Wearing out my fingers...

[JW56789]

I initially only played with a pick, and over time transitioned to pick/fast stuff and fingers/slow stuff, and eventually to fingers/everything, but this was over several years. I did flirt with the raw fingers, but over time the calluses came.

Hard to add different technique on the fly, but playing with a pick will give your hands time to recover. I think pick playing is way overlooked these days, and it shouldn't be.

Also, not enough amp will kill you. Been there, done that, and have lived to firmly grasp the 'big amp turned up to 3' concept. I started out with amps that could 'just' keep up, and I broke strings trying, framed the hell out of 'em trying o hear myself. Had I been playing with my fingers doing this, I may not have broken any strings, but my fingers would have looked like Steak Tartare.

In my middle age, I discovered more horsepower and the volume knob. Who knew ? ? ?

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Light up your attack

Use Emu Oil on those wounds and put some fabric bandage like Band-Aid. It will be tolerable.

Maybe use a pick on the slow tunes etc to give a break to your fingers.

 

[HertzWhenIPlay]

Super glue will not kill you and it works great.

 

[Hounddog409]

First, for anyone that doesn't know me, I'm not a newbie. Been playing over 30 years, always active, have toured lots with lots of different groups, played in bands that play 5X a week, yada, yada...

My new band however is a new animal. I've had a string of gigs like never before. Played 7 shows in the past 2 weeks, and they're all three 1 hour sets of fairly high energy music. In between those gigs I'm learning new songs, so I'm playing now more than ever before.

My right hand fingers are for the first time ever getting ripped to shreds and I have to do something about it. It's painful and I'm starting to get concerned about permanent damage, or infection. I started using a liquid band-aide thing before playing, but it only helps minimally. It allowed the cut to heal, but my finger is raw, and if I don't lay off the bass for a couple of days it's going to open right up again.

I've heard of the crazy glue method of doing things, but I'd like to know more. Anyone know if that can cause serious damage to an open wound? Is it a safe thing to do? Does it really work?

Are there any other options aside from the idea of lightening up, which I have - but sometimes don't want to.

I may have to resort to a pick playing till this thing heals completely, but I don't want really want to do that either, unless absolutely necessary.

Thoughts? Help? Info on crazy glue? Experience?

Hey Joe. My wife is an RN. She says The use of crazy glue is actually a thing in the medical field.

Apparently it is steril and is used to close wounds in some cases.

Not sure how long it will last, but it should not cause any additional damage.

 

[Kmonk]

I used to play the various "Bike Week" shows around the country, sometimes playing as many as 15 shows over 11 days. My fingers would get sore but not too bad. I think you either have to deal with it until you develop thicker calluses. Either that or use pick or play with a lighter touch. Even playing hard rock, sometimes a lighter touch will sound better.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I can't stand using bandaids so always keep a supply of the tiny little tubes of cyanoacrylate from the dollar store around. If I get a cut anywhere that's going to be a problem I seal it up with the stuff. Exposure to moisture helps to cure it so I tape over the opened tube with masking tape but it'll be solid within two weeks maximum. That's why I seek out the tiny little tubes.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Is that true, or is it just something someone once said that people have come to believe? Are they using actual crazy glue, as in the same chemical compound? Or something that surgically glues wounds together that seems to work just like crazy glue?

The use of super glue to close cuts without stitches was common practice during the Viet Nam war for battlefield treatment of wounds well before the stuff hit the public market. So yeah, it works.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

First, for anyone that doesn't know me, I'm not a newbie. Been playing over 30 years, always active, have toured lots with lots of different groups, played in bands that play 5X a week, yada, yada...

My new band however is a new animal. I've had a string of gigs like never before. Played 7 shows in the past 2 weeks, and they're all three 1 hour sets of fairly high energy music. In between those gigs I'm learning new songs, so I'm playing now more than ever before.

