One of the most common complaints of beginning guitarists is finger pain. It’s usually one of the first things they notice before they start making music. The feeling of placing steel strings directly on your skin can be unpleasant, to the point where it might make you want to end your practice early. Don’t worry, this is normal. Your fingers aren’t used to this new pressure, so your body will adapt and form caluses. Rather than trying to power through a long practice session, the best thing you can do is allow your fingers time to adjust with short periods of practice.
For example, practice changing between two chords slowly. Start with a chord that only requires two or three fingers, like Em or Am. Place your fingers directly behind the fret, not in the middle of the fret. This will greatly reduce the amount of pressure you need to apply to the strings in order to get a clear sound. Strum the chord slowly and pay attention to each individual note. If you notice that one string sounds dead, instead of applying more pressure, try lifting your finger and adjusting your placement. Most people think that the solution to every problem is to apply more pressure. The reality is that most of the time, the solution is simply a matter of placement.
One of the biggest mistakes that I see beginning guitarists make is that they will squeeze the neck of the guitar thinking that if they apply more pressure, they will eliminate the buzzing sound. What they end up doing is applying so much pressure that their hands become sore and tense. A better strategy would be to see how little pressure you need to apply to the strings. Form a chord, strum it, and then release your fingers until you start to hear a dead sound. Then apply a little more pressure. This exercise will help you figure out the minimal amount of pressure you need to apply to the strings to get a clear sound. This will save you a lot of energy and discomfort in the long run.
The best way to allow your fingers time to adjust is to practice for short periods of time. For instance, you could practice individual notes on the guitar for five minutes and focus on getting a clear sound. Then you could practice slowly changing between two chords for five minutes, focusing on keeping your hands relaxed. If your fingers start to hurt, stop for a minute and rest. Then come back to the guitar and continue practicing gently. This will give your fingers the time they need to recover while still getting you comfortable with your instrument.
If you practice like this for several days, you will notice that your fingers will start to get calluses and the pain will subside. Eventually, the pain will become a non-issue for you, and you will be able to focus on other things like rhythm, tone, and navigation of the fretboard. So the pain you feel in your fingers is just your body adjusting to the new demands you are placing on it. With regular practice, you will get over the hump in no time.