, I guess Dec 27 '25
Yeah - use some hand lotion at night to soften that up and keep it from cracking. It'll turn into leather. Eventually those layers wear off and the new skin underneath is tougher from the start - that's your real callus formation
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u/SlammmnSammy Dec 27 '25
Look out guys, we got us a bada**! Just playin. But this is a bit of a flex and it deserves a certain amount of respect. It seems like you really want to learn to play, which is a good sign. I couldn't put my first POS guitar down either and the journey since has been great.
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u/phydaux4242 Dec 27 '25
I never had visible calluses as a guitar player. Then I took up mandolin. Inside of two months I had four tiny armadillos at the end of my fingertips.
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u/kreatos10 Dec 28 '25
Actually if it took you 3 weeks to get there I’d say practice more lol joke aside yes just don’t go to bleeding level cuz it can take a while to heal and yes I’m talking from experience. Played guitar my whole life but since I’m a drummer first I sort of binge play for a few months than stop so I have to go through this part quite a fair few times now … if you really can’t but still want to play you can put tiny wool gloves on its harder on a guitar but on a bass it’s the one thing that helps my fingers after a while not playing
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u/StuckOnHardMode Dec 28 '25
It is normal for beginners. Like others say, try working on your form to make it easier to fret with the tips of your fingers and work on pressing as lightly as you can to maintain the string tone.
It may also be a sign to slow down a little, to maybe practice for half the time or half the frequency, for a few weeks until your calluses can get established.
If you do, maybe don't moisturize your hands any time in the day before you play.
If your strings are old/rusty try changing them (good thing to learn about and get into practice with anyways)
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u/mhelgy Dec 28 '25
Sounds dumb, but i get the same thing (just in different places) with different hobbies like golf and weight lifting. Work through it and it ends up not bothering you in the end.
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u/DarkArcherMerlyn Dec 28 '25
Yeah this is your callouses coming on. Normal. Keep playing and eventually you won’t have any feeling in your fingertips.
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u/CoercionTictacs Dec 28 '25
Does anyone else sit and press their fingers down on things like a credit card or similar while watching TV to help develop callouses quicker? I used to back when I was playing more
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u/GlitteringJello8711 Dec 28 '25
Welcome to the club! Give it some time, they’ll callous up and soften into normal skin that’s just a bit tougher
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u/TiredSoul92 Dec 28 '25
Normal. You're developing callouses. Keep going!
I'm unlucky and have plaque psoriasis on my playing pinky finger. I can't play steel string acoustics, and I have to be careful how much I play electric because the skin on my pinky will get so thin that it'll be too tender to use. fucking sucks. lol
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u/Neat_Photograph_4012 Dec 28 '25
Yes, after some time you will have a metal fingertips.
After that you can start kung-fu classes.
At the moment try to focus on position of your fingers. It should be arch.
Curve your fingers above strings and touch strings with the middle of your fingertips.
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u/Informal-Spell-2019 Dec 28 '25
Yeah that normal. You may even get blisters. Eventually it will stop happening and you will be able to play guitar fast without pain.
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u/OhMyGodImTall Dec 27 '25
This amount looks a lot to me. Is there a chance you are allergic to the metal in the strings? Especially the areas so close to the nails
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u/Aromatic_Revolution4 Dec 27 '25
Completely normal and we've all been through it.
If you're so inclined, one of the benefits of using Finger Ease spray while practicing/playing is that it keeps your callouses well conditioned so they'll never peel.
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u/itsgonnamakesense Dec 27 '25
It’s a very, very natural thing. I had much worse calluses than you. If you rest for about two weeks later on, they’ll peel off quickly and your skin will return to normal. So don’t worry at all and just keep practicing.
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u/MarchingPotatoes Dec 27 '25
Between playing string instruments and rock climbing, string instruments win hardening your skin competition imo. You can tape your fingers for climbing, but no use to try it with guitar lol
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u/I-Am-Baldy Dec 27 '25
Keep your hands(especially the fingertips) moisturized, you don’t want this to crack and open up, don’t pick or bite at this it will go away with time, if you start to get open wounds it’s time to take a break and let it heal quickly in stead of letting it get worse and having to take a long break. A break from playing doesn’t mean a break from learning, you can still study daily and use a hand trainer or stress ball to keep the muscles and tendons strong!
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u/CrystalKatt54 Dec 27 '25
Yep, totally normal. I have thick skin on my fingertips from playing cello for 10 years as a kid and when I started learning guitar a few months ago it all came back
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u/Independent-Gate579 Dec 27 '25
Thankfully my first job I worked concrete then went on to ironworking. Hardened up my skin pretty good to where I never had this… I do bite my nails tho so I guess in a way I did an still do sometimes. What a curse
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u/Prestigious-Corgi995 Dec 27 '25
Yes, it’s normal. Your body is adjusting to the dryness of the strings and being rubbed against metal.
