^this^
I've used CA plenty of times when my fingers were raw or cut open and i had to play.
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I've used CA plenty of times when my fingers were raw or cut open and i had to play.
Your going to have to retrain your right hand. Which includes breaking lifelong habits. It might take a while, but it'll be worth it. Being mindful of playing light is the starting place.
A pick, lighter technique and strings, thumb stroking, anything to develope more options than just toughing it out. It's going to be hard to do when the party starts hopping. You'll need to incorporate it while you are learning new tunes. You guys are probably too busy working to rehearse.
More amp volume and running your bass volume more in the middle, so you have some horsepower on tap. You have to be able to hear or you'll just dig in to compensate.
Only other suggestion I have is double edged: are you battling a compressor? Or might a compressor help fatten and focus your sound?
Maybe practice a palm muted pick on the slower ballads and save your fingers for later. Pick the heavy rockers too.
Skip the glue.
Once you get blisters under the callous, those finger tips are toast for a long time.
A pick, lighter technique and strings, thumb stroking, anything to develope more options than just toughing it out. It's going to be hard to do when the party starts hopping. You'll need to incorporate it while you are learning new tunes. You guys are probably too busy working to rehearse.
More amp volume and running your bass volume more in the middle, so you have some horsepower on tap. You have to be able to hear or you'll just dig in to compensate.
Only other suggestion I have is double edged: are you battling a compressor? Or might a compressor help fatten and focus your sound?
Maybe practice a palm muted pick on the slower ballads and save your fingers for later. Pick the heavy rockers too.
Skip the glue.
Once you get blisters under the callous, those finger tips are toast for a long time.
Jazzed up you avatar for the holiday? Spiffy!I was right there with you a decade go. We were getting after it hard. We once did 14 days in a row with a double on one Saturday. We also did three shows on another Saturday...three full four hour shows. We also got crazy and broke the previous record at a club by playing over 4 1/2 hours with no break. (We even ordered a pizza from stage and I ate pizza with my right hand while tapping out a bass line with my left.)
Here's what worked for me.
1) Your calluses should build up at some point. At that time in my life, if I tapped my plucking fingers on a table it sounded like you were tapping the table with a ball point pen. They still sound kinda plastic to this day. I have no feeling whatsoever in the last 1/4" of my index and middle finger.
2) Brother, trust me here. Get down with a pick. It took me well over 15 years of playing to cave and start learning with a pick. You could probably find posts of mine from years ago here where I blasted picks and pick players. I have seen the light for several reasons. First off, it gives you another weapon to create a different sound (never mind a sound that would kill in your GnR songs just to name one artist). Second, it gives you a safety net. Get a bad cramp in your plucking hand? Grab a pick and work it out when the song is over. Cut your plucking index finger on your wife's bra hook? No biggie. Grab a pick and go to work. Go to a shop and buy every color in the rainbow of picks (cuz their cheap) and use what works for YOU. I use everything from the ones that feel like a plastic quarter to the ones that feel like piece of a milk carton. My mic stand pick holder looks like a bunch of squished Skittles. I grab whatever pick works best for a given song or technique.
I am still primarily a finger player. But I am equally as comfortable with a pick. Anything I can play with my fingers I can play with a pick.
3) Get down with the side of your thumb. If you are playing in a party band your are bound to be breaking off some Motown and ballads. Wanna cop that Jamerson tone? Use the side of your thumb to pluck up by the board. No he didn't do it that way. But was wasn't a regular mortal human either. Wanna cop a fat round upright sound? Same thing. Yes, the side of your thumb will be soar for a little while too. But once it's up to speed, it will give your other fingertips a well-deserved break. Just use the bottom of a pickup as a "tug bar" and anchor point. Then stroke downward with the side of your thumb. I don't mean thumbing like Larry Graham where you drop the hammer on the string. I mean plucking like you do upward with your index finger, only downward with the side of your thumb. This one will won't require nearly the practice that a pick will. In fact, you can implement this technique the next time a ballad is called your very next show. I am currently working on my upstroke as well. No, I don't need Victor Wooten licks. But it does add yet another dimension to it that could prove useful later on. Just like using a pick, you don't have to do it up by the board. It works just as well near the bridge and offer even more tonal variety. I have gotten so sure with it I can do it without even anchoring these days. It almost looks like I'm holding a pick but I'm not.
