Originally Posted by: tdavis13

Sounds like a Lee Oskar tune, and I really don't have blisters (yet). But I'm brand new at guitar and am wondering if anyone can advise me on how long it takes for the callouses to build to the point where I can practice scales and chords for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time? And what about fat fingers? Really hard, right now, fretting a string without impinging on its neighbors. Any suggestions? Determined to continue...

There's a good, recent thread here about asimilar subject. At least as far as fretting etc.

There isn't a single answer for the blisters question but consider that blister, in this context is due to rubbing or friction. For instance, when I was away from playing for a bit and my callouses thnned out, the only blister I get is my ring finger and that's specifically (for me) due to bending and that my ring finger is my most used bending finger. Therefor, the string was creating friction during the bend on my finger tip. All my other fingers generally end up fine.

So, the moral of the story is, doing practices like Lisa McCormick's spider legs help buld callouses without creating an enormous amount of friction.

What you will experience is tender tips. Not callouses per se, but that your tips will feel tender from pressing strings. Key here is to not overdo it. If the tip starts feeling ouchy. Rest. It may only be for a little bit or to the next day.