I suck, I hurt, and I love it!

**Pacman** · #1 12-05-2002, 10:57 PM

I've been playing almost 6 hours a day lately - 3 at work, and 3 doing a show at night. I'm taking lessons from a guy who played with Bill Evans, he's kicking my a$$ on a regular basis. Even typing hurts while the callouses build up.

But I don't care! That sound! I'm digging the hell out of this.

banditcosmo · #2 12-05-2002, 11:05 PM

Man I wish I had the attention span to play that much. I probably only get in an hour a day with the exception of band practice and shows.

Hey Jon,
do you still have the Pedulla Rapture 5 I traded you ?
That was a really nice bass.
Tony

Peter McFerrin · #3 12-05-2002, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacman
I'm taking lessons from a guy who played with Bill Evans, he's kicking my a$$ on a regular basis. Even typing hurts while the callouses build up.

Which guy? Chuck Israels?

PollyBass · #4 12-05-2002, 11:08 PM

Isnt it great that theirs always someone better? I mean, it makes me get off my ass and try to get better.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #5 12-05-2002, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Bollbach

Your romantic conquests are not of interest here.

You know, I've always thought that Jeff was psychic, but now that I see that he posted this before Pac even started this thread, I'm sure of it.

Jon,

Seriously, that's great. That feeling of getting deeply into the groove of the thing is worth more than money could ever buy. Keep it up. And remember, I'm still waiting for that CD...

**Pacman** · #6 12-06-2002, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter McFerrin

Which guy? Chuck Israels?

No, George Prado. Great guy.

Chris - soon, I've got something pretty special on the horizon. Just tell me, how long before my chops stop hurting?

Lovebown · #7 12-06-2002, 07:01 AM

cool!

I recently started on acoustic and I find it really inspiring and I practice more on it than electric nowadays...

/lovebown

tsolo · #8 12-06-2002, 08:33 AM

Playing at that rate, I'm supprised that you don't have blisters on all your fingers. I play a gig at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. We play for 5 hrs. One on one off. From week to week it's hard for me to practice 'cause I have to let my blisters dry a bit. I use New Skin to cover them during the gig. After this last year in September, it took about 3 weeks for the blisters to turn to callouses. I can hardly wait for next year. Now i can put out the guitar players cig with my finger tips.

**Pacman** · #9 12-06-2002, 10:16 AM

No blisters, and my callouses are getting larger. But along the edges it freakin' hurts like the devil. I'm also looking forward to a day off of playing (thursday!), I'm finding that although I'm still getting through everything, I'm not digging in like I'd like to.

What a path - very exhilerating, very demanding.

And that sound!

Marcus Johnson · #10 12-06-2002, 10:42 AM

Hang in there, Jon...soon you'll have the Hands Of Doom, and you'll be able to play all day and night without breaking a sweat.

thrash_jazz · #11 12-06-2002, 01:12 PM

I feel your pain, new brother.

I wish I had the 6 hours a day to play though!

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #12 12-06-2002, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacman

Chris - soon, I've got something pretty special on the horizon. Just tell me, how long before my chops stop hurting?

Well clue me in, my darkside brother! Whatcha got?
As far as the chops thing, I'll assume you're talking about fingertips and answer:

L.H. - about a year before the pain was manageable to the point where I could forget about it for hours at a time. Now, my L.H. fingers almost never hurt.

R.H. - I'll let you know....

Seriously, about two years to get to the point where I could play as much as I wanted and not freak out about it. (However, take a few days off and then hit a stretch with gigs 4-6 days in a row with some of those being drummerless doubles, and all bets are off

) But I'm also very anal about my R.H. fingertips - I use lotion at least twice a day to keep the skin from cracking, and I "sand" my callouses with a pedicure block to keep them safe and keep the sound consistent. I have a little kit that I keep in my bass bag for finger stuff, and I get ragged about it on a regular basis. But hey, it works...

**Pacman** · #13 12-06-2002, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Well clue me in, my darkside brother! Whatcha got?
As far as the chops thing, I'll assume you're talking about fingertips and answer:

L.H. - about a year before the pain was manageable to the point where I could forget about it for hours at a time. Now, my L.H. fingers almost never hurt.

R.H. - I'll let you know.... Seriously, about two years to get to the point where I could play as much as I wanted and not freak out about it. (However, take a few days off and then hit a stretch with gigs 4-6 days in a row with some of those being drummerless doubles, and all bets are off ) But I'm also very anal about my R.H. fingertips - I use lotion at least twice a day to keep the skin from cracking, and I "sand" my callouses with a pedicure block to keep them safe and keep the sound consistent. I have a little kit that I keep in my bass bag for finger stuff, and I get ragged about it on a regular basis. But hey, it works...

****, I was afraid of that - my LH is pretty damn fine, but my RH fingers are pretty sore.

Clue you in? Ok, we just got this chick singer in who's pretty darn good - knows jazz like a jazzer should, done the homework, studied the history, etc. Not someone who knows "Summertime" and "Route 66" so they think it's ok to call themselves a jazz singer

dig?

So we're going to be putting something together....

jp

bassy18 · #14 12-31-2002, 12:36 AM

I've been playing bass for almost 7 years now. This semester (college) was my first year taking lessons. I got handed a book and about twenty minutes of instruction a day for a week when i first started playing. I take lessons from this little lady from tawain. Yeah....after a two hour lesson i thought i was gonna have to cut off my hands. then i had an hour and a half concert practice. Thought iw as dying. She is all into bending you fingers and lifting your elbow and proper finger location...the "right" way to do it. i've have about 17 lessons. Greatest pain I've ever felt. Haven't pracited at all over break and i am gonna die.....can't wait...

Keep thumpin

Bassy

gruffpuppy · #15 12-31-2002, 01:46 PM

I agree with the first part of the subject.

blackbass · #16 12-31-2002, 03:18 PM

Try changing your strings to a flatwound for awhile. You might lose a little tone, and let your fingers recover.

OneCoolDog · #17 12-31-2002, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacman
I've been playing almost 6 hours a day lately - 3 at work, and 3 doing a show at night. I'm taking lessons from a guy who played with Bill Evans, he's kicking my a$$ on a regular basis. Even typing hurts while the callouses build up.

But I don't care! That sound! I'm digging the hell out of this.

Sounds just like me, without the shows. And my Dad kicks mine. The callouses stink. I kind of just have numbness in the tips of my fingers now lol.

OneCoolDog · #18 12-31-2002, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacman
I've been playing almost 6 hours a day lately - 3 at work, and 3 doing a show at night. I'm taking lessons from a guy who played with Bill Evans, he's kicking my a$$ on a regular basis. Even typing hurts while the callouses build up.

But I don't care! That sound! I'm digging the hell out of this.

Sounds just like me, without the shows. And my Dad kicks mine. The callouses stink. I kind of just have numbness in the tips of my fingers now lol.

**Pacman** · #19 12-31-2002, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackbass
Try changing your strings to a flatwound for awhile. You might lose a little tone, and let your fingers recover.

XavierG · #20 01-09-2003, 02:54 PM

Oh, can I sympathize with you! I know what you mean about the pain. I've been at it for 5 hrs./day for just 2 days and already my fingers are raw and in such pain - yet I can't put it down. I'd imagine that, by now, you're fingers have "adapted"?

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