Finger Conditioning

ThumpPlunkJunk · #1 09-09-2010, 06:29 PM

I've recently joined these forums--I've been playing the bass for about seven or eight months now and I'd like to believe my playing is coming along. Prior to that, I've had six years of Double Bass which has served as a good basis for the Electric bass.

Now, up until recently I've only doodled around on the bass (Or so I call it, some call it noodling, others jamming, etc.). I've learned the Slap-Pop (Thump and Plunk) technique and over the past few months I've got my mechanics set up alright and I'm able to play with decent speed.

However, even six years of Contrabass playing hasn't turned my fingers to stone.

And that's a problem.

Using Larry Graham's slap-pop, the two fingers I usually use to pop with are almost completely devoid of feeling at the tips--my nails are perpetually short on those two fingers, as the space between the strings and guitar itself isn't far enough to keep my fingers (which are relatively long) from slamming into the instrument.

On top of that, where I've gotten a nice callus before, I've got an ugly one now on the pad of my finger. The skin is cracked up higher near the nail from my first attempts at flamenco, I've got hangnails out the wazoo and my fingers start to bleed after more than an hour of playing, whereas I used to play for several-hour sittings at a time without much problem.

My thumb is also twisted to the point that it's noticeably bent in comparison to my other one and my arm is continuously sore from stiffening up on faster passages.

Any advice on what to do? I stopped playing yesterday in hopes that it would just heal up in another day and I could continue playing, but it still hurts like mad and even doing things like opening the fridge door hurts my finger to the point that I think it will bleed again.

lowfreq33 · #2 09-09-2010, 06:36 PM

You need to moisturize.

lowfreq33 · #3 09-09-2010, 06:37 PM

You can get a stick of cocoa butter at walgreens for less than two bucks. Apply to your fingertips several times a day. I use it before playing to ease the friction a bit.

guroove · #4 09-09-2010, 06:40 PM

Drink water and take your vitamins. Don't smoke, and stop practicing when it cracks.

ThumpPlunkJunk · #5 09-09-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

You need to moisturize.

Good idea.

I'll keep that in mind after I get the current situation fixed.

Perhaps it's a string thing, though. I'm using a 5-String Ibanez with strings like barbed wire. It's the only bass I've ever owned. I went down to the guitar store last week and checked out some other basses--I believe it was a fretless that had these smooth strings that I felt like I could pluck all day without a problem.

Skitch it! · #6 09-09-2010, 06:51 PM

Sounds like quite a heavy slap style there, I've had similar problems some time ago, pulling with two fingers can be quite a bit of force I find, I usually lock the thumb and index in one kind of action so it comes from the wrist rather than finger force/pulling, the tips feeling devoid of feeling happens with callouses, I've found I can lift things out of the oven quickly now without too much sensitivity

The skin by the nail is painful...oh yes

I have used moisturiser to stop the cuticles drying and cracking.

The twisted thumb may be a callous forming, so it looks offset from your other, the arm? most of the movement I find for slap is from the elbow up. try a lighter style with less force, release the tension and turn the amp up...this is my take, just a couple of thoughts.

ThumpPlunkJunk · #7 09-09-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Sounds like quite a heavy slap style there, I've had similar problems some time ago, pulling with two fingers can be quite a bit of force I find, I usually lock the thumb and index in one kind of action so it comes from the wrist rather than finger force/pulling, the tips feeling devoid of feeling happens with callouses, I've found I can lift things out of the oven quickly now without too much sensitivity

The skin by the nail is painful...oh yes

I have used moisturiser to stop the cuticles drying and cracking.

The twisted thumb may be a callous forming, so it looks offset from your other, the arm? most of the movement I find for slap is from the elbow up. try a lighter style with less force, release the tension and turn the amp up...this is my take, just a couple of thoughts.

I don't pull with both fingers at the same time, I alternate between the two, usually. If I need to reach a note on the A string but I've got to hit one on the G first, I'll use my middle finger instead of index to pop it. I haven't been able to incorporate all of my fingers yet, but I'll get there. Of course, that'll mean much more cocoa butter and moisturizer from the looks of it, though.

