Blistered Plucking Finger/Help - Page 2

Cathead · #21 08-27-2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstclairmiller

Nice tip, Leo. However, I always say that if you get blisters, you are playing too hard, and it is a question of modifying your technique to get volume without effort. I always play using the index and middle fingers at the same time - I find it takes less effort and gives a fuller sound than one finger only.

Also, if I need to be louder in a jam, firstly it is probably an illusion and anyone standing 10 feet away from the bass will hear it loud and clear. Secondly, if you really want to hear yourself loud and clear over all those flailing banjos, practice a very light slap. Not a full-on psychobilly slap, just a very light slap to give your note an edge and more presence. It should take less effort than plucking hard. Works for me, anyway.

Oh, and of course, if things are getting out of hand, walk away and find a jam that is more musical and not the loudest and fastest! The bass player has the power, remember!

I use that same technique. I have just as much meat or more on the string as someone using the side of their index finger. When I pay attention I notice that I am plucking with the tips of 3 fingers at once.

Jim Henderson · #22 09-02-2008, 07:53 PM

Sounds like a blister under a callouse. Go a little easier, use two fingers and sit out for a couple of tunes on those three and four hour endurance sessions. Then to the super glue, skin substitutes, etc.
Man, take better care of them fingers homie Bro!
Jim

damonsmith · #23 09-03-2008, 02:23 PM

I just got one myself, I was at a party and ended up playing for three hours straight on a plywood school bass with no bow. I just didn't have the endurance for so much pizz, it was fun, though. The other players were all older Oakland jazz legends. I drained it today, I don't have to play until Sat.

Paul Warburton · #24 10-22-2008, 06:55 AM

Opioids. The more, the better.

Jake deVilliers · #25 10-22-2008, 10:51 AM

Bad PDub, bad!

MT Spaces · #26 10-22-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Opioids. The more, the better.

I tried that ..... rubbed some right on my fingertips and then "more, the better" all over my hands. Nuthin' much happened ..... What am I doin' wrong P-Dub

??

Paul Warburton · #27 10-22-2008, 11:44 AM

You DUMMY!? RECTALLY.

MT Spaces · #28 10-22-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

You DUMMY!? RECTALLY.

Ahhhhhh .... OK Paul ...... Now at least my Prep-H bills will go down. But I thought we were talking about blisters on our fingertips ..... not on our sphinx

. Brings a whole new meaning to when I was at a late-nite bluegrass jam after too-many frosty ones at a festival two years ago when I first took up bass and a guy said to me ... "Hey Pal, git your dead-ass outta our jam ..... your timing sucks."

bobsax · #29 10-13-2011, 03:05 PM

ALERT z0mBie thread from 08

This is such a great thread I just had to resurrect it

I've been practicing mostly scale stuff that usually ends up making my left hand and arm so sore that I have to lay off, sometimes for a few days or more. I don't want the dreaded tendenitus carpal tunnel thing to happen.
.......so my bluegrass 1 to 5 calluses have mostly gone away.

I've been practicing hard today for an audition tomorrow and now I feel a blister coming on.

A lot of the discussion in this thread is about what to do once
the blister happens. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do besides not playing to stop the blister from coming on?

I have a bottle of New-Skin. One of the posts said it came right off after playing and another guy said put several layers on letting it dry in between applications but then he went on to add creams and tape etc, it was very elaborate.

Has anybody had any luck with just New-Skin?
I'll try it and report back

canadian_man_44 · #30 10-13-2011, 03:18 PM

I accidentally burnt the end of a couple of my fingers on the stove one time. Hurt like heck for a couple hours....but it hardened nicely and works great on the strings. I don't recommend this method of hardening the fingers, but it does work.

mythmaker99 · #31 10-17-2011, 10:09 AM

I read all the posts and some of the advice I'll try the next time I'm playing a long session after not having played in awhile.
Along with playing with both fingers and the crazy glue and tape that have been mentioned, I also carry a right handed billiard gove. Covers the thumb and two fore fingers. Works great and saves the fingers. One glove is like $10 dollars and it lasted me for hours and hours of playing. Right now my figners are tough enough that I just carry everything in case its really humid which wears the fingers down fast, or its a REALLY long jam session.

Fogducker · #32 10-20-2011, 12:49 PM

I get some Dr. Scholl's tough skin, the thinner stuff, and cut some pieces about 3/4 x 1 1/2
I put some of them up in the peg box too.

Fog

dukeisdog · #33 10-20-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstclairmiller

Nice tip, Leo. However, I always say that if you get blisters, you are playing too hard, and it is a question of modifying your technique to get volume without effort. I always play using the index and middle fingers at the same time - I find it takes less effort and gives a fuller sound than one finger only.

I personally prefer the tone of my Spector when I really dig in, but my fingers have gotten used to it, so no more blisters for me.

randy_the_hack · #34 11-21-2011, 09:28 AM

Yeah - great thread. I've been playing ~5-7 hours a week for more than a year now... and thought I had some pretty decent callouses on my index and middle finger (pick fingers, not fretboard fingers). Played a long weekend on my 5-string - 8 sets - and OMG my middle finger is completely blistered and my index finger has one I didn't see last night. Drained the middle finger last night and it feels better, but the index one is pretty deep and I'm gonna pass on draining it. Before draining the middle one, I could hardly type.

I did this the last time I had a long weekend with several sets - you'd think I'd learn.

Guess I'm gonna try some Nu-Skin and/or super glue. I have today and tomorrow during the day off... but tomorrow night I have Christmas rehearsal, so I'll be back in the saddle. Hope the stuff sticks...

I think my biggest problem is when the crowd starts getting into it and I'm plucking away, I can't hear myself as well, so I start thinking I need to step it up to be heard. I guess I need to learn to reach over and bump up the volume on the amp; my concern is the sound board guys will turn me down in the house... which will cause me to not be able to hear myself again. Wash, rinse, repeat. I try not to do that... but without inner ear monitors (usually play with 'em, but not this weekend), it's hard to resist the urge...