Bad Calluses

Super glue will work on blisters. I ocassionally use a fingernail file on my calluses.

 

1. Be able to hear yourself
2. Lower action.
All I have.

 

learn to use a pick/plectrum like Mike Gordon?

 

You’re playing too hard because you can’t hear yourself. And that’s all there is to it.

 

There is no such thing as "bad calluses". Calluses are wonderful. Once you build them up you never have painful fingertips again.

You don't have calluses. You have blisters.

Blisters (even on beginners' fingers) can only come from two things.

Playing to MUCH or playing too HARD (or both, of course).

Either you need to play less, or you need to lighten your touch by coming up with ways to hear yourself better.

 

Consider nylon tapewounds. Lots of color from the string (roundwound sound), but some cool smoothness, and no calluses.

 

I would agree with the posts that suggest that you may be playing extra hard because you can't hear yourself. I used to have an amp that was way too weak for the job and I'd get blisters under my calluses. The worrisome part about your post is the "bloody puss" blisters. Is it actually pus? Pus would be thick and yellowish white (unlike most blisters which are just filled with clear liquid). If it's pus, then there's an infection, which is a totally separate (and worse) issue than not being able to hear yourself.

 

Any chance you changed strings to something that isn't working well for you? New stainless strings can be a bit "grabby" at first, especially flats. Got a louder new drummer or guitar player you have to keep up with?

 

Your playing too hard, relax, breathe, listen and groove...

 

I play guitar and bass and I still have never had a callus or a blister. Lighten up your attack and let the amp do the work for you!

 

I’ve posted this before, but here goes:

Patient: Doctor, it hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Don’t do that.

 

I play too hard, and it's a hard habit to break. Try lighter gauge strings and turn up 'too loud'. Use your touch to bring your volume back down.

 

Turn your amp up

 

Though this could work, it doesn’t address the root cause.

 

I had *this* happen, a few months ago, cause I had a bit of a lull in gigs... lost my callous!
all better now!

 

You need to lighten up your attack. You seem to be plucking way too hard. A lighter touch will help tremendously. Let the amp do the work. Not your fingers. You can always replace an amp. Not so with your fingers. You might also want to try D'Addario light gauge chromes. They are smooth as silk on your fingers yet still bright enough to slap/pop. Good luck.

 

You're playing too hard. It happens to me, too. Sometimes I find a sweet tone by really digging in, but my fingers hate me the next day because of it. I should add that I have calouses where it counts, but it's no help if I'm really being aggressive.

 

I agree with those who say you are probably plucking too hard because you can't hear yourself. And I wonder if that's because when you slap (especially if you do that aggressively too) you have to turn down your amp and/or bass to avoid being too loud -- and then you're not loud enough when you switch to fingerstyle. If so, maybe a volume pedal would be helpful to make it easier for you to adjust your level on the fly when you switch between techniques.

 

Same here... 30 years of playing bass and working hard fabrication jobs and my fingertips are baby smooth. If only my face was aging so nicely!