New Player - how much callus is too much too soon?

[AndyPanda]

I'm an older (60) guy been playing other instruments professionally for ages - just took up the bass about two weeks ago and I find that practicing bass is all I want to do. Hours and hours each day and my finger tips are getting so callused that I have trouble typing on the computer (can't feel when I'm touching the keys) and I can't work my touch screen devices (smart phone, iPad/iPod etc) because the screens can't detect that my skin is touching the screens.

I mean I'm loving every minute playing the bass - and the calluses aren't peeling off or anything (at least not so far). But I'm wondering if I need to slow down and let things build up at a more gradual pace? Or OK to keep going like this? Is it normal (do you guys remember when you started?) to have that numb tingling in your finger tips all the time? It doesn't hurt when I play the bass (not at all) but when I stop playing the bass and - for example, if I drum my fingers on the desk - it hurts a little and the fingertips feel bruised.

My bass has round wound strings BTW - just measured the strings at 45-65-85-105. I like the sound of round wound - but would I be better served to learn on flats? Or a lighter gauge until I build up some finger strength?

 

[fearceol]

just took up the bass about two weeks ago. Hours and hours each day...

It would appear that you have been over doing it. Increasing the playing duration gradually is the best way to go.

Cant be of any more practical help, as I have never suffered from either blisters or calluses.

 

[smeet]

Try lightening your touch in both hands. There's no need to hit a bass hard, and you'll find you have ore control once you get used to playing lightly.

 

[Kindred_]

just try a pick if fingerstyle hurt you so much.
but after year of playing with fingers i guess there will be no issues with hurshening fingertips, since you practice it every day.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Beginners always attack way too hard.

 

[AndyPanda]

I'm actually attacking very lightly with the plucking fingers - practicing to get index and middle finger to pluck consistently (haven't gotten the ring finger involved much yet) It's more the fretting fingers. And I have the action adjusted very low and easy (at the 12th fret a penny will just fit under the G and a nickle under the E) - nice straight fingerboard and level frets and nut adjusted well. I'm fretting just hard enough to prevent the E string rattling against the fret I'm fingering. I've got pro experience on a number of other instruments - so I know all about practicing efficient finger movement and that is how I am practicing - not working any harder than is needed to produce the sound.

I wonder if it would be of benefit to go to a lighter string gauge? Or does the 45-105 sound pretty standard for beginner?

 

[smeet]

The calluses are no big deal. I used to have visible calluses when I started, now I have calluses, but you can't tell. I'm more concerned about the pain and especially tingling in your fingertips.

Maybe you need a good setup on the bass to make it easier to fret. Also for some players, it's much easier to fret with the pad of the finger rather than the tip.

Or, maybe you are just doing too much too soon. Electric bass (unlike upright) shouldn't require much strength to play. But it does take your body some time to get used to playing it for hours a day.

Or, your form is not good and that's causing stress you aren't aware of. A couple of lessons with a good bass teacher (not a guitarist who teaches bass) can save you years of pain.

You shouldn't need different strings as a beginner.

What other instruments do you play?

 

[AndyPanda]

I have a good setup with low action - the setup is fine - no string buzz unless I simply don't press the string down hard enough to hold it against the fret.

My form, I'm sure, needs work - though I've researched proper form and I believe I am practicing correctly. I have the bass up high so it remains same position on body when I stand as it was sitting and resting on my knee.

I am practicing (I'm obsessed) about 8 hours a day on round wound strings for the past two weeks. I have never played stringed instruments before. I play keyboards, saxes, flutes, accordion, harmonica etc. (Nothing that involves developing calluses on fingers - but instruments where I have experience with the concept of no wasted motion and relaxed hand/body position etc.)

 

[AndyPanda]

If it helps any, to give an idea of where I am in technique (or lack thereof) ... here is an mp3 of me practicing the first exercise in "The Latin Bass Book".

I'm struggling to learn proper muting - trying to do the floating thumb on E and A at least but I end up with a lot of ringing still.

 

[okcrum]

You should go lightly one day a week. Other than that, I see nothing at all wrong in your having developed calluses. They are normal for a full time player. Likely you've got a little bruise or blister if it hurts when you tap, nothing major. Once you get enough callus, you know you're hitting too hard if you're bruised. It's self governing. You'll get another set every time you learn a new technique like thumb or slap. If you simply must avoid calluses at all costs when playing, use a nail file to thin them, or a pick.

 

[smeet]

It's not necessarily bad to develop thick calluses but it is a sign that you are doing something "wrong". Now, the wrongness might simply be that you are playing too much for the current development of your hands. It may be fine. Calluses are not a big deal. Pain is a big deal, and you should look into why things are hurting or tingling (which is scary because it could point to pinched nerves or similar).

