Blisters and finger playing

[Dan B]

Is there any way to prevent blisters while finger plucking? I got a nasty one on my middle finger last night while playing and it accidentally popped. Stings when I even use a pick (pressure on the blister).

Or is this one of the things where I should just live through it?

[Sketchy]

It happens. It happens less if you play more (callouses and all that).

I did briefly attempt to learn to play with a pick as a result of this, but I just got used to playing with fingers, mainly because I keep forgetting where my picks are.

[Skitch it!]

Tbh, I'd give it rest and let some skin reform first, callouses form gradually over time. I've had to play through gigs with burst blisters, I don't recommend it

[deepdown]

Keep on playing, endure the pain, but just "don't pamper it" you will want to develop calluses. I played thru a 4 hour set of "Romanticas" in a Latin band, back in the 70's, and the last two sets were a struggle to get thru, with 2 busted blisters! But that same night, after I got home, I kept on plucking while winding down at home.

[deepdown]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Tbh, I'd give it rest and let some skin reform first, callouses form gradually over time. I've had to play through gigs with burst blisters, I don't recommend it

I agree to a point. In my previously stated situation, I had no choice or time; I subbed for a band whose bassist had passed on (:/), and I jumped from a casual every 2 or 3 days to a mini-tour van, 3 months, 2 gigs a day, 3 and 4 hour gigs. I was bleeding on my Cherry Gibson EB-0 by the middle of the 1st week! Ah, the memories

[klejst]

As others have already said the more you play the more your fingers build up a tolerance (callous) and the skin becomes stronger to where it does not rip, tear or blister.

[Nightsun]

Originally Posted by klejst

As others have already said the more you play the more your fingers build up a tolerance (callous) and the skin becomes stronger to where it does not rip, tear or blister.

+1

Also I found a little super glue on the tips stopped me from blistering in the first place. Very handy on long weekend gigs.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by deepdown

I agree to a point. In my previously stated situation, I had no choice or time; I subbed for a band whose bassist had passed on (:/), and I jumped from a casual every 2 or 3 days to a mini-tour van, 3 months, 2 gigs a day, 3 and 4 hour gigs. I was bleeding on my Cherry Gibson EB-0 by the middle of the 1st week! Ah, the memories

Yep, it's doable for sure, I've played a few right through without resorting to the pick, but some of those blisters were around a centimeter in diameter when they burst, lot's of plasma on the s/plate and lots of raw skin. Sometimes I've just had to switch to the pick, the nerve endings got the better of me, stings a bit

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Tbh, I'd give it rest and let some skin reform first

+1 to this. Playing with a burst blister leaves you open to picking up an infection, in which case you will have no option but to stop, and for a longer time.

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by deepdown

Keep on playing, endure the pain, but just "don't pamper it" you will want to develop calluses. I played thru a 4 hour set of "Romanticas" in a Latin band, back in the 70's, and the last two sets were a struggle to get thru, with 2 busted blisters! But that same night, after I got home, I kept on plucking while winding down at home.

Yep. And one way to avoid the pain (and help build callouses) is to pop them before they pop on their own and let the skin readhere. What I often do is tear a small hole in the top/bottom/side - where ever you'll have the least amount of impact from playing - let it drain, then apply pressure. If you can keep playing, do so. If not, just applying constant pressure by pressing your fingers together will get the job done. Tearing a hole in it will prevent the blister from sealing and filling back up.

EDIT: I've done this dozens of times over the years and have yet to develop any sort of infection, but definitely make sure your hands are clean before you attempt it.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Waffles and Scotch

Yep. And one way to avoid the pain (and help build callouses) is to pop them before they pop on their own and let the skin readhere. What I often do is tear a small hole in the top/bottom/side - where ever you'll have the least amount of impact from playing - let it drain, then apply pressure. If you can keep playing, do so. If not, just applying constant pressure by pressing your fingers together will get the job done. Tearing a hole in it will prevent the blister from sealing and filling back up.

EDIT: I've done this dozens of times over the years and have yet to develop any sort of infection, but definitely make sure your hands are clean before you attempt it.

Granted, everyone has their own way of dealing with blisters. IMO it is better not to burst it, as the fluid in it, is nature's own disinfectant. I dont think it will heal any faster by bursting it.

