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Fingers bleeding/Blistering after playing.
- Thread starter misslynn909
- Start date
I play with a heavy touch. My tone is about digging into the strings a bit. I just got back to playing after a busy hiatus, and am going through the same callus build up / blistering process.
You can develop a lighter touch and turn the amp up -- this is a more professional approach and will serve you in the long run in a variety of genres and professional situation. Or just keep playing hard and playing a lot and your body will make the adjustments and toughen up your fingers. Eventually, your calluses will even be so natural that your fingers won't even feel tough and hard, but they will cease to blister.
You can develop a lighter touch and turn the amp up -- this is a more professional approach and will serve you in the long run in a variety of genres and professional situation. Or just keep playing hard and playing a lot and your body will make the adjustments and toughen up your fingers. Eventually, your calluses will even be so natural that your fingers won't even feel tough and hard, but they will cease to blister.
Happens to everyone at the beginning and eventually they'll just callous over. Until then, many coats of Liquid Skin.
I'm going on vacation in a few weeks. I have really hard callouses, and I hate the idea of losing them. When I'm on vacation, I find places to abrade my fingertips - usually concrete. It sounds odd, but keeping my callouses is something that normally I don't have to worry about (I play every day), but when I'm on vacation, I have to think about it.
I often have eczema flair ups that make the finger tips crack and bleed on my plucking fingers. I use these musician gloves and they are a life saver and I highly recommend.
I super glue (Krazy glue) the cracks then use the glove.
I first saw them being used by Scott Devine.
The gloves still allow callouses to build up and at the same time protect the finger tips.
The tone on the bass changes to a deeper tone (which I like) but is workable with the tone knob and amp settings.
I super glue (Krazy glue) the cracks then use the glove.
I first saw them being used by Scott Devine.
The gloves still allow callouses to build up and at the same time protect the finger tips.
The tone on the bass changes to a deeper tone (which I like) but is workable with the tone knob and amp settings.
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This is good advice, and it's common to several other posts.
I've seen many beginners working too hard. Specifically, they're applying too much force between string and fret. Learning to play with a lighter touch will come with practice and experience. A low action can be helpful, particularly for a beginner, but that will eventually become a matter of preference.
While you let your fingers heal, watch some videos on setup, fretting, and muting techniques. Scott Devine's lessons are very good:
Be aware he's measuring action height in millimeters.
Strange things happen with your hands. I started playing guitar when I was 8. I can remember the pain. But now on my left (fretting) hand my fingers (last joint to end of finger) are longer, especially the pinky. and quite noticeably. Give your body time to compensate. Keep thumping!!
Variety in hand technique is good, too.
When my fingers get sore, or I want more of a pick sound, I just hold my thumb and forefinger as though I were holding a pick and "make" a pick out of my thumbnail and fingernail. It provides a break, and gets a warmer tone than just a pick. Plus there is nothing to drop!
When my fingers get sore, or I want more of a pick sound, I just hold my thumb and forefinger as though I were holding a pick and "make" a pick out of my thumbnail and fingernail. It provides a break, and gets a warmer tone than just a pick. Plus there is nothing to drop!
LATE? How is that late? I played drums for 35 years and had to quit. Now I'm getting back into music at 65 years old. Gonna be a bass player! I don't consider myself late. You have one thing that may eventually make you a great musician - desire. If you have that going for you it doesn't matter when you start.
Thanx for your post. You have raised my level of desire another notch. Even though I am retired I find myself with another problem that you don't have. I find that there is not enough hours in the day to learn all that I want to know.
Oh well, life in the fast lane...
I started playing bass when I was 53. I'm going to be 55 in August. So, it's never too late. You sound much like myself about being "obsessed" with playing... although I think I used the term, "addicted". However, I practiced 6-7 hours a day, every day for the first year or so... which meant going to bed on work nights at 3am occasionally. I still pick up the bass as often as I can. I never got one blister but I did develop some callouses, which helped eliminate the pain. I was using round wound strings at the time and for the last few months I have switched to flats (GHS Precision Flats). Take occasional breaks... your body and fingers/hands need it. Also, develop proper right and left hand technique and avoid things like tendinitis. Good luck!
And my opinion would be NO to this solution. You need to heal and this will just slow down that process if it allows it. It'll keep the blood off your bass, but will not allow your body to do what it does naturally. Get your self healed and then go back to shorter sessions until your callouses are built up. Sore fingers is one thing, but blisters and bleeding is quite another.
Fingers bleeding/Blistering after playing.
This will pass
Play more.
This will pass
Play more.
As mentioned already, play softer.
Also, play with relaxed hands/fingers. Often, beginners don't realize they are tensing up their hands and fingers; this causes you to naturally play harder, whether with your fingering hand or fretting hand (you may not need to push down as hard as you think if your instrument is set up well).
Also, are you using one or more plucking fingers? If you are just sticking to one, alternate between two or three fingers and even incorporate your thumb. Alter your plucking position. Using your thumb closer to the neck gives you a nice round tone and there is less tension there than closer to the bridge.
Also, play with relaxed hands/fingers. Often, beginners don't realize they are tensing up their hands and fingers; this causes you to naturally play harder, whether with your fingering hand or fretting hand (you may not need to push down as hard as you think if your instrument is set up well).
Also, are you using one or more plucking fingers? If you are just sticking to one, alternate between two or three fingers and even incorporate your thumb. Alter your plucking position. Using your thumb closer to the neck gives you a nice round tone and there is less tension there than closer to the bridge.
Hi misslynn909 
Welcome to TB!!!
...calluses you will have!
Honestly? They will come earlier!
In a few weeks it should be over. Rather practice one hour everyday, than 3 hours every 3rd day.
Nothing!
Have fun! 
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
Welcome to TB!!!
...calluses you will have!
Honestly? They will come earlier!
In a few weeks it should be over. Rather practice one hour everyday, than 3 hours every 3rd day.
Nothing!
Have fun! may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
I soaked my fingertips in rubbing alcohol for 30 seconds 3 times a day to help the callouses build. saw that on tb.
Lawd, I started learning bass at 44 years old. It was my first musical instrument since the 6th grade band class.
And for all you other 15 -75 year olds out there - not just shoveling ...
Also, be careful of superglue it can take yer skin & flesh off with it, especially if the weather is warm and humid.
