Paying gigs, four to eight a month. Add another eight to ten forays out the door for rehearsals, unpaid showcases or open mics, or just jammin' with my buddies. Yeah, I play a lot ... but as a young retiree I've got LOTS of time for it.
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How often do you play out?
- Thread starter Russell L
- Start date
Well, what I was getting at is how much time outside of home are your fingers getting action. To me, it's just about as tiring to go to a rehearsal as to play a gig, except for not having to haul as much equipment.
Anyone have sore fingers? I have been having a sore pinky that comes and goes on my fretting hand. I thought it was healed, but now it hurts again. Started at a jam one night over a month ago. It worries me. I don't over play, though. It's just something that came up all of a sudden. The doc will take a look next week.
Yup. But is it the finger-tip, joints or base of the finger?
About 8 years ago (age 44), I noticed less flexibility in my picking hand & as time progressed, an ache that doesn't leave very often. Can't flatten my hand even pressing it against a table top either. I assumed it was arthritis since I'm getting older, but as it progressed I finally saw a specialist maybe 5 years ago & was diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture.
It's basically a thickening of the tendons in the hand. Not life threatening, but not particularly comfortable for a guitar or bass player.
Affects my thumb, index, ring & pinky fingers (I live in NJ so it's a good thing it didn't affect my middle finger because around here, I need that one when I drive
).A nuisance, but like most other things, you get used to it & work around it.
Yup. But is it the finger-tip, joints or base of the finger?
About 8 years ago (age 44), I noticed less flexibility in my picking hand & as time progressed, an ache that doesn't leave very often. Can't flatten my hand even pressing it against a table top either. I assumed it was arthritis since I'm getting older, but as it progressed I finally saw a specialist maybe 5 years ago & was diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture.
It's basically a thickening of the tendons in the hand. Not life threatening, but not particularly comfortable for a guitar or bass player.
Affects my thumb, index, ring & pinky fingers (I live in NJ so it's a good thing it didn't affect my middle finger because around here, I need that one when I drive
A nuisance, but like most other things, you get used to it & work around it.
Sorry I haven't replied yet, I was...uh...playing out.
It's the fingertip, or that is, right under my callous. It stopped hurting again for the weekend. Played a gig and had a rehearsal with no trouble at all. Weird.
FWIW, on the fretting hand, I've actually developed blisters under the callouses. Usually from playing very busy, quick & repetitive lines (especially if there's vibrato or bending involved ala Les Claypool. Roundwounds make for an extra-special treat) that cause the callous to move on the fingertip. You don't see the blister, but brother can you ever feel it. Hurts like a motherf**ker and takes quite awhile to go away since they don't drain like a normal blister.
They do go away eventually, but if you aggrivate one that's just about healed, that could account for the pain seeming to come & go. I'm no doctor, so I'd have it looked at, but probably nothing too serious.
Let's face it, there's lots of opportunity for hand/finger trauma given the nature of how our instruments are played.
Wish you all the best...
Thanks, pal.
Hijacking my own thread here, lol. But, I do see something on my fingertip that looks like it could be just what you describe. It's so faint, though, that I can't be sure I'm really seeing anything. Can't feel any shape to it so I'm just not sure. It's right at the edge of my callous. I played a 3-hour jam Monday night (the only bass player) with no probs, and still no more pain, so maybe it has healed by now. That made three nights in a row. But I'll be real careful from here on.
Back on topic, I guess we all have to watch out we don't overdo it playing out so much.
Played out three times since my last post on the 19th. I'm glad not to have anything the rest of this week, though, until Saturday (rehearsal) and Sunday (gig). Jammed last night with the blues guys at the "Blues Shack" (now that group is taking it out once a month every third Tuesday at a local venue, starting in October).
Gotta call a lady back about asking me if I'm interested or available for her project. Nope, I got enough.
Gotta call a lady back about asking me if I'm interested or available for her project. Nope, I got enough.
Usually 1x per month or so, but things are heating up as of late. Twice per month on Sunday mornings (church), twice per month on Saturday nights (blues band) and two or so per month outside of that, for the remainder of the year. Im loving it!
EDIT: rehearsals, too? Twice per month for church, four times per month for blues, and four times per month for school jazz band.
At sixteen, I sure am lucky to play that much.
EDIT: rehearsals, too? Twice per month for church, four times per month for blues, and four times per month for school jazz band.
At sixteen, I sure am lucky to play that much.