[punkinfantry]

Originally Posted by deepdown

I agree to a point. In my previously stated situation, I had no choice or time; I subbed for a band whose bassist had passed on (:/), and I jumped from a casual every 2 or 3 days to a mini-tour van, 3 months, 2 gigs a day, 3 and 4 hour gigs. I was bleeding on my Cherry Gibson EB-0 by the middle of the 1st week! Ah, the memories

[Queg]

To prevent blisters after not playing for a while, I prep a little baggie of cotton balls moistened with rubbing alcohol. I soak my fingers in it before playing, between songs, and after the set or rehearsal. The alcohol dries up and hardens the layers of skin so a blister is less likely to develop. Keep your fingers dry - moisture (sweat) is your enemy. I've even used baby powder, to the annoyance of bandmates.

[davidgoldman]

Have you checked your bass set up, a well set up bass should not be causing this problem unless you have really soft fingers. I would take the bass to a pro and have the set up checked.

[RDUB]

Technique is a big part of this, too. How hard are you digging into the strings? I play a lot, and I haven't had blisters for a long, long time. My touch has gotten a heck of a lot lighter with both hands. I find I can play much cleaner and faster that way.

The only time I start feeling some pain in my fingertips is when I'm trying to compete for volume - much better to just turn up the master a bit!

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by RDUB

Technique is a big part of this, too. How hard are you digging into the strings? I play a lot, and I haven't had blisters for a long, long time. My touch has gotten a heck of a lot lighter with both hands. I find I can play much cleaner and faster that way.

The only time I start feeling some pain in my fingertips is when I'm trying to compete for volume - much better to just turn up the master a bit!

+1 This is a great point.

The majority of my blister problems came from trying to get bass presence against a hard hitting drummer, present guitars etc. With a set-up that should have been larger, inadequate for the size of the venue which realistically should have had an in-house P.A. Usually happened with initial gigs in new venues namely larger pubs etc. From then on it was 2 x 410s, 800 watts and a lighter touch for that place.

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by fearceol

Granted, everyone has their own way of dealing with blisters. IMO it is better not to burst it, as the fluid in it, is nature's own disinfectant. I dont think it will heal any faster by bursting it.

The problem with the fluid is it keeps things moist and sensitive. By getting the skin to readhere it creates a solid callouse within a day or so if done correctly. Sometimes less than that if you can keep playing. It's worked well for me over the years...YMMV.

[Dan B]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

The bass does need a set-up though I've played it fingerstyle loads of times at its current state and I have not gotten any blisters until now. I doubt strings would have anything to do with it and really I think it's all down to how I play.

I do dig in somewhat hard; I usually pluck the bottom "side" of the string and then pulling up (like a hook) while playing though I figured that's how everyone else plays.

I guess I'll leave it alone for now and I'll try to use my pick (I do use pick most of the time but for some songs I'd rather use fingers), though as I said, it does sting when I use a pick; most likely from the pressure I am applying.

[FretlessMainly]

Originally Posted by Dan B

I do dig in somewhat hard; I usually pluck the bottom "side" of the string and then pulling up (like a hook) while playing though I figured that's how everyone else plays.

I strive to pluck the string across the face of the bass, not upwards, which tends to produce both clack (more of a fretless issue) and clank (more of a fretted issue). Sometimes clank is good; clack is almost always bad.

I've had my share of blisters over 31+ years of playing fingerstyle, and I've found that draining the fluid; icing and allowing the fresh pink skin underneath about 3 days to develop will then allow you to slowly start in on the fingerstyle again. You can develop a nice callous from that fresh skin - I've done it a dozen times or so.

The longest I've been able to keep callouses is about 3 years, and I blew them up in an afternoon using my Warwick FL with rounds on it. So, strings can make a difference.

[rtslinger]

I have been playing a long time (40+) and it is all about technique try a little softer touch you are digging in too hard. Not only isn't it good for your finger tips but your finger joints will suffer as well. I know when the excitement of rocking the house hits you want to dig in and really knock'em dead but, when it hits relax and play with a softer touch you will still have the amp tearing down the place up and your fingers won't suffer unnecessarily