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Softening hard callouses

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Home Forums How To Play Softening hard callouses

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  • #144376

    Hi!
    Have any of you had hard, smooth, almost leathery callouses? How do you soften then enough to play?

    I’m a harp performance major and practice about 4 hours each day. Over the past year, I developed these callouses, primarily on my RH thumb, but the other fingers to a lesser degree. I struggle to control my tone quality and volume because there’s no way of having good contact with the strings. I’ve tried filing but to no avail.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks!

    #144377
    Gretchen Cover
    Participant

    Try using Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme. It is available in drugstores and some grocery stores like Whole Foods or Fresh Market. http://www.burtsbees.com

    #144383
    Tacye
    Participant

    What are you filing them with? Most callus care things are marketed for feet, as that is where most people get calluses. Have you had a look at the foot care section of a chemists?

    When I need to file mine I use a pumice-like thing called a chiropody sponge which came with instructions (use on skin softened with warm water and lots of soap as lubricant) that work – be careful not to over do it as that can make playing hurt!

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