The most frequented question

[agarfield2004]

I'm probably guesing that this question gets asked a lot but...

I get so many on my fingers from playing the bass, I'm just starting I guess, but it seems like every time I play this happens. So is there anyway to stop the blisters from happening (strengthen them somehow), or what?

[Tritonis]

I know you don't want to hear this, but you're just going to have to get through it. Grit and bear it for a while, and in the end you'll have some shiny new callouses to help your playing. Unless someone else has a better method...

[Jazzman]

A while back, probably in 1999-ish, Bass Player magazine did an article on blisters. They said hemp oil on your finger tips will help and won't gum up your strings. I tried it and didn't notice any difference. YMMV.

With blisters, make sure you take proper care of them. I was on tour in 2001 and blisters kept "growing" and popping...I kept playing night after night without taking the best care of the wounded fingers. Long story short, I acquired a NASTY infection that snuffed my bass playing for about five months.

Blisters are part of playing... At least in my case, once my callouses get real good and rock hard, a new blister forms under them. It never ends.

[bass phan]

blisters happen

some people switch to pick playing to prevent them, but i would highly reccomend just building a strong callouse and getting used to finger playing

then expirement with the pick

[Just some guy]

My wife is a harpist. You can probably imagine the blisters they deal with. She suggested a coat or two of New Skin liquid bandage over blisters and soon to blister skin to keep it from breaking. It will also allow you time to form calluses underneath without all of the discomfort of playing on a raw, open wound. Smooth shifts too

[Jim Carr]

My advice is:

1) play a lot every day, but in short time segments that increase.
2) turn up your amp at the gig, and play softer (this is hard but worth it).
3) avoid getting your hands wet within 3 hours of the gig (shower early).
4) when playing, become sensitive to how hard it too hard for your fingers.
5) avoid popping blisters that are under calouses.
6) flat wounds/half rounds/ground wounds/tape wounds might help
until you are tough.
7) be patient, but play a lot every day, for longer and longer intervals.

[5stringDNA]

It appears that a few BG players wandered off and got lost...

I've resigned myself to the cycle of blisters and callouses for the most part. Everytime I get a good callouse built up it gets ripped off or destroyed somehow and I end up haveing to start over. I work with my hands (plumbing), so it is an extra difficult situation.

[K2000]

oops, I'm a BG who is lost...

[clink]

Jim Carr is right. Pick up your bass often, but for a few minutes per session.
Alternate your plucking fingers. For example, when doing a walking line, use the index finger for one chorus, then the middle and third for another, and so on. This can provide time for the fingers to cool off.
When I got some nasty blisters early on, I covered them with gel type Super Glue. It would last through the gig and provide some relief. YMMV, and no, I'm not a doctor and I've never played one on TV.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by agarfield2004

I'm probably guesing that this question gets asked a lot but...

I get so many on my fingers from playing the bass, I'm just starting I guess, but it seems like every time I play this happens. So is there anyway to stop the blisters from happening (strengthen them somehow), or what?

Awww, you poor thing!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by bass phan

blisters happen

some people switch to pick playing to prevent them, but i would highly reccomend just building a strong callouse and getting used to finger playing

then expirement with the pick

Yeah, them Double Bass picks come in handy!

[gomez hacienda]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Yeah, them Double Bass picks come in handy!

...but they're so darn big!

[drurb]

When I was in my early teens (decades ago), I had all sorts of problems with blisters from playing. Eventually, after passing through the callous stage, the skin on the tips of my fingers became toughened. It was also the case that I started out playing a poorly set up bass (the strings were way too high) and I routinely played basses (in public school) with steel strings that were not flat wound. Ouch!

After a fair number of years of not playing at all, I returned to the DB. Strangely though, I have had no problems with blisters, etc. Rather, mild callouses seem to form first.

Now, perhaps this is because I simply don't play as long and hard as you guys do. One to two hours a day is normal for me.

So in the spirit of discussion, I have a few questions of my own:

1) agarfield2004, what is your age, how long do you play each day, what is the nature of the setup of your instrument, and what strings are you using?

2) Have any of you in the over-40 crowd noticed a change in your susceptibility to blisters?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Awww, you poor thing!

It probably appears that i'm being pretty tough on you.

I'm 64 and returning to the DB after a 4 year absence.
The blister/callous issue [b]GOES[b]with the territory.
It would be a good thing for you to do a TBDB search using the word callous.
You might check out some of my little experiences, in the time it's taken to 'come back'
Forum heading: Miscellaneous
PW Pain Report.
You are not alone! We all have to go through this.
HANG IN!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by DRURB

1) agarfield2004, what is your age, how long do you play each day, what is the nature of the setup of your instrument, and what strings are you using?
Thomastik Orchestra strings. I play as much as I can; sometimes four hrs. a day, and other days; nothing! Check my bass out in the Talkbass, Version 2, Eye Candy.
I'm 64, playing a 7/8 five string (low B ) Joseph Bohmann DB

2) Have any of you in the over-40 crowd noticed a change in your susceptibility to blisters?

Nope, but because of my age, they seem to hurt more.

[Kam]

Are we talking about left or right hand blisters? Or both? When I started playing double bass in high school I would wrap my blistered fingers in athletic tape during the day, and put newskin/liquid bandage on before I'd play. Then as soon as it healed to the point of the sharp pain going away, I would play for another x amount of time "naked" with no protection, and then get more blisters. It was kind of a vicious cycle, but it gradially toughens your skin up. The main thing is not getting the blistered skin ripped off until the new skin underneath takes it's place, that will just set you back.

[clink]

If there is any way that you can take a day off to let them heal a bit, it will help. I found that the Super Glue trick helped to keep the skin intact. You don't want it to peal, because you'll just have to start over.

[relacey]

Originally Posted by DRURB

2) Have any of you in the over-40 crowd noticed a change in your susceptibility to blisters?

No real change in susceptibility that I've noticed, but I think the other parts of my body kept me from playing so much that I got blisters When I first started with DB I could only play 20-30 minutes at a time before my arms got tired or I got tired of standing. Now I can play 3-4 hours at a stretch with no problem.

Ron

[gomez hacienda]

Don't get blisters...never did. The darn strings are so smooth nowadays.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by gomez hacienda

Don't get blisters...never did. The darn strings are so smooth nowadays.

Well, I don't get 'em now either. So maybe age has nothing to do with it-- at least in my case.