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@rah714hotmail-com In the beginning, it is a catch 22. You want to play so badly, and you’re having a blast, and then bam! You slice a finger, or your fingers become so tender that you can’t play. We all build our calluses the same way, and that is by playing; and yes it does hurt in the beginning, but don’t give up. Within a month, you should be on your way. It may still be slightly painful, but even those veteran players can get sore fingers if they play too long. Take it slow. Play 10-15 minutes for a day or two, then increase the time by a few minutes. And just keep at it. Just remember, the pain is temporary, and you will realize in short time that it wasn’t so bad.
They sell some type of finger covers. I think they’re rubber or acrylic. They can be worn occasionally if the fingers are that tender, or if you have a cut. I wouldn’t become too dependent on them. We need to feel the touch of the strings, in my opinion.