Dry Fingers?

[RobBobBass]

Yesterday we played our second outside gig of the summer. Both times my fingers have felt like they dried out and were hanging up on the strings. Seems to only happen outdoors. Anyone have any suggestions other than hand lotion????

 

[nicoli]

This always works for me: Simply wipe your fingers along the sides of your nose where it meets the cheek. I'm usually a little sweaty and oily if I'm on stage, and that's where it collects. Instant finger tip lubrication.

 

[Mesmerize-16]

Baby powder could help with that. Also, you could try mineral oil (baby oil). The poster above has a good idea as well.

 

[NickBass81]

This always works for me: Simply wipe your fingers along the sides of your nose where it meets the cheek. I'm usually a little sweaty and oily if I'm on stage, and that's where it collects. Instant finger tip lubrication.

That works well for me too...a little bit on nose grease!

 

[uethanian]

definitely nose grease, it always helps.

what strings are u using? personally, my fingers hang up on steel strings, especially flats, so all i use now are nickel rounds and it works out a lot better.

 

[DaneB]

Man, I'm totally the opposite, my hands and fingers are always sweaty as hell.

 

[Stumbo]

Finger Ease
Link Removed

Another thing I found that helps is to wash your hands before playing (get all the load-in dirt off) and then rub some talcum powder on your hands. If you don't have time to wash up, using some of those packaged towelettes is helpful to carry with you.

 

[RobBobBass]

Thank You to everyone who replied. I just joined TB and it is nice to know that questions get seriously answered.

Steel Flats are what I have, and now you have me thinking of changing over to Nickel.

Thanks again everyone!

RobBob

 

[Carver]

Finger Ease
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+1

 

[onlyclave]

I've seen Tom Wakeling from Clackamas Community College smear Vaseline on his hands and strings of his double bass before playing to make his shifting sound smoother.

I personally wouldn't do that but it works for him.

http://depts.clackamas.edu/music/TomWakeling.htm

 

[RED5]

My hands don't dry out. It's humid as an armpit here all season. I have to try to not pick up anything wet in my left hand, like a water bottle. If I do? it's like Krazy glue, my hand sticks to the finish on the neck, oiled or finished, no difference. I have a bottle of baby powder right on hand to aleviate the problem. The new problem is cleaning off the fingerboard after a gig, and them dusting off everything else, (I use a liberal amount, probably gonna find out ticauses premature knuckle corruption)) Quite literally on the other hand? I try to keep the fingertips a little damp, for traction, I can gallop like a pony under the proper circumstances,Heh!

 

[dragon574444]

Wow, I thought I was weird for using the oils from the skin on my nose. Guess it's a common thing... Won't that make the strings go dead quicker though?

 

[tjbsilv]

+1

I use Fast Fret. It's like a stick with a liquid impregnated onto the stick that you rub on your fretboard and strings. I also rub it on the back of my neck and on my left fingertips as well. It helps keep the fingerboard slippery and keeps your fingers from sticking. It also has the extra added bonus of resisting sweat and thereby prolonging your string life.

TJ

 

[jmac]

Wow, I thought I was weird for using the oils from the skin on my nose. Guess it's a common thing... Won't that make the strings go dead quicker though?

Yes, the use of nose grease is a common "technique." And yes, it will contribute to the death of strings; which is why I wipe my strings down with rubbing alcohol after every use.