Played through a blister. Something's gotta give

[sakai4eva]

Hi, I've been playing for about a year now (played as a teenager, but stopped when I'm in university).

Lately the style I've been playing with and the band requires me to attack the strings much more strongly than I ever had to, and as a result:

http://www.imgur.com/siOeB.jpg

Any advice?

[bassie12]

Bigger Amp. Set your bass up so you get the noise with less effort. Bleeding should always be accompanied with good pay.

[electracoyote]

Pop that thing with a sterilized needle and let the blood out. While it heals, use one layer Second Skin, one layer superglue.

Turn your amp up and use a string type that will get you the tone you're after. No one should have to abuse their fingers like that.

[VitalSigns]

I never understood how people got blisters like this. It's never happened to me before.

[tjh]

which hand is that on, fretting or plucking?

[Skitch it!]

First time I've seen a blood blister like that through playing, mine always filled up with plasma. Give the pick a try for a while to give it some healing time, or take a break if you can.

[sakai4eva]

Originally Posted by bassie12

Bigger Amp. Set your bass up so you get the noise with less effort. Bleeding should always be accompanied with good pay.

I play for church, so no pay here. Amp is a 60W dialed to about 4/10.

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Pop that thing with a sterilized needle and let the blood out. While it heals, use one layer Second Skin, one layer superglue.

Turn your amp up and use a string type that will get you the tone you're after. No one should have to abuse their fingers like that.

Shouldn't I let it heal naturally? The last time it happened (yes, this is not the first) that's how I dealt with it.

Originally Posted by VitalSigns

I never understood how people got blisters like this. It's never happened to me before.

Yay for you. Unfortunately for me...

Originally Posted by tjh

which hand is that on, fretting or plucking?

Plucking. Middle finger.

[miguel master]

Wen I started playing bass I had no caluses so I used to play for hours till fingerson both hands were raw. I would tape them up with ducktape and continue playing.
Now I'm a chef and grab things with my fingers that are screaming hot and I play. Neadles to say I just about lost feeling an sensation on all my fingers. It kinda helps for playing the hard stuff.

On the healing part I would pop it and new skin it. I always have a small botle with me. Great stuff.

[rtslinger]

Do not pop it!

There are several methods of healing blood blisters. These include:

For immediate care: leave the blister alone. Elevate the injured area; apply a cold pack; and when pain subsides, apply padding or a splint to protect the injured area.[1]
Elevating the affected anatomy and applying pressure reduces blood leakage into the damaged area, cold reduces the inflammatory response.
Soak the blister in epsom salts to reduce swelling.
Keep the area cleanly bandaged, and replace the bandage daily or whenever necessary. switch to playing with a pick till it heals

[Bear_Bass]

Pop it, grab some methylated spirits, bite on a tea towel, dunk it. Not a joke i used to do it as a fast way to get calluses for rowing. It's extreme, it's really painful and i'll admit i was the first to complain, but it does get calluses quickly. (Warning i only did this with normal blisters on palms and fingers, not blood blisters)

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by rtslinger

Do not pop it!

There are several methods of healing blood blisters. These include:

For immediate care: leave the blister alone. Elevate the injured area; apply a cold pack; and when pain subsides, apply padding or a splint to protect the injured area.[1]
Elevating the affected anatomy and applying pressure reduces blood leakage into the damaged area, cold reduces the inflammatory response.
Soak the blister in epsom salts to reduce swelling.
Keep the area cleanly bandaged, and replace the bandage daily or whenever necessary. switch to playing with a pick till it heals

You forgot "call for a whaaaambulance."

[nysbob]

Pain is transitory. You're going to have some sweet callouses there eventually. Once you have them, don't let them leave.

[Clef_de_fa]

Holy s*** I've never see that before !!!

Even your other finger ... I did get some blister when I was learning slap but otherwise my finger have soft skin juste a little harder.

I think you should pop it, put something on it until it heals and turn your volume up!!!

[Audiophage]

It's best not to play on a blister that is filled with fluid and let it heal which usually takes a day. However, if you have to play on it for a gig you can pop it with a sterile needle and drain it. Then you can just cover it with a bandaid and keep playing on it. Definitely don't skip on the sterilization though.

Blisters are part of the learning process of bass.

[Nev375]

I've had some of those too... back in the day when I was learning long before internet and anyone to ask for advice.

Eventually I learned that there is no reason to have to play that hard. You can get about any sound you want with a light touch between fingers, fingernails, picks, tapping and thumb slapping and using different angles of attack for each one. Experiment.

Playing bass shouldn't hurt unless you are trying to prove how hardcore you are.

I know I probably sound more condescending than I intend to, but like the old joke:

Patient: "Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this!"
Doctor: "Well, don't do that."

[EatADeadGoat]

Ouch. Been there before.

You can still have a light touch but get a clanky agressive sound.

I also suggest a bigger amp

[DanHB18]

Ohhh be proud of that! :P Over time it should heal, and will callus over. Until then tho, if it's too painful you can use a pick for a while..

[sakai4eva]

Thank you all for the replies... I meant to get on yesterday night (my time, not yours) but somehow I was distracted.

Can I summarise that to stop getting these blisters I need to develop a lighter touch and crank up the amp?

[SurferJoe46]

'Picks' were mentioned too I think.

[sakai4eva]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

'Picks' were mentioned too I think.

I'll investigate that avenue too... should I use picks for faster songs or slower songs?