Blisters

[LoeBase]

Any advice on how to help a blister heal quickly or how to get through a gig with one?

[neal davis]

go to the bathroom and take a leak on your fingers, my grandfather taught me this as a boy when I used to get blisters on my hands while we were building our cottage, it works but is a bit gross

[Aaron Cohn]

Originally Posted by neal davis

go to the bathroom and take a leak on your fingers, my grandfather taught me this as a boy when I used to get blisters on my hands while we were building our cottage, it works but is a bit gross

Never tried this, but I've heard of this from a few sources (famous non-musical example: Moises Alou). It's probably worth a shot. Do us all a favor and report back here when you try it.

Another thing that can help is superglue. I haven't used it in years and I don't much remember how well it works but it'll at least help some. It won't help much if you already have a blister--it's better applied before playing if you know your calluses are out of shape. Put a light layer on the part of the finger that comes in contact with the string and make sure not to touch anything until it's dry. You don't want to put so much on that it forms a full layer over your skin--if you do, this whole layer can get pulled off while you play and it'll hurt. You just want to use enough to make your skin a bit crustier. It'll flake off as you play, so you might need to reapply on the break.

[mcnaire2004]

I personaly just try and play around it. Play through the pain if you have a gig. Then afterwards just practice softly on the finger and it'll go away.

[Peck_Time]

Mineral turpentine toughens up skin well. Supposedly you can also drink it to keep away sandflies (the early colonial settlers to New Zealand did this).

[kurtsnyder]

Originally Posted by neal davis

go to the bathroom and take a leak on your fingers, my grandfather taught me this as a boy when I used to get blisters on my hands while we were building our cottage, it works but is a bit gross

Remind me never to play your bass or touch your keyboard!

[Matthew Tucker]

Urea (in urine) will soften skin proteins if that's what you want. Alcohol (most kinds) will harden skin proteins.

I keep some band-aids and tape in my bag for when the going gets tough. it helps a bit.

[LeslieD]

Urea: yuck!

Actually, I don't recommend the bandaids or tape until AFTER your gig (and only then to keep your wounds clean). Once you put start putting tape on your fingers they start getting softer--and the skin gets even easier to rip/tear. There's also the problem with the adhesives in the tape getting gooey all over the strings.

Just try to use your other fingers a bit and different parts/angles of the blistered finger to get through the evening.

If you need to (during a break), I recommend lancing the blister so it doesn't break while you're actually playing. That has probably happened to most of us, but I guess I prefer not to have "blister juice" all over my fingerboard. That's just me though...since it seems like you guys aren't much bothered by getting body fluids all over stuff.

And for the post-gig wounds I suggest washing well, and using petroleum jelly and bandaids for a day or so. Then...work on building those calluses!

[Pcocobass]

This thread is disgusting and hilarious.

I'd rather use a different finger all night than have piss covered hands but that's just me..... I've had luck with lancing my blisters too, just to get the juice out. Then, let the skin on top mush with the skin underneath and in a day or so it will harden. Then keep on playing through it.

If you rip the skin off, you will be in a ton of pain if the eges where the new and old skin meet starts getting caught on your strings.

Once you do get callouses, just make sure you play every day or else you'll have to go through that again.....

[clink]

Blisters are just part of the deal. I sat in at a jam session yesterday and the guy who played before me turned the amp off.
Not realizing it until after we started playing, I kept playing right through. Doing my best to get the most out of a non-cannon bass I was able to be heard, but just the one tune caused a tender spot deep under the callous on my middle finger.

When forming callouses I have used Gel SuperGlue to hold everything together. Just an even coating can keep a blister from peeling.

[Motorhead Mark]

Practice more so you won't get the blisters in the first place.

Remind me never to play your bass or touch your keyboard!

Or any tools of any kind !!!

go to the bathroom and take a leak on your fingers, my grandfather taught me this as a boy when I used to get blisters on my hands while we were building our cottage, it works but is a bit gross

If we ever meet, please don't be offended if I don't shake your hand.

[neal davis]

I guess I should have said wait a bit after you piss on your hands then wash but oh well, maybe I should see if I piss on my strings if that will cause me never to get blisters again?

[Pcocobass]

Originally Posted by Motorhead Mark

Practice more so you won't get the blisters in the first place.

Practicing is why you do get the blisters, at least initially. Once you have callouses, the trick is to keep practicing so you don't get them agian.

[neal davis]

+1