You get those other techniques up to par and not only will you have half a dozen new tones at your disposal, and a safety net for injuries and pain, but you will give your fingers a break so they probably won't hurt as bad anyway.
Best part? No pills!
Congrats on having lots of work!
Another thought, (it's early morning here so they're coming in short bursts) is to learn the "flamenco" technique Geddy Lee uses. Especially if you're playing lots of 8th or 16th notes, half the notes are played with your fingernail and the other half (the down picking notes) use a different part of your finger to normal, so it spreads the load a little. It took me a lot of work to get it right, but I find it pretty useful now.
Ha! Thanks. I just found it on the interwebz and stole it. I don't know nutn bout no graphics.
Don't let pride stand in the way of using a pick. JPJ used both so why can't you?
I have the same problem, worse this time of year due to humidity. I believe I found the answer here on TB. Tea Tree Oil. You can get it at any Health Food Place or online. I use the 100% pure. Use it the night before a gig ( a drop on each finger) and after. It has saved me from a lot of pain and discomfort. It smells really bad (when applying) but works great!
It's true about super-glue and wounds. There's actually a brand called "Dermabond" which of course means skin glue. Stevie Ray Vaughn famously used cyanoacrylate to keep his nails attached to his finger tips because he bent so hard with medium gauge strings.
I don't think I could play without an amp - that's got to be a big part of it - and of course the sheer amount of gigs can't be overlooked.
I'd second the suggestions about playing with a pick or the thumb until the finger pads heal.
I used crazy glue for a stretch. It works great but it tears off the good skin eventually. I now just use New Skin for occasional maintenance.
I'd second the suggestions about playing with a pick or the thumb until the finger pads heal.
I used crazy glue for a stretch. It works great but it tears off the good skin eventually. I now just use New Skin for occasional maintenance.
I had problems with my fingers cracking and used liquid bandaid ( which will get you through in a pinch) as well as super glue. This was still not correcting the root cause. Not until I found this [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] did everything change. I use this once a day working it into problem areas. Best stuff I've found.
Maybe try using more fingers to distribute the load more evenly. I use everything but pinky for playing br00ts.
Once I got a "loud enough" rig I was able to generally lighten up my touch which helped with a range of RH issues I was starting to develop.
Once I got a "loud enough" rig I was able to generally lighten up my touch which helped with a range of RH issues I was starting to develop.
lotsa good things here!
I would add possibly some fast fret stuff on the strings where your right hand fingers touch, to possibly ease the friction on the strings. Maybe some sort of salve or sumpin before & after you play, so smooth out the fingering.
Also, try using your ring finger on your right hand to pluck some notes. I know, weird and stuff, but I tell ya, one time I broke my finger before a tour, and had to learn really quick how to use my ring finger to play 16th notes. I learned it, and it is still a tool I employ to this day.
I would add possibly some fast fret stuff on the strings where your right hand fingers touch, to possibly ease the friction on the strings. Maybe some sort of salve or sumpin before & after you play, so smooth out the fingering.
Also, try using your ring finger on your right hand to pluck some notes. I know, weird and stuff, but I tell ya, one time I broke my finger before a tour, and had to learn really quick how to use my ring finger to play 16th notes. I learned it, and it is still a tool I employ to this day.
i haven't read thru the other replies and i'm same as you and naturally pluck hard. to last longer i play with a pick during the boring stuff where i don't need to be 'expressive'. for some songs i get away by 'slapping' lightly with the tone rolled totally off and sound like i'm not slapping. i also palm mute and play with my thumb on some slow passages. anything to spare my index and middle finger the wear and tear and i save that for material i really enjoy.
i 'wear' my bass high with my forearm resting on the instrument so i'm one of those who got used to playing with a dangerous hand angle. i developed bursitis possibly because of this and i my right hand gets tired really fast if i don't watch how hard i pick. i've also learned to turn the amp up whenever possible so i'm forced to play lightly like jeff berlin advises.
i would not advise any 'chemical solution' as those things have unknown harmful effects. the fumes alone are dangerous enough.
