Playing with Cold and Damp Fingers

[Craigios]

Hi people,

Does anyone have a problem playing with cold and damp fingers? I find it horrible playing after I have set up equipment or just come in from the cold like at a jam night etc. I get more blisters when playing under these conditions.

Who else has this problem and how di you get around it?

Thanks,
Craig.

[Traver]

I don't get more blisters from playing with cold fingers :s But it does make it harder to play the difficult stuff.
There's a very simple way to remedy the coldness, though. Simply do some stretch/warmup exercises with your hands and fingers and they'll be smoking hot in no time. Sometimes I do stretching exercises during band practice when we play slower songs, cause our rehearsal place is damn cold at the moment.

[Craigios]

Cold isn't that much of a problem it's just when the cold is mixed with the damp. I love it when my hands are warm and dry.

[TheDarkReaver]

well yeah, if your hands are cold and wet it reduces the circulation meaning that your fingers will not work as efficiently.

[seanm]

I find that just setting up warms me up enough.

[Spoiled Grape]

Go into the bathroom and throw the water on hot about 1-2 minutes before you hop on stage. Go to town on your hands, grab a towel, dry them off.

Most of the problem with cold hands I've found is in the first 5 minutes of the set, after that your hands sort of warm up.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Spoiled Grape

Go into the bathroom and throw the water on hot about 1-2 minutes before you hop on stage. Go to town on your hands, grab a towel, dry them off.

Most of the problem with cold hands I've found is in the first 5 minutes of the set, after that your hands sort of warm up.

I agree with the above except the water should be only luke warm.

[eots]

I like the feel of strings after I've gotten done washing the dishes which isn't usually before a gig but it helps having the clean feeling and the blood circulation. Another way to get the blood flowing is to do some pushups. No I'm not kidding. Gets the upper torso working and the effort the hands contribute helps get blood flowing within minutes.

[jollygiantchris]

I practice in my basement (and when I jam with my friends we always seem to be in cold basements) and since I live in Chicago it gets pretty damn cold down here. The two things I do is if its just a little cold I will warm up slowly for about 5-10 before playing. If its REALLY cold down here I will go upstairs and run warm water over my hands then come down and do warm up for 5-10 then start playing.

Every now and then I don't warmup before I play when its cold and I tend to play like crap.

[Craigios]

Yeah, I play like crap when my hands are damp as well. Damp is much worse that cold but both together is just a nightmare. Most of the time at a jam night there isn't enough time to warm up etc.

[Spoiled Grape]

Originally Posted by fearceol

I agree with the above except the water should be only luke warm.

You're right, I should have said that instead!

Although when you are playing in an snow resort type area, anything above 30 degrees is considered scalding hot!

[Craigios]

I've been thinking of using a battery powered hand dryer when playing actual gigs. Think that'll work. Hot bags may even work along with powder to dry off my hands. Think I'll give them all a go.

[megadethjohn]

Cold fingers - Pushups

Damp fingers - rubbing alcohol

I've played my share of cold, damp bars in Chicago. When you're bands opening song is played at around 250 bpm and has some sixteenth notes thrown in you gotta be on playing at your peak.