I took a vacation from playing (25 days, to be precise)...

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

...and here's what I've got:





Well, actually it didn't happen just because of 25 days of no serious bass playing. I've just arrived home from my first gig of the year. It was a wedding party and the band wasn't supposed to be too loud. I tried to set my amp to a decent volume, but I wasn't allowed to do that. Problem was, playing energetic Merengue and Salsa stuff with three percussionists I want to feel my bass behind me but it didn't happen, so I plucked really hard during the whole gig (four 1 hour-long sets between 8:30 P.M. to 1:30 A.M.). I've had similar blisters before when gigging with my double bass (not so often), but what puzzles me is why only get them on my middle finger. I'm a follower of the "strictly alternating" technique with seldom raking, so both fingers have the same workload. But, as you can see, my index is perfectly well.

Anyway, it feels hard and doesn't hurt. No problems when playing either. My only fear was popping it during the gig. Just wanted to share such nice view, and I thought this is the most appropriate sub-forum.

[Mazatleco17]

wow, the fact that you only get a blister on your middle finger is weird.

[AlembicPlayer]

FLAT WOUNDS

there I said it!

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by AlembicPlayer

FLAT WOUNDS

there I said it!

Double bass strings are flat wound too and will give you exactly the same blister.

there I said it.

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Double bass strings are flat wound too and will give you exactly the same blister.

there I said it.

+1


Alvaro, that looks like that hurts. Just thought I would point out the obvious.

But it's really weird that your index finger is fine while the middle looks as though you stuck it in a fire. Did you burn or wear out the pad on that finger recently?

[santucci218]

maybe he starts phrases on his middle finger, thus more plucks? or maybe his middle finger is just a puss.

[mjwhit]

i think it has something to do with variations in finger length and therefore attack angle and maybe different amounts of friction. Maybe....

[landry.bass]

I haven't had a blister in years, mind you I also don't play four one hour gigs. My gigs last less than an hour,

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by mjwhit

i think it has something to do with variations in finger length and therefore attack angle and maybe different amounts of friction. Maybe....

Look at his avatar picture. He plucks way back by the bridge where the string is much "stiffer" and his middle finger is closest to the bridge and therefore plucking the "hardest" part of the string. he has to dig in harder there to get the same attack and volume as his first finger.

Pop that thing, rip the skin off and cover it with superglue. Take a few vitamin E capsules too. You'll be fine in 4 days and have a tougher finger.

[Trevorus]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Look at his avatar picture. He plucks way back by the bridge where the string is much "stiffer" and his middle finger is closest to the bridge and therefore plucking the "hardest" part of the string. he has to dig in harder there to get the same attack and volume as his first finger.

Pop that thing, rip the skin off and cover it with superglue. Take a few vitamin E capsules too. You'll be fine in 4 days and have a tougher finger.

Thats a bad idea to pop it. That's a great way to risk infection. Just leave it alone till it clears up.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

+1


Alvaro, that looks like that hurts. Just thought I would point out the obvious.

But it's really weird that your index finger is fine while the middle looks as though you stuck it in a fire. Did you burn or wear out the pad on that finger recently?

Nothing, man. Everything has been fine. Again, it's not the first time it happens. It's really weird.

Originally Posted by santucci218

maybe he starts phrases on his middle finger, thus more plucks? or maybe his middle finger is just a puss.

Actually, I try to play downbeats with my index finger.

Thank you for your interest, guys!

[Deacon_Blues]

I have no real experience from double bass, but how's the angle between the hand and the strings? I have a feeling it is lower than 90°, partially because the middle finger is longer, partially because it's an upright and the hand position very different compared to an electric. That makes you pluck more with the side of the middle finger. The position of your blister supports this theory.

You probably have aligned your index correctly, which is why that one isn't hurt, but not thought enough of the middle finger. Try plucking higher up the neck just to compare how you pluck at different positions.

[jimmothy.green]

That happened to me playing rockabilly style upright(not gutt strings btw) in an Elivs cover band riding in the back of a truck. We played the same 6 songs a gillion times over the course of the parade. Man that was a crazy/horrible/weird gig.