Tincture of benzoin works great to toughen up your fingers and protect them if they are sore. It is a bit sticky before it dries, so be prepared to wait a few minutes. Also turns your fingers orange, but it’s worth it.
I use StudioApplite and a mini mic on my iPod Touch. It is a multitrack recorder so you could record yourself on one track and play back for duets as well. I’m just a guitar player, but record with a harpist. I can also recommend getting a Zoom H2 recorder if you want a better sound.