lowlandtrees Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Help....need some serious advice. My very first DB gig tomorrow and the whole of the tip of my forefinger has blistered. Obviously too much practice. I have soaked it in warm salty water, ice packed it and put a blister plaster on it. Anything else I can do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 If it were me I'd soften the skin in warm water then (puke) see if you can pop the blister and cut away the dead skin. Keep it dry and uncovered to let the skin dry out as much as possible and you should have something you can work with by tomorrow night. Main thing is keeping it dry and clean once you've got the dead skin out the way. If I have a run on bass guitar and go back to a heavy upright gig having not played it for a few weeks this can happen so I'm well used to this trick. On the gig, trying plucking further up over the fingerboard where the string is less taught and easier on the fingers- you'll last that bit longer trust me. Good luck! I feel your pain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Ps. I use small nail clippers to cut the skin away once I've burst the blister bubble (puke!). It'll stung to burst it but once it's done it's just dead skin. Be careful around the healthy skin though otherwise you'll know about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlandtrees Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Just noticed an earlier thread on this but this seems to be more preventative. There is talk of superglue! I have a thick callus with a blister under the callus. Not much fluid in there. Will have a look tomorrow and see if I can burst it. Bugger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 There are loads of ways people suggest for preventing blisters but the best way is to just keep playing and build your chops up. If you're going with my method soak it and burst tonight so it can dry out overnight. It'll be pretty raw for a good few hours once you cut the blister away so you might as well sleep through that fun period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Also if all else fails or you're fingers don't yet feel up to the gig go to your local pharmacy and get some micro pore tape and tape them up. You can play through micro pore and it is the closest feel to skin on the strings.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Drain the blister but leave the skin in place, tape it up, and depending on how you play, maybe tape up the one next to it too - I do a lot of pizzicato with two fingers, and if the index finger was hurting I think the second finger would instinctively step up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Don't worry about it, carry on playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Drain the blister with a sterilised needle (hold in in the steam from a boiling kettle for as long as you can bear it). Piece the blister away from the main playing meat at the base of the blister and gently apply digital pressure to drain it. Then cover the lot with super glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlandtrees Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Thanks for all the advice. Meant to say that it was my left hand forefinger...the fretting hand. Cold not face open finger surgery. Ended up taping it up and taking paracetamol and anti inflams and it worked. Gig went great! Gonna try and play through it...took me a lot of work to get that hard skin in place and hope to keep it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebass84 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Pop. Drain. Superglue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UglyDog Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 [quote name='mikebass84' timestamp='1430950297' post='2766334'] Pop. Drain. Superglue. [/quote] This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 (edited) [quote name='mikebass84' timestamp='1430950297' post='2766334'] Pop. Drain. Superglue. [/quote] Lol Actually, you can buy a finger tape, marketed as "Double Bass Finger Tape" Got a roll from ebay, after following a link on this forum When I started playing (and indeed now, if I haven't played for a while, I end up with blisters, or at least, very sore finger tips Before I bought the tape, I wondered whether I'd be able to play with it on but after reading of a few BC'ers who recommended it, I bought one and I have to say, it's relatively comfortable and I can continue playing..... after a fashion and it does seem to stay put as well, unlike plasters I suspect that it's actually a medical product, maybe "primapore" or some such like But I keep my roll in my DB case - in case I get a paper cut etc Personally, I think it's good stuff, and very handy.... Glad the gig went OK EDIT: This is the stuff [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Bass-Finger-Tape-/321740151750?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae9351bc6"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4ae9351bc6[/url] Edited May 7, 2015 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlandtrees Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share Posted May 7, 2015 Bass tape on the shopping list. I used this stuff that my wife puts on her blistered jogging feet but it is gluey so not ideal. Also hard to get off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Tucker Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Hi Lowlandtrees, did you end up getting the tape, its great stuff put double bass finger tape into Google you will find the website, they ship worldwide. Hope it helps Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Yes, I agree the tape is great stuff I gave a piece to a guitarist pal on the weekend He'd been gigging for several days, and had a nasty blister on one finger He couldn't believe how well the tape protected the blister, and allowed him to continue jamming / working out a song Let us know if you get some of the tape, and what you think Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlandtrees Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 [quote name='Steve Tucker' timestamp='1431096891' post='2767806'] Hi Lowlandtrees, did you end up getting the tape, its great stuff put double bass finger tape into Google you will find the website, they ship worldwide. Hope it helps Steve. [/quote]Got the tape. Gonna gaffa tape it to my bass case. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) Steve Tucker I have a roll of your tape in my bag, only used once as the days of 5 gigs a week are well over unfortunately. It is a great idea to have a tape specifically targeted to DB players so hats off to you. Coincidence is, my dad in law was playing a trad jazz cd the other day, he said he got it at a wedding from the band that was playing, somewhere in Devon, then took it back to Scotland. I asked who it was and he said "Steve Tucker band". Small world indeed. Edited May 17, 2015 by Rabbie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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