My right hand fingers are for the first time ever getting ripped to shreds and I have to do something about it. It's painful and I'm starting to get concerned about permanent damage, or infection. I started using a liquid band-aide thing before playing, but it only helps minimally. It allowed the cut to heal, but my finger is raw, and if I don't lay off the bass for a couple of days it's going to open right up again.

I've heard of the crazy glue method of doing things, but I'd like to know more. Anyone know if that can cause serious damage to an open wound? Is it a safe thing to do? Does it really work?

Are there any other options aside from the idea of lightening up, which I have - but sometimes don't want to.

I may have to resort to a pick playing till this thing heals completely, but I don't want really want to do that either, unless absolutely necessary.

Thoughts? Help? Info on crazy glue? Experience?

You could always use tape-wound strings...

 

[40Hz]

Pick? Volume pedal, programmable EQ pedal, compressor, or other quick technical fix to better avoid damaging things that can't be repaied, only heal?

I almost always play with a fairly light touch and seldom need to dig in to get the sound I'm shooting for.

About the only time I catch myself digging in is when I get anxious about something or overly enthusiastic. So in my case it isn't something I need to do. Otherwise I'd always be doing it. It's just something I do when I get overly cranked up while playing. Don't know if that applies to you. Just tossing out ideas.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Strength training is an absolute must for me. 3-4 times a week of weights and machines. When I slack off my hands, neck, shoulders and arms can all start to act up on me.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

TI Rounds. Yah, you heard me, rounds! You could play them even if you had hard boiled eggs for fingers. Superb sounding as well. BSO has the best price on them.

 

[Spent]

Steel strings do a number on my fingers, but nickel feels smooth, almost slippery. It's gotten to the point that I can't even touch steel anymore. I used to love D'Addario chromes, they were all I played, but now I can't stand the way they feel. Maybe try a different string, even tape wounds. I've also been playing about 30 years and this just started a few years ago.

 

[BAG]

OK, i'm guilty of not reading all posts so if this has been said just ignore and move on.

There is such a thing as medical super glue (or crazy glue I think some people call it over there in the US) but it is very expensive (at least it is here in Oz..... but what isn't stupid expensive here). In saying that, i'm not sure how well it would work when you keep playing with the damaged fingers.

Sounds like pick playing might be on the cards for you.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

We all pay a price for our art. I used to give plasma at BioLife and they used a fingerprint check-in procedure. It rarely worked for me. Apparently, all the decades of me being a photographer, loading large sheet film, tray processing thousands of large prints, loading watercolor paper into inkjet printers has left me with very little ridge detail left. Perhaps a career in thievery awaits for my unique features now.

 

[leegreenman]

As many have suggested, flats might help. Is that an option? I'm really digging LaBella Low Tension Flats. Similar feel to TIs.
What about those gloves Scott Devine wears?

 

[two fingers]

Steel strings do a number on my fingers, but nickel feels smooth, almost slippery. It's gotten to the point that I can't even touch steel anymore. I used to love D'Addario chromes, they were all I played, but now I can't stand the way they feel. Maybe try a different string, even tape wounds. I've also been playing about 30 years and this just started a few years ago.

Yeah this is a good point too! Steel atrings stick to my fingers bad. If you arw using steel strings @Joe Nerve try some nickels. Depending on your body chemistry they may stick less.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Nu Skin might be a better choice than crazy glue. Easier to work with and apply.

 

[non]

Nu Skin might be a better choice than crazy glue. Easier to work with and apply.

this. plus you can open the bottle and dip your whole first knuckle.

 

[Russell L]

I use a good bit of fingernail on my plucking fingers. That, along with using a fairly light touch has prevented me from developing callouse on those fingers. Don't even need callouses. I could play 24 hours a day, seven days a week like this.

 

[bassliner50]

Good news is you are playing so frequently. (Think of those crappy times when gigs dried up.) As others have pointed out, drive your amp a little harder and use a light (but accurate) touch with your finger tips. You'l get through this and become a stronger player. Good luck.