Calouses...

[Psycho]

Well, I normally never get them, like ever, unless I do slides down or up the neck. In a shocking turn of events, I did a **** ton of sliding up the neck while playing tonght. I've got a ever so slightly painful one on the right side of my index finger (palm facing in). Sounds dorky, but do I leave it alone, file it off, keep playing, stop playing?

On a secondary note, should I be getting callouses? As in is it a good sign?

[JimmyM]

when it's new and painful, it's a blister, not a callus. and yes, you should be getting them if you play long enough.

what to do? best is to leave them alone and not do that sliding so much for a few days until it's not painful. that's what i do, anyway.

[Beginner Bass]

Callus is good. Blisters hurt. When they heal, they callus. If you keep practicing, and keep the calluses, they make painful. My elementary teacher put it best when we were doing guitar. "If you're doing it OK, it should hurt a bit. If you're doing it right, it should be agonizing." I wouldn't go as far as to say agonizing, but it can be painful at first. Calluses lessen this pain. Put just be aware that you have to practice regularly to keep them. Something some DB players to to work on these is something called "Vomit exercises." They can probably explain it better than I can.