Possible Solution For Raw Finger!? Options » Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

[mhylands]

Alright, I have yet to try this out, but I was thinking about doing it. So, lately I've been having troubles with raw fingers, since I've been lazy and not playing bass very much, and then between three bands (two of which play at thrash speed) my fingers got messed up, . And then I was thinking about it, and how flatwounds would probably help prevent this problem, and if flatwounds could prevent it or make it not hurt as much with raw fingers, then why not try OIL on the finger tips. It would help prevent friction and allow you to play very fast without wearing out your fingertips! Yeah...that was my revelation of last night, so I think I'll try it sometime...eventually...maybe...hopefully. And if I ever do, I'll let you all know the results, .

By the way, others should post their solutions/prevention/theories here too if they have any!

[pusciferschild]

I know that electrical tape works good. I had three concerts back in high school and I had to play bass the whole time (like 5 hours worth of crap) and I was constantly jamming with the amp low, and I know that my fret fingers were killing me after a while, so I taped up my fingers, and had no problems afterwards, makes for a neat sound too.

[stew278]

Stevie Ray Vaughn played the heaviest gauge strings that he could get his hands on, to get that fat ass blues sound that he owned.

Problem was, during and after shows, he'd run into the same problems with raw fingers. His solution? I heard tell that he'd put super glue on his forearms, put his fingers then to his forearms, apply pressure, then rip off a new layer of skin.

Instant callouses!

[pusciferschild]

I forgot about superglue. I've done that before too. It works quite well, it gets to be a little bit uncomfortable though. haha. I liked the tape better. But the glue is an elite idea. (obviously if it was used by SRV)

[mhylands]

Stevie Ray Vaughn played the heaviest gauge strings that he could get his hands on, to get that fat ass blues sound that he owned.

Problem was, during and after shows, he'd run into the same problems with raw fingers. His solution? I heard tell that he'd put super glue on his forearms, put his fingers then to his forearms, apply pressure, then rip off a new layer of skin.

Instant callouses!

OUCH!

Haha, Stevie is a bigger man then I am, but I use very heavy gauge strings too, so who knows, I might have to resort to his technique, XD. The tape idea would work great, except it's my plucking fingers that I usually have problems with (except for like today where I just slided around way too much with one finger), so I need something that doesn't inhibit my ability, though now thinking about it, maybe electrical tape would work great...hmm...I'm gonna have to try it now,

[Surtr]

Take a lighter to your fingers for like 5-10 seconds. Instant calouses basically.

[big80smullet]

nah dude soak yur fingers in methylated spirits and then jam for a bit. Do it a couple of days in a row and it will harden your fingers up. I done that. it works good

[mhylands]

Haha, sounds like a good idea, I just don't know a good place to get any 'methylated spirits' around here.

[big80smullet]

you can get it at most supermarkets and hardware stores. I dont know what name it goes by in america. Its a cleaning solution. Its usually purple couse they put in a vomiting agent incase you drink it. Its not an oil based one its an alcohol based thing

[mhylands]

Alright, well I'll definitely keep an eye out for it then,

[big80smullet]

Works a treat! :thumb:

[T.O.]

I'd go with the lighter too...or once I played a gig with ducktape around my fingers. That was some smooth action!

[mhylands]

Haha, well even a year later, I have found that the best solution is simply to just keep playing a lot. The worse thing for you is to quit playing for a couple weeks, because then your fingers become tender again, so you have to keep playing to keep your callouses up.

[holdsg]

Haha, well even a year later, I have found that the best solution is simply to just keep playing a lot. The worse thing for you is to quit playing for a couple weeks, because then your fingers become tender again, so you have to keep playing to keep your callouses up.

Glad to know I was not the only one with messed up fingertips from so much hard playing. I played piano/keyboards all my life, but never had my fingers fried after 3 hours of hard playing. Just a burden we bassists must carry.

Other alternatives, not all of them good:

1) tell your obnoxious guitar player to TURN DOWN HIS STUPID AMP (so you don't have to pluck as hard as you can so as to be heard).

2) related to #1, buy a bigger amp (then its just an arms race with the guitarist)

3) use a pick. Almost every prof. bassist I see on tour plays with a pick, there has got to be more reasons than just tone and speed.

4) I agree with the "practice more", keep them callusses strong.

5) I hear that white debutante gloves are making a comeback? Nah, i was just spoofing on that one.

holdsg



5)

[mhylands]

Haha, great list, and I agree with most of them...well except for maybe the gloves. But that does remind me of when I once tried to play with gloves on (because it was winter, and it was cold), but needless to say it sounded bad and I couldn't get any speed out of it at all.

[Jammin_Bass]

Flats are awesome try out the D'Addario Chromes Flatwound. So Smooth and Silky. Haha. In the touch and sound.

[pusciferschild]

Yes. Flatwounds are amazing. I will have to try these D'Addarios soon. I need to run to the store for strings for my acoustic, and strings for the Rickenbacker.

I think that just playing as much as possible will get you to not have to worry about raw fingers too much.

I end up tearing my callouses almost every show now. And then I chew on my finger and practice the callous back on to it. They come about much quicker now.

[mhylands]

I like all the ideas presented here, and I'll definitely have to try them out sometime. Otherwise, time to close down.