If you are an experienced musician but have never played a stringed instrument before, I urge you to take at least a couple of lessons with a good teacher. General principles always apply across families of instruments, but there are subtleties that as a beginning bass player you may not pick up on. For some beginners, these subtleties may not matter. But for you, playing 8 hours a day, it is much more important to get started right.

Again, use whatever type of string you want. There are no "beginner" or "advanced" strings. Yes, it's always better to get your body used to things slowly, but I don't see a problem with what you are doing , unless you are hurting yourself. The problem there, is if you are new to an instrument, you may not recognize the injury until it is fairly severe. If I were to start playing a bassoon, I would have a good musical understanding since I play bass/violin/guitar/piano. But I'm not a wind player, so some of my physical knowledge just wouldn't transfer.

As I said, experiment with touching the string not with the very tip of the finger, but the larger, softer "tip" that has some padding. Also, make sure both wrists are as straight as possible, both in terms of bend and twist. A lot of players play with a severely bent wrist in one or the other hand. Some people are OK with this, while others can develop serious injury, depending on their personal physiques.

Also, use your bigger muscles. Do NOT squeeze the neck between thumb and finger. Instead, pull back on the neck with your arm/shoulder, as if you were hanging from the neck. You should be able to remove your thumb from the back of the neck and continue playing.

I suspect your excessive callus growth and pain is simply from the shock to your system from 8 hours a day of playing. Take a lesson or two so you know you won't hurt yourself, and listen to what your body is telling you.

 

[AndyPanda]

Thanks so much for that reply ... that is exactly the info I was searching for.

Now to find a great bass teacher in my area - does TB have a resource for that?

 

[smeet]

Thanks so much for that reply ... that is exactly the info I was searching for.

Now to find a great bass teacher in my area - does TB have a resource for that?

Not sure... But I used to live in Alameda last century, and I studied with Michael Wilcox, who I thought was very good. I don't have his contact info any more, but he should be easy to find.

 

[okcrum]

So how do you all practice 8 hr. a day without getting calluses? Having calluses is "wrong" exactly how? I find that position rather hard to believe. How do I "hang" off the neck of my upright so I don't have to squeeze the neck between thumb and finger?

 

[AndyPanda]

I've pretty much decided the question about calluses just led me down a rabbit hole mostly - I think having calluses seems pretty normal considering what I'm putting my fingers through - only problem I'm having with it is that it's hard to work my smart phone since it doesn't recognize that my finger is touching the screen sometimes (guess I'll learn to use my pinky to work the phone)

However - I have been trying the idea about pulling with my arm rather than squeezing between thumb and fingers and it feel a lot better so far. It does seem to put more of my finger on the frets instead of just the tip. And I have not had any luck previously with fretting two or more strings with same finger (so if I'm playing a G up to C on same fret I've been using two fingertips and G up to C and then G down to D and I'm using three finger tips on same fret) - and I find that trying the suggestion of pulling back on the neck instead of pinching with my thumb seems to naturally allow my finger to cover and hold more than one string against the fret and my hand feels better. So that seems like a pretty good suggestion from what I can tell so far.

I'm still so new to all this that I'm sure I'll be changing things a lot while I build up strength and settle in on the technique that works best for me.

 

[elBandito]

I think using your arm to fret the notes would be considered bad form. Probably best to isolate the movements down to your finger joints. But, I don't SQUEEZE the neck. I fret very lightly, and never had any pain. Squaring my shoulders automatically applies the pressure without having to actively "fret with my arm". When I take the supporting thumb off the neck, my shoulder is counteracting the pressure off my fretting hand, but I wouldn't say I'm consciously using my arms to help my fingers fret the notes.

I don't even get callusses anymore. Once the initial thick layer of callus peels away, my finger tips don't seem to accumulate any more dead skin, but they're not as sensitive as natural skin either. I play at least an hour daily.

 

[mellowinman]

When your calluses make it so you can no longer operate a doorknob, that would be too much.

 

[Grape Heavy]

I am a Plumbing, Heating, and A/C Contractor. I play with burns, cuts, calluses, and the occasional injured finger. I have actually picked up techniques to avoid further injuring my hands. No Such Thing as too much calluses. Play however you can.

 

[huckleberry1]

mine don't bother me too much, but I am a diabetic and have to test the sides of my fingertips...

 

[comatosedragon]

Also, use your bigger muscles. Do NOT squeeze the neck between thumb and finger. Instead, pull back on the neck with your arm/shoulder, as if you were hanging from the neck. You should be able to remove your thumb from the back of the neck and continue playing.

Wow. I found this thread by accident earlier this evening while searching for something else, but I have to tell you, this is the best advice I have ever seen! It may have been obvious to some people, but it wasn't for me, and this one (seeming simple) thing has already made a world of difference for me! I can't thank you enough! I mean wow. I had to stop practicing just now to post this! Thanks!