Browsing around YouTube, I'm seeing other people who slap having similar thumb abnormalities. Bent or crooked thumbs--that sort of thing. I suppose it's more so a badge of honor than anything else, and it's not effecting me in any large way yet. If it gets to the point that playing hurts, I'll see a doctor though.

Skitch it! · #8 09-09-2010, 07:30 PM

I assumed you didn't pull with both index and mid at the same time...it would cost a fortune in G and D strings

For the pattern above (G string before A) I use my index, I've found it a hard technique using more than my index (and thumb) for popping, it would be nice to have a bit of an Alain Caron thing going on maybe in a few years

I tend to use the thumb and index to double up rhythms. I would recommend using the moisturiser though, it will stop the splitting.

BassistForHire · #9 09-09-2010, 07:41 PM

I have this nice callous on the left side of my right thumbnail. It's almost like having a natural pick for doing that Victor Wooten "up and down thumb as a pick" thing. I got it because I do a lot of fingerstyle guitar at home.

Jojoba oil is great for fingernails. The molecules are much smaller than regular oils (b/c it's actually a liquid wax) and can penetrate the nail easily. Flexiable nails don't split as much.

puddin tame · #10 09-09-2010, 07:42 PM

I think the thumb thing might a sign of improper technique, i've been playing (and slapping) for about 8 years and looking at my thumbs now I can't see anything abnormal.

Also you may benefit from a string change. You've probably got roundwounds on at the moment, I find flatwounds much smoother on the fingers. I'm not sure on any specific string for your purpose since my fingers are a bit past caring about this stuff, but I would say for sure try out some flatwounds.

edit: could you be more specific about what a 'twisted thumb' is? I thought it was a bone thing but here are people talking about changes in the skin

ThumpPlunkJunk · #11 09-10-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin tame

I think the thumb thing might a sign of improper technique, i've been playing (and slapping) for about 8 years and looking at my thumbs now I can't see anything abnormal.

Also you may benefit from a string change. You've probably got roundwounds on at the moment, I find flatwounds much smoother on the fingers. I'm not sure on any specific string for your purpose since my fingers are a bit past caring about this stuff, but I would say for sure try out some flatwounds.

edit: could you be more specific about what a 'twisted thumb' is? I thought it was a bone thing but here are people talking about changes in the skin

Getting a sort of callus on the thumb as well as the thumb is bending towards the right more. Noticeably. I suppose it's not "twisted" in the direct meaning of the word, but from the thumb knuckle up it's becoming noticeably crooked towards the right.

I used some cocoa butter on my fingers as well--helped to heal the fingers immensely. Got back to playing today and it feels almost like sating an addiction.

I was thinking about getting some Elixirs. Apparently John Paul Jones uses them--one of the men I emulate for grooving technique. Perhaps not so much slapping, but I tried out a fretless at the guitar store last week that had Elixirs and it felt as smooth as water. And I'm a Double-Bassist at root, so getting back on something that didn't cage me in with frets was like having wings.

Oh...

And Primus sucks!

Fergie Fulton · #12 09-11-2010, 03:36 AM

Neutrogena hand cream is a cream developed for dry and cracked hands. It is Norwegian in origin and is one of the best products i have ever come across for bass players.
Follow the link for more info

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/neutr..._1_152531.html

Try a search in your own area to see if it is available.

On your problems stop playing and seek out some medical advice from a doctor. There may have been a change in your metabolism that is causing your problems, not your playing.

ThumpPlunkJunk · #13 09-11-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Neutrogena hand cream is a cream developed for dry and cracked hands. It is Norwegian in origin and is one of the best products i have ever come across for bass players.
Follow the link for more info

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/neutr..._1_152531.html

Try a search in your own area to see if it is available.

On your problems stop playing and seek out some medical advice from a doctor. There may have been a change in your metabolism that is causing your problems, not your playing.

I've been putting cocoa butter on my fingers, it's working pretty well.

If it deteriorates anymore I'll head out to a doctor but it's looking alright today.