How to stop your fingers from bleeding when playing guitar?

Question

Whenever I hold down the first string down for too long, my finger bleeds. This happens especially when i play wonderwall :P Is there any solution? Cos I notice some other guitar players get calluses and im not really keen on that idea.

Answer 1

Guitar players will usually have very hard fingers or finger tips. If your hands are not accustomed to handling the strings, you may find that blisters and even bleeding are common

A little blistering is normal at first. The sooner your hands and fingers become accustomed to the guitar and the guitar strings, the better off you will be

However, you will not be able to play at all if your fingers are too sore to play the guitar any at all. When you feel your fingers beginning to get sore, stop and soak them in ice water. An emery board like those used for fingernails will soon become your best friend as well. Gently rub the end of your fingers with the emery board after you have soaked your newfound guitar fingers in the ice water.

The key is to do this gently so as not to aggravate the blistering that occurs when learning to play. It will remove any of the dead skin and prevent swelling which will prevent you from playing your guitar. Allow your fingers to rest before you go back to playing and in this way, you should be able to play better, faster and sooner.

Answer 2

use a pick

Answer 3

use a pick chick...

that rhymed haha

Answer 4

Wear band aids or just grin and bare it, eventually the skin toughens up on the top of the fingers and wont mdo thin anymore x

Answer 5

You aren't keen on calluses? Then you might as well put down the guitar and pick up guitar hero.

Answer 6

Keep on playing (not all on the same day.= The longer you play the guitar, the harder the skin on the end of your fingers develop, i know it sounds nasty, but soon you will be able to play for hours and hours without pain

Answer 7

i am sorry but you just have to get used to it like i did

Answer 8

put band-aids on your fingers before you play?

sounds like a plan.

Answer 9

Use super glue on the finger tips.  You will get calluses no matter what you do.

Answer update:

Since posting my reply and subsequently reading the other replies to your question, I will save you some trouble by telling you to forget the band aid advice- it will not work all that well.

You may have to lay off the guitar for a few days.

What are you playing and how much are you playing to cause the finger bleeding?  I play a lot, and have never had a bloody finger.  Stevie Ray Vaughn was know to have once put super glue on his fingers.  Are you at his level?

Answer 10

The most sucessful and widley used solution to the problem is by dabbing and spreading a tiny bit of superglue on your finger tips. Its makes them hard and resistant to cuts from strings. After playng, just pick the glue off!

Answer 11

You'll just have to wait until you get calluses then it will just get hard and it will be much easier..

trust me..

and if you ever quit playing guitar they will eventually go away.

good luck sweetie