Topmusicanswers
Players should listen to their body to avoid injury and rest. Callouses are as necessary as coughs. It's better to not get sick and you can clear your throat in less damaging ways, but sometimes we all breathe a little water. You'll never get rid of all callouses and it's probably not helpful to ask somebody to try.
Are calluses necessary to play guitar?
Yes, calluses help you play guitar better. Not only do they help make guitar playing easier and less painful, but they also assist in improving the tone of your instrument.
Can you avoid calluses when playing guitar?
You can minimize callus buildup, but not avoid it, by using lighter gauge strings. This will also affect tone. Detuning the guitar will also help some (and also affect tone). However, the mechanics of fretting a tensioned wire pretty much guarantees some degree of callus build-up.
