Newbie question

[Noteplayer]

I have finger callous' from playing the banjo but when I started to play the mando, my fingers ache badly. #With constant practice, will my fingers build up a toughness to accomodate playing the mando?

Thanks.

Bob

[Andrew Lewis]

I just started playing that other instrument , but, from what I've seen so far, it takes less pressure to fret the slinkier strings on a banjo to get a clean note, so you may just be getting used to the extra pressure needed to fret the double strings which are also considerably tighter on the mando. So yes, your callouses will build and you just have to play through it for a while. That said though, you shouldn't be pressing so hard you're white-knuckling the mando either. You'll just need to experiment to find that nice middle ground where you're playing the note cleanly but not putting so much pressure that it causes you to slow your playing and develop poor left hand habits. Good luck, and enjoy this fine instrument...

[Yuletide]

Might consider having a luthier check out the setup on your mandolin, if you haven't already. It doesn't take much extra height at the nut to make a mandolin really painful to play.

[Jim Broyles]

Due to the double courses, the area of skin touching the strings is going to be over three times as wide as it is for a single course. After you play a while your callouses will widen and you should find it easier to fret the mandolin.

[RobinG]

answer is yes! I have played the guitar for ages, did banjer for a couple of years: easy to hold the strings down, then took up mando and yes there were a couple of months of sore fingers. Now I can tap in nails with 'em!
Best
Robin

[Noteplayer]

Robin,
Did you say a couple of months of sore fingers? Ugh!

Bob

[incoserv]

I've played violin for ages, never say callouses on my fingers like I have developed in a couple of months of plucking the mandolin!