How to fingerpick without figers hurting?

[Guz2]

How is it possible to fingerpick without hurting the tips of your fingers?

[grifff]

Play less aggressively. Build callouses.

[Guz2]

I find that if I play less aggressively my bass doesn't sound as good and I can't be haerd as easily. How often does it take to build calluses?

[HogieWan]

Originally Posted by Guz2

How is it possible to fingerpick without hurting the tips of your fingers?

after you've played for a while they'll stop hurting. Also, while the tone might not be the same, you should be able to be heard without digging the whole time. Learn to get good tone without maxing out your dynamic range, so that you can use that hard plucking tone when it's really needed.

[grifff]

Originally Posted by Guz2

I find that if I play less aggressively my bass doesn't sound as good and I can't be haerd as easily. How often does it take to build calluses?

I'd say either get a louder amp so you don't have to play as hard, or just give yourself some time. The pain will go away with time.

[Guz2]

Ok thanks a lot guys

[Davecg2]

Originally Posted by Guz2

I find that if I play less aggressively my bass doesn't sound as good and I can't be haerd as easily. How often does it take to build calluses?

i had the same problem, as much as i love to attack really hard, youll sound better and your picking hand and forearm wont wear out as fast if your playing long sets. Try turning up your amp and playing a little lighter. At least give it a shot, youll be surprised, we play some semi aggressive stuff and even with a lighter attack it can sound pretty heavy.

[Guz2]

Ok, cheers. And will putting chalk on my hands help? I've heard that's what Steve Harris does...

[milothefultz]

Originally Posted by Guz2

How is it possible to fingerpick without hurting the tips of your fingers?

Do it more. A lot more. After steady 4 hour bar gigs every weekend, my hands stopped hurting, but that was from literally 6 months of 2 or more 4 hour gigs a weekend. Practice it up, man, and then when you want to play quiet, your fingers will have callouses(sp) from digging hard and playing easy will be a breeze.

[Davecg2]

Originally Posted by Guz2

Ok, cheers. And will putting chalk on my hands help? I've heard that's what Steve Harris does...

not sure, but its probably not good for the strings.

[HogieWan]

Originally Posted by Davecg2

not sure, but its probably not good for the strings.

right - steve harris uses flats, so junk can't get between the windings as easily

[dlmarquez]

My advice is this...it's what I did way back when....turned the amp off...went into a quiet practice area and started playing with only the natural acoustic vibration of the fender J that I had then....after a few weeks of woodshedding I found that my fingers didn't hurt anymore, and rather than having to struggle to dig in, I had to learn to "take a bit off"
However I was permanently much more aware of the acoustic nature of the sound of the electric bass

[UncleFluffy]

if all else fails, superglue

[mightypog]

I find my calluses are good for the level of gigging and practicing that I'm at. I was playing four nights a week without pain. Then my band went on tour. Seven days in my fingers felt like I'd burned them. Another several days and I was fine. (Same with my shoulder!) I'd say, keep it consistent. If you gig two nights a week, then the weeks you don't gig, get in and get a good practice a couple days and that will keep your calluses up.

[whiskeytangofox]

Building up callouses is best IHMO. I always just played through the pain at first. Now I play as hard as I want and my fingers don't hurt at all, though sometimes they might get a little numb.

[Lulz]

I've never had fingertip pain, odd.

[SpawnofHastur]

I've already got good calluses, but when I'm playing some tricks*, I still get massive blisters on my fingers.

Calluses will help, but there may be times when they don't completely alleviate the problem.

*(Plucking near the bridge hyper-aggressively to get the volume really high so my bass distorts so I can get really clean harmonics, if anyone's interested)

[ashtray9]

Only advise I can offer is to get to the point of blisters and ease back for a day so the skin can harden. A mistimed blister can end up ripping of the whole callus.

[UncleFluffy]

You can also dip your fingertips in rubbing alcohol after a practice session to toughen them up, especially if they've started to blister.

[RMCBass]

I had the blisters problem when I first started to play and I was wondering the same thing. Now I'm trying to build my callouses but step by step, I'm no intending to hurry up on hurting my hand