Cold weather fingers

blackshift · #1 10-24-2010, 03:21 PM

So, the weather has started to dip in the northeast and for the first time I'm noticing my cold fingers at times. Before the weather starts to dip, I just want to know, how does the winter affect finger performance? Does it? I just want to know now, because I am not a fan of gloves in the winter.

Skitch it! · #2 10-24-2010, 03:34 PM

I'd get used to the gloves ; ) It will affect the joint's, you don't play as easily with cold fingers, this I know from soundchecks at big old drafty clubs : )

pandaman37 · #3 10-24-2010, 04:57 PM

i suppose if you warm them up properly it wouldnt be tooo big of a problem... once you get in the zone and all that blood is pumpin through your fingers haha

Axtman · #4 10-24-2010, 05:29 PM

I have seen guys play in weight lifting / bicycle type gloves that have only fingertips exposed.

Art Araya · #5 10-24-2010, 05:39 PM

keep your hands warm before the gig by using mitten type gloves. then when you take the gloves off get the blood circulating by shaking your hands and stretch your fingers out and play some slow stuff on the bass.

basically, treat your body like the competitive runners you see on TV. keep yourself warm, stretch, and do some light running before the race.

gregmerrill · #6 10-24-2010, 05:49 PM

It will suck period. Really messes my performance up. Just suck it up and think of better and warmer days ahead. Kind of like playing in a highschool gym, it will suck no matter how you eq your bass.

IconBasser · #7 10-24-2010, 07:11 PM

I've got chronically cold fingers. Bad circulation I guess. Even in 90 degree weather, they'll be freezing.

I usually bring a portable propane heater to gigs and practices and point it right at my hands. Usually does the trick.

kai_ski · #8 10-24-2010, 07:21 PM

I had an outdoor gig last night and I would say is was in the mid-high 40's. Right at the beginning of a song the strings would feel really cold, but I did alright as long as I kept my fingers moving. I did notice that it took extra concentration to control ghost notes and rake across the strings. It was like my nerves took longer to register the 'touch' of the strings, and my joints were definitely lethargic until they warmed up mid-tune. Slapping didn't hurt, but popping wasn't pleasant. I think I'm going to look for some lightweight knit gloves and just snip the very ends off of them so they're not bulky, but just enough to keep the blood circulating so that my joints stay warm and I keep the feeling in the tips of my fingers.

From years of skiing and cold weather camping I can tell you that the most important parts of your body to keep warm are your head and your core. If you wear a warm coat and hat, your blood will keep your extremities warm. All you really need is something lightweight to keep the top layer of skin protected from the wind. When i ski I just wear a raw-hide glove, no insulation, because my core is warm. That way I maintain dexterity.

JimmyKickButt · #9 10-24-2010, 07:25 PM

playing with cold fingers puts hair on your chest

soundgardenis · #10 10-24-2010, 07:33 PM

Yea bro I lived in cold ass weather. I had to walk to work for like 4 months in the snow. Sometimes I would walk to the store in like negative 5 degree weather.

Get a good set of gloves. When you get in from the cold blow on your hands and warm em up. If you play guitar your performance is going to be slow.

Axtman · #11 10-24-2010, 08:17 PM

Get an SVT and warm your hands over the tubes!

champbassist · #12 10-25-2010, 01:01 AM

On a (somewhat) related note, I want to ask if any of you think that warm ups aren't necessary when it's hot (as in my neck o' th' woods: throughout the year)? Heard a sportsperson mention this point as a positive of playing in India, in that you don't need to warm up. Any truth in that?

ahbassman · #13 10-25-2010, 01:04 AM

Use a pick.

**BullHorn** · #14 10-25-2010, 01:08 AM

Move to a better country!

I'm sitting here in my underpants with the AC on. Up untill last week temperatures were around the 40 degree celsius.

I guess that's not making this a 'better country'. :|

taphappy · #15 10-25-2010, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champbassist

Heard a sportsperson mention this point as a positive of playing in India, in that you don't need to warm up. Any truth in that?

No.

:)

You can get away with more without warming up, which makes it easy to ignore/forget. But you have to take care of your hands and wrists, or they will eventually and absolutely get revenge.

Never figured out any good tricks for cold weather playing, other than the ski bits. Hat + hoodie (ears are my downfall), super warm socks, and warm gloves, then would do the fingerless wool gloves when I was playing. Not ideal, but it helped get me through the set. Tea, cocoa, whatever I could warm my hands on. There's gotta be something slick and sneaky out there, haven't researched recently.

champbassist · #16 10-25-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taphappy

No.

You can get away with more without warming up, which makes it easy to ignore/forget. But you have to take care of your hands and wrists, or they will eventually and absolutely get revenge.

Thanks for the advice. With an average July high of 104F, your location tells me you'd know about warm weather

RestInPieces · #17 10-25-2010, 06:47 AM

Good advice from a man who lives near the Arctic Circle, warm up well and get your blood flowing. I've found out that the best way to really get the blood flowing in your fingers is to turn your bathroom tap to max heat and let your hands soak there for a while (and yes, I know it hurts like hell, but you gotta suffer for your art). Shaking your hands like a maniac usually works too. I also suggest good gloves, but IMO, if it's under -10 degrees celsius, your hands are going to freeze no matter what you do, gloves or no gloves.

I've experienced days when it REALLY hurts to breathe through the mouth (-40 degrees celsius). And when you got inside your hands were basically stuck in one position. You can imagine the difficulties I faced when I picked up my bass

taphappy · #18 10-25-2010, 09:55 AM

Nononono, no way. Been in -40. You're just outta options at that point other than showing up an extra hour and a half early to the gig. With a bathtub, a snorkel, and a hot water heater. And some flaming whale blubber based sweet tea for your vocal chords.

Oh oh, and good gloves = mittens. Way warmer with your digits bein' all huggy on one another. And your fingerless will go on under 'em. Layers (base, insulating, outer). Pretty much, dress like a twit. And that shaking thing is priceless.

Though I may just be looking for company on the twit thing.

Maybe.

Subsist · #19 10-25-2010, 11:22 AM

Here in San Diego, cold to me is tolerable to almost anyone else around the country.

Infact we started calling this instance of finger suckiness "stupid fingers" based off an older Futurama episode. I'll +1 the glove. They keep your hands toasty and you spend less time worrying about if your hand/arm will cramp horrible while trying to nail that bass intro

anonymous02282011 · #20 10-25-2010, 11:26 AM

Gloves in a Bottle

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp187313/g...tm?brand=54254

You can buy it any local drug store.