Finger Irritation

JoeBassGuy17 · #1 07-06-2006, 11:09 PM

after playing fingerstyle on my 4 string, I've noticed irritation on my ring finger and pinkie, and I was wondering if anyone has had the same problem, and how they would fix it. I play with just my index and middle fingers, I'm just curious how I should go about fixing it.

dlloyd · #2 07-07-2006, 03:06 AM

Could be nickel allergy. In which case you'd want to switch to a string that doesn't contain nickel, such as rotosound stainless steel strings (which are made with a higher grade stainless steel than most companies' stainless strings).

Is this on the right (plucking) hand ring finger and pinky?

JoeBassGuy17 · #3 07-07-2006, 04:34 PM

yes, I Guess I'll have to change strings then

JoeBassGuy17 · #4 07-11-2006, 03:47 AM

thanks for the advice, but I realized I thought I had nickel strings, but it turns out they are steel, so I still have no idea why my fingers are irritated, any other advice would help!

lemur821 · #5 07-11-2006, 03:55 AM

Well, if you've only got it on your non plucking fingers, then I guess your only option is to start plucking with those too. Logically speaking.

You might try some lotion until you think of a better solution. Worth a shot.

guy n. cognito · #6 07-11-2006, 07:09 AM

So you play right-handed, and the irritation is on the ring and pinkie finger on your right hand? If so, where do you put those fingers when you play? How long have you been playing?

dlloyd · #7 07-11-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeBassGuy17

thanks for the advice, but I realized I thought I had nickel strings, but it turns out they are steel, so I still have no idea why my fingers are irritated, any other advice would help!

Most stainless steel strings do in fact have some nickel in them, which is why I specified the rotosounds (which don't).

However, you'd really expect it to affect the fingers that are most in contact with the strings...

HotTubesGrooves · #8 07-12-2006, 07:12 AM

I have nickel allergy, and its a bitch. I can attest to the Rotosound swing bass strings being nickel free, but I still have problems as the frets in most basses (like mine) contain nickel, which is released when you play (sweat and string action on the frets does this). When I was playing fretless the problem pretty much cleared up - shame fretless wasnt my bag really!

Its something I've had to learn to live with, as there is no cure, but using E45 cream can help, and if it gets really bad you can get steriod creams like Betnovate from your doctor.

*Edit

Just realised its your plucking hand... do you rest it on any chrome parts of the bass like the bridge? Chrome contains nickel too. If not then maybe you just need to build up some callouses.

unatratnag · #9 07-13-2006, 11:34 PM

blood flow to ring and pinky could be from ulnar irritation. you might be experiencing a form of RSI and is not a matter to be taken lightly.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_r...pcategory=Hand

are those fingers/part of your hand tense when playing? Try relaxing and taking more breaks. do not hesitate to contact a hand orthopod.

PrimusNut · #10 07-13-2006, 11:59 PM

i have been reading this and seeing all the responses, but what exactly do you mean by irritation? i dont think you can get an accurate response without an explanation or a pic.

Alec W. Conway · #11 07-15-2006, 09:49 PM

ELIXIR STRINGS

Those are totally coated in a very thin layer of some plastic alloy. Your finger will never touch any metal part AND those strings last AGES.

The concept is that, what gives a round-wound string its "new-and-shiny" tone is the small gaps between each wound. After a while they fill up with all kinds of crap form your fingers, dead skin, salt for your sweat, etc. The plastic coating protects the gaps, so your "new string" tone lasts WAY longer. I've had my elixir strings on my 5 string for 6 months now, they still sound shiny new. And my bass teacher has had elixirs on his 6 string for 2 years - yep, also still sounding shiny new.

Dice! · #12 07-16-2006, 06:52 AM

I also had irritation in my fingers when I used nickel wounded strings, changed to steel now but I still get it if I play long time.
And what comes to those round-wound string, you can always boil them for a while so they sound almost like new again, but I think you can do this only once. I haven't tryed those Elixir strings but I think I will soon as I like to play like 4hours straight and after that my fingers are killing me..

JoeBassGuy17 · #13 07-16-2006, 12:26 PM

to clarify about the irritation, it's only on my ring and pinkie fingers on my right hand, which I use for plucking, and runs all the way down my ring finger on the left side, red and cracked skin.