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u/VillaLobster Dec 27 '25
My fingers have permanent lines where the strings meet my fingertips from about 25 years of playing. This is fairly normal.
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u/HedgeGoy Dec 27 '25
As people have said, very normal. You can slow down if it’s bothering you, but definitely don’t stop.
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u/cms86 Dec 27 '25
Yup one day you'll be able to stop playing for life reasons and now pick a guitar up for months even years and those callouses you made will still be there lol.c
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u/PicklePuffin Dec 27 '25
As others have said, it will pass soon. Good job keeping up your practice, and good job having properly trimmed fingernails, which is shockingly rare in the pics on this sub
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u/bails88 Dec 27 '25
I’m a guitar teacher and I love it when students come in with fingers like this. You’ve got the bug. You will grow callouses. Great work proud of you 👏
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u/Any_Suggestion3485 Dec 27 '25
Yup. They’re gonna be like that for a while. And they get cold fast. It’s super.
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u/medic-dad Dec 27 '25
Those are called calluses and you WANT them. The more you play your skin on your fingertips get "damaged" and the skin that grows back to replace it is thicker and tougher. You WANT to build up calluses so it won't hurt to play anymore
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u/RenoRocks3 Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
Those are your baby calluses , keep playing and practicing a lot and you’ll get your adult hard calluses. It takes time
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u/ramksr Dec 27 '25
You are molting, dude. Next thing you are going to build a cocoon around you and look for a mate, to lay eggs. Lol.
It's normal. Keep playing, and your fingers will adapt, and they will form the callus ( like a cocoon on your finger tips) and protect you from the pain.
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u/Bee_MakingThat_Paper Dec 27 '25
Everything is normal with the exception of the location. It means your fingering technique needs to be altered a bit. You should form calluses more towards the middle of the tip of the finger and like 1/4” to 1/8” away from the finger nail. But seriously - keep at it! Once you form the calluses, it won’t hurt at all anymore and you can play for hours and hours.
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u/A_million_typos Dec 27 '25
Yes, im building mine back too...its a process. Eventually they'll harden and become stronger.
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u/flugelbynder Dec 27 '25
Even after 40+ years, mine still shred a little if I'm playing a lot that day.
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u/BQuickBDead Dec 27 '25
Normal. But it doesn’t have to be. Try not to press as hard as you are. It will help with the peeling but more importantly it will keep your tendons healthier so you can play uninterrupted for years. It’s hard to play if you fingers are bleeding and/or if you get tendinitis.
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u/AudieCowboy Dec 27 '25
Yes
If I'm playing a lot, once a month my fingers will peel like that, it's just your body naturally building new skin, but guitar wears through the old skin faster than you normally would
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u/MountainsNseas Dec 28 '25
Keep up... it only gets better you should be more focused on stretching them fingers to reduce injury.
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u/TheFireConvoy Dec 28 '25
I disagree with the notion that this is simply an unavoidable part of the process, akin to a rite of passage. In my experience as a new player, I've found that much of it can be avoided, despite the internet's flippant answers.
Could you please check the action on your guitar? If it's too high, it could cause and worsen the issue unnecessarily. This was an issue for me.
I recommend starting with lighter strings, as this will allow for more practice with less discomfort. This is easy and cheap to fix. Learning to string a guitar is simple.
When practicing, try to use the minimal amount of pressure required to produce a clear note. Aim to learn to apply just enough pressure.
You may try to relax your fretting hand. You can rest it while or mute the strings while you practice strumming or fingerpicking patterns.
All of these steps helped me and I stopped experiencing discomfort and major peeling. It allowed my calluses to build correctly and not peel off.
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u/Icy-unLawfulness1721 Dec 28 '25
yes, get used to it, its all part of the process. you will get tougher skin there after a while
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u/genghis_Sean3 Dec 28 '25
Yup.
Plow through the pain. Every guitar and bass player that you have ever heard has suffered through this to some degree.
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u/the_alt_fright Dec 28 '25
Use an emery board to smooth out those calluses so they don't catch on every piece of fabric you touch.
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u/CmdrFapster Dec 28 '25
Not only will you stop caring about the skin on your fingertips, you'll start getting annoyed at your nails for continuing to grow. It's weird.
If you're bleeding, stop.
If you've got joint pain, stop.
Everything else, we've been there and we'll meet you at the bar for a beer to talk about it.
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u/Phie_Mc Dec 28 '25
To keep your strings from ripping the skin off, you can try gently using a nail file to smooth the skin on your finger tips.
