Your fingertips will hurt at first. The best way around this is to keep playing. No really, play every day for at least 20 minutes. Eventually, you will build calluses on your finger. Usually within a week or two. I’ve been playing for 40 years, and if I stop for a few days or a week, it starts to hurt again. But if I play regularly, no problem at all.

Now that being said if you have wrist, muscle or joint pain, that is a different story. You may need to check your technique.

If your first guitar is nylon string, this will be easier and less painful. If you use an electric or acoustic, try using lighter gauge strings.

If your action on your guitar is too high. High action means there is a larger space between the strings and the fretboard. You may need to have it adjusted so the strings are closer to the fretboard.

It may also be your playing style. Are you pressing too hard? Maybe you are not putting your fingers in the correct spot between the frets. You can do a little test by placing your finger on the C note on the A string (3rd fret). Where is the sweet spot? Find the spot where the note rings out clearly, but you only have to apply a small amount of pressure.

If you are doing a lot of string bending, this will also cause the fingertips to hurt more, as it requires more pressure. Doing bar chords will help as well, less fingertips and more fleshy part of the fingers.

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