Blister!

[middy]

I've been practicing the bass for 2 days now, about 2-3 hours each day. The first day I had no amp, so I guess I overplayed trying to hear the notes and I developed a blister on the middle finger of my right (plucking) hand.

It hurts to play now...

Now that I have amplification I'm developing a light touch and letting my plucking fingers flex, but it still hurts.

Should I stop playing for a day or two until the blister heals, try to pop it to relieve the pressure, or just play through the pain?

[WillPlay4Food]

You could pop it, then put a light coating of super glue over it to coat the skin and act as a barrier to the sensitive skin underneath the dead surface layer of skin.

[morf]

When that happens I just play till the blister hardens or pops. Pain goes away on its own.

[IAmTheDood]

stick a pin in the blister to drain it ... it doesn't hurt that way .. do not rip the skin but keep it there .. it will heal faster .. then use a little superglue to protect it ..

welcome to the world of bass! .. blisters will come!

[user101]

congratulations! you are now officially a bassist

But try your best to alternate between playing hard and soft. Both have very different tonal characteristics that you can't get by turning the volume up and down.

As for the blister, i would let it heal for 2 days without popping it. Then after it doesn't hurt anymore use a very thin needle to poke a hole to let the water (or whatever fluid it is) drain out. Wait another day and after that you can use it normally again. Or as already said super glue always work if you're going for a fast solution

[the_fonz]

i never got a blister until i started popping 16th notes
i didn't think i'd ever get one
cus i'm from a long line of thick skinned peoples

[moogboy]

welcome, my son, to the world of bass, you are now a TRUE bassist, and you must overcome these obstacles.
seriously though, when i get a blister, i just play with a pick until the blister goes away. i usually get blisters when i am playing lots of notes that are on the same string and i need to play the notes fast. i use a tap-like technique when i do that, so that is probly where the blisters come from.

[PrimusNut]

Pop it with a pin, drain it without breaking the skin, let it dry for a while, and then go back to playing. Letting it heal on its own takes too long (quite annoying unless you really want to work on your pick technique).

[Audiophage]

Don't pop it, the blister is forming to protect your new layer of skin to form until it is ready to be exposed. Just wait on it and develop your pick technique.

[Plinkerton]

Pop it!

And drink what comes out.

It gives you extra mojo...

[middy]

I already have pick technique after 20 years of guitar-playing. I wanna work on my plucking, it's so much fun!

Thanks for all the advice. It stopped hurting much and now I have a nice thick piece of skin there.

Had an awesome practice session tonight, working on floating thumb and alternate plucking... I love the bass! It's so easy to groove and just zone out for hours practicing arpeggios...

A simple V7 II- jam can keep me entertained for hours!

I'm so glad I came to the dark side.