Cutting skin above nail while bending notes on electric guitar?

Question

When you bend notes on an electric guitar, do you end up with cuts on your fingers where the fingernail meets the finger? I seem to cut my fingers there with the string directly above the one I'm bending. They're minor, no blood really, but it hurts. Any suggestions on what to do?

Answer 1

I sometimes hurt my fingers on my guitar string too (acoustic, not electric). I hate to say that the best thing you can do is probably just practice more and wait for you nails and fingers to grow stronger. However, you might ask a teacher or a friend who plays to show you how to bend notes, in case you're doing it wrong. Good luck!

Answer 2

I do a lot of 1 1/2, and 2 whole step bends (which is a pretty long bend), and my skin doesn't necessarily cut; But every now and than it peels the top part of my skin just a little bit in the same area you're having your problem. It's all a matter of callus. It sounds like you still need to build up your calluses even more.

Some of the hardest bends need calluses like a rock to do, such as a 2 whole step bend. If your nails are long and sharp, that might also be a problem. You need short and dull fingernails to play the guitar at its fullest capability. If you have long nails, or sharp nails, it's not going to be fun to play with (And if your a girl, you're going to have the sacrifice them to play well).

However, if your nails are short and dull, just keep building them up. Within a month you should have some rock hard calluses if practice at least 4 hours a day, or more.

As for the cuts, if they bleed, than you have a problem. But if they are just minor cuts, don't treat them, just let them be.

-Nakayama Akira