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Comment by user3939382 | Hacker News Reader

Maybe someone can give me advice. I have no talent for guitar, I’ve only ever become decent when I practice for more than an hour every day. However due to my acoustic, this creates horrible calluses on my fingers. Is that just the way it is?

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Oh they're not horrible, you need those calluses. I so badly wish I still had mine. It'd make picking back up my guitar so much easier. Now my fingertips are soft and useless.

> when I practice for more than an hour every day

> this creates horrible calluses on my fingers

I think both are good problems to have :-). Consistently practicing for more than an hour every day is quite difficult unless you are professionally into it. If you are able to manage it then that's commendable. And once the calluses are formed, it doesn't hurt as much. A downside of skipping practice for a week, besides the practice itself, is that the calluses go away.

One of the best pieces of advice I got when I started ages ago was to just put electric strings on the acoustic. If you're just practicing in your bedroom it will be much easier to play than on stiff acoustic strings. Give it a shot.

When you're ready to record then you can put acoustic strings on it, heh :-)

Or use nylon strings for concert guitars.

Or just use a nylon string, classical style or "Spanish" guitar for practice, even if you play something else in public. Nylon string guitars are easier on your fretting hand and allow you to practice longer without fatigue.

Would the difference in fretboard width cause any problems? A classical guitar fretboard is typically 52 mm wide, around 20% wider than a typical acoustic guitar or electric guitar fretboard's 43 mm wide fretboard.

Yeah, a classical guitar fretboard is a lot wider. It makes complex chord fingerings easier. I suppose a lot depends on how easily you can switch back and forth between a wide neck and the narrower electric guitar necks. Some people can; others find it hard to adjust.

On acoustic with light or medium strings - it's OK. I used to flatten them with nail file from time to time. But it might be much easier on your finger tips just to start with electric and then progress towards acoustic.

I came here to say something similar to this. The action on most electric guitars (assuming they're set up properly) is a lot more forgiving for beginners than steel-string acoustics which are often set up with higher action in order to improve the volume.

Yes unfortunately, I've grown to be used to it over time though. Sometimes will press my fingers into random objects to make sure I keep them up.

Playing electric guitar also helps immensely due to the thinner strings and lower action.

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