Question about blisters (newbie)

mcrfreak2000 · #1 02-05-2008, 07:00 PM

I'm 16 and I've been playing bass for about a month now. I recently switched from using a pick to using my fingers and after about 30 minutes of practiceing I developed pea sized blisters on both my middle and pointer finger.

What's the best thing to do to them?

iamlowsound · #2 02-05-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcrfreak2000

I'm 16 and I've been playing bass for about a month now. I recently switched from using a pick to using my fingers and after about 30 minutes of practiceing I developed pea sized blisters on both my middle and pointer finger.

What's the best thing to do to them?

First, this is Off-topic, for non-music related stuff. This question should be in technique.

Second, I say pop them.

Also, here are some good threads on blisters, what to do with them and how to prevent them.
http://www.google.com/custom?domains...ORID%3A1&hl=en

lowsound

eedre · #3 02-05-2008, 07:04 PM

Welcome to Talkbass.

There are lots of threads on this in the Technique forum.

I'm curious as to which hand you get these on (fretting or plucking)... I never developed blisters when I started.

The best suggestion is DON'T PEEL THE SKIN OFF. It takes longer for the blister to heal and the extra layer of skin forms a killer callous once it's healed.

Bulletr0k · #4 02-05-2008, 07:05 PM

They go away after a while and you'll get calluses(spell check, anyone?) where the blisters were, so it don't happen again.

mcrfreak2000 · #5 02-05-2008, 07:05 PM

Didn't quite know where to put it sorry.

mcrfreak2000 · #6 02-05-2008, 07:06 PM

Plucking hand

IconBasser · #7 02-05-2008, 07:08 PM

greetings mcrfreak. On behalf of the teen alliance of Off Topic, I welcome you to talkbass. If you have any questions, feel free to private message me any time.

Sonic_Death · #8 02-05-2008, 07:29 PM

Don't touch them.

Just leave them be and just keep playing.

Eventually the tips of your fingers just harden up and you will rarely get blisters from that point on.

IconBasser · #9 02-05-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic_Death

Don't touch them.

Just leave them be and just keep playing.

Eventually the tips of your fingers just harden up and you will rarely get blisters from that point on.

ya know, whenever i get blisters, I've never had them harden. They always get ripped off eventually by the strings, and I have to play with raw bleeding fingers...

unclejam · #10 02-05-2008, 07:33 PM

man that ain't nothing i played so hard one time the Skin came OFF as Blood came out!

Disraeli Gears · #11 02-05-2008, 07:40 PM

Tough it out and keep playing until they bleed! Then keep playing until your bass has aquired a nice new red finish.

ProgRapture · #12 02-05-2008, 08:23 PM

Keep playing. Bones don't get blisters.

HollowBassman · #13 02-06-2008, 05:05 AM

Super glue!

Tegzsa · #14 02-06-2008, 07:07 AM

You could try sticking a pin into them to drain the water out, they'll deflate and stick back down flat. This sometimes becomes a hard layer of skin that will protect the new skin beneath.

Bryan316 · #15 02-06-2008, 07:13 AM

Ahhh... pluckin blisters.

You WILL get them. It's mandatory. No matter how lightly or how well conditioned you think you are when first starting, you WILL get them. I had mine, popped em, let the skin stick back down, left it alone for 4 days. Then went right back to playing again. Now I've got some visible, thickened calluses. I can now play for hours without my fingers getting worn out.

Oh, and don't go too long of a period between playing. If you don't pick up a bass and play regularly, the calluses will thin out and disappear. Then the next long practice session you have, you'll get blisters again. It's the bass way of life.

Deacon_Blues · #16 02-06-2008, 07:31 AM

What the other said. I just wanted to add that the strings you use have an influence too. Some roundwound strings are really hard and rough while others are much smoother. The smoothest roundwounds are probably the coated ones. I'd recommend to put on such a set in the beginning to make the playing experience a bit nicer. After a while you won't have any problems with blisters anymore, regardless of what strings you use.

Oh, and welcome to TB!

Asa Samuel · #17 02-06-2008, 07:36 AM

Never had blisters, nor blisters on my feet either

I know some people pop them then use superglue afterwards but i think it varies for each person as to what they find most comfortable/heals quicker etc.

Bryan316 · #18 02-06-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Junkie

Never had blisters, nor blisters on my feet either

I need to check the rules for a possible Man Law discrepancy...

mcrfreak2000 · #19 02-06-2008, 12:24 PM

Thanks for the help. I'm probably going to let them sit there and if they get worse, pop 'em. One was gone when i woke this morning and the other is sort of deflated.