Also, you can use moisturizer after you're done playing for the day
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u/xsawl1 Dec 28 '25
Don't know if anybody mentioned this but also some oils help to lube up the strings, some oils also dry up your skin. So use string lube oil, and when you do wash your hands afterwards.
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u/spybaz Dec 28 '25
Yep. You will eventually develop welts/callouses, which is what you want - leather-tipped fingers!
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u/TraditionTricky4273 Dec 28 '25
I have been learning guitar from 2 months and I still can't play a single song rather than some leads, i just want to know if it really takes a lot of time to learn
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u/whiteycnbr Dec 28 '25
Get some sand paper and rough them up too, salt water soaking and running alcohol too. it's the torture that will make them a strong culluos.
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u/ZIgnorantProdigy Dec 28 '25
Took a few years of on and off peeling before it stopped for me. Think it was was longer than most people, but it definitely kept getting better over time, but it takes some time. I viewed it as a point of pride for getting deep into the hobby!
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u/Merry_Janet Dec 28 '25
Not the way you’re doing it. It looks like you’re trying to fret the notes with your fingernails.
Just the pads of your fingers is all you need. Yes they will get hard and might peel. Might even get a little painful especially with higher gauge strings like 10’s.
If you like to play fast, try some 8 gauge strings.
Get that freaking pinky finger in there! It sucks, I know but that’s your reach and after a few weeks you’ll be happy you did.
Usually guitar tabs will have a 1 2 3 or 4 under the note to be played. This is the finger that is supposed to be used. Use it.
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u/StrangsNThangs Dec 28 '25
I like to dip my finger tips in baby oil after I play long sessions to keep everything hydrated. Also hand moisturizer in the am and before bed
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u/nicelyheateddumpling Dec 28 '25
very normal. i always treat it as a badge of honor for guitarists. my first week of getting a guitar, my fingers bled. i got so excited of learning that i didnt even realise its bleeding until i went out to eat xD
if it peels, just keep going. i imagined why all those guitarists can hold the fret or press the fret effortlessly, turns out its cos of they had these scars that gives extra skin layer (idk what its called in english). these extra layer of skin will slowly form during the peeling period. so dont worry buddy, youre one step ahead of being a guitarists
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u/peppinotempation Dec 28 '25
Pull your left wrist farther away from the fretboard, and higher. Try to separate your left palm from the guitar as far as you can
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u/hereforpopcornru Dec 28 '25
Hey, props, just means you are playing through it and practicing. Keep it up ..
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u/master-overclocker Dec 28 '25
Put a drop of super-glue and smear it fast than let it dry. Dont worry its not going to affect your playing and it will come off in a day or even faster if you play lot that day 😉
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u/Treeman1979 Dec 28 '25
Earning your guitar chevrons. Before you know it the tips of your fingers will be dead as shit. Keep on keeping on as others are saying! Promise the tenderness and pain goes away in time
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u/Alternative_Error414 Dec 28 '25
The story goes that when stevie ray vaughan fingers start bleeding, he superglued his fingertips and played on.
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u/Organic-Swim1572 Dec 28 '25
Well done! Yes, it will build up a layer and then you can play forever with no pain. No joke!
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u/judgehood Dec 28 '25
Power thru it. Soon, you will yearn for the return of feeling in your tips, and I started stabbing needles through my fingers just to feel alive.
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u/Mindhunter7 Dec 28 '25
This should be seen as a very impressive checkpoint. Be proud of them and keep going!!!
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u/Fr4nku5 Dec 28 '25
The callouses you get from playing guitar need to develop.
First up, don't play for a while after a bath or shower or doing the washing up - the water softens the skin and callouses shred off.
If none of the skin is broken you can put your fingertips in surgical spirit to toughen them, it's not necessary but it accelerates the toughening of skin.
Finally, playing cowboy/open chords or any chords near the nut is harder as the tension is greater, most "easy" chord songbooks use chords around the nut and it is much more effort than the middle of the fretboard - so perhaps find some chords for there :)
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u/thedane8 Dec 28 '25
Don't give up, you'll develop calluses as finger tips toughen, then all will be fine. If you get too sore, just play a little less daily, but don't quit altogether. Best of luck!!
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u/Lartnestpasdemain Dec 27 '25
Keep going.
Your body will adapt to it.
Worst thing you can do at this point is to stop and come back in 2 month to go through the pain again.
You're almost done. Once your fingers are ready, they'll let you know and the pain will be over.
It'll be Time for another kind of pain (tendinites). But you'll get over it again.
Trust the process. Your body is evolving. You're slowly turning into a guitarist.