Bass playin' finger injuries

[Whoopysnorp]

The bass player in my band has a terrible time with blisters on his pickin' hand. I don't know how much he practices outside of band practice, but he says that no matter how much he plays he doesn't build up calluses there or something, and he always winds up with nasty ugly blisters after playing our set. I don't know whether his technique is to blame, or what. Does anybody know any tricks to preserve the bass playin' fingers? Like maybe something you could wrap them with?

 

[Roel]

If he's playing with a pick, then something's wrong with his technique. Offcourse. You play with a pick or you don't. Alot of people play with a pick but unconsciesly use their thumb too. Me no like.

If he's playing with his fingers... Well.... I don't know. Normally the body will adapt itself to it. But it takes time... Unless he's practicing just too much and he's wearing of his skin before it got the chance to grow back.

If the latter is the case, you can use a trick that I once read Stevie Ray Vaughn used. Don't know if it's true though. You take some superglue, stick your fingers to your arm, and rip off the skin there. More skin on your fingers to wear off. You don't ues your arms when playing anyway.

I really read that in a guitarmag. Sounds pretty dumb to me. I would try glueing other stuff, but ripping skin off yer arm?

 

[Scooter B]

This problem is more frequent with upright bass platers who have been known to tape their fingers.

I went from guitar to bass and a little problem with "rawness" but no blisters. My problem was primrily do due an underpowered bass amp requiring me to play much too hard to be heard over a Fender twin.

Most (but not all) bass players find a better tone with a soft touch and a loud amp. Your harder hitting guys are more heavy metal typically (Steve Harris-Iron Maiden) although John Entwisle (IP) was affectionately known as Thunder Fingers.

I would recomend playing with a softer touch until his/her calluses (sp?) are more developed. This takes alot of concentration and focus playing live as the energy and excitement of playing live will make you want to play harder.

John Pattituci has recomended and used Liquid Skin to cover sore spots but it did not work well for me.

Just my 2 bassplaying cents.

 

[Lame Thrower]

Just tell him to sack up and be a man about it!

Chicks dig a bloody bass!

 

[cordura21]

I heard the guys of Korn saying that they put that instant glue on their fingers beforre playing, cause they hit the strings so hard that they bleed all the time.

 

[Seanmorse79]

I read a similar article about SRV & superglue (it's almost a legend). Thing is, he used superglue only because it was handy.

Have him try Nu-Skin - it'll do the same thing as superglue but it's less toxic. You can get it at the drug store. I've used it before when I had a cut on my left hand - unfortunately not as cool as playing 'till my fingers bled It worked very well, nonetheless.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Hmm, those sound like some intriguing products. I'll have him check those out. If he can't play the notes right, he's no good to me!

And he is using his fingers, by the way. It would be a very serious problem if he was getting blisters from a pick.

 

[kevin fox]

I"ve been playing bass for 30 years amd like Scooter B, started with an under powered amp which made me play extremely hard.

Even today i play with a lot of power through my hands which gives me "My" style that I Love ( and hopefully others )

Playing upright Bass and Electric on stage 3 nights per week I have always taped my fingers. If I was to play soft and turn up the volume a lot of the magic would be gone. It just depends on the individual.

Cheers

Kev