consistent finger sores

[dave74200]

Hi there, i have a constant cut/sore on my middle finger of my right hand. I'm starting to give up playing with my fingers and use a pick all the time as it's really becoming a trial. Any tips or tricks to stop this happening? Cheers.

[bigjohn]

Where abouts on your hand is it?

I had a bad one on one of my fingers a couple of months back. I squashed my finger with an ale cask. I had to gaffa tape it for a gig.

[Qlank]

Try to let it heal. How hard to do you pluck the strings? I had a bit of trouble but now use a lighter touch and turn the amp up.
Also try to keep your fingers dry.

[aLxbass]

How much do you play?! if you give it time to heal and use a plectrum in the meantime will the sore come back as soon as you use your fingers again?

I went through a stage of playing non-stop not so long back and my fingers become quite sore,
I wrapped a plaster around my fingers, which was an ok temp fix.. but it didn't feel right - i prefer the skin on string feel!

It could also come down to your strings, ever considered anything smoother? flatwound for example

Alex

[ianrendall]

Could it be a reaction to the type of string metal that's preventing healing?

[BobVbass]

post up a picture - lets have a look at what we're dealing with...

is it weeping or dry?

[Drax]

Yeah pics would be good.

My specialist subject is dry split / cracking fingers

[Sammers]

If it's friction from the strings causing the sore then super-gluing the end of your fingertips helps a tonne.
Cover the problem areas, let it dry and it'll create a hard coating for your fingers... simple yet effective!

I'd let your current sore heal first before doing this though!

Edited April 13, 2015 by Sammers

[winterfire666]

i used to get finger sores regularly, i stopped using nickel strings and it has never happened since, could be coincidence but i like the zingy sound of stainless anyway and i have heard of people having an aversion to nickel in the past.

[KingBollock]

A word of warning... Because I was a young teenager into electronics when I started playing bass, the tips of the fingers on my right hand were eternally injured in one way or another, so I started using a pick. I have been a pick player, pretty much exclusively, ever since. The problem with that is that you will get looked down upon by huge swathes of the bass playing community and considered a failed guitarist (despite bass being my first and main instrument).

Consider yourself warned!!

[Japhet]

I used to get really sore finger tips on my fretting hand when I used Rotosound Swing 66 strings. Now using Elixirs and don't have problems at all. Rotos seem to have a very abrasive finish when new.

[onehappybunny]

I suffered from blisters etc. on fingertips when playing with roundwounds. Just bought my first set of tapewounds and as long as you don't want a zingy bright tone, they sound and feel fantastic to play

[Steve Tucker]

There is a good product called double bass finger tape, put it in Google its great for electric players too. Super glue gets in your blood stream eventually but its an option.

[fretmeister]

I bet it's a nickel allergy.

It's quite common.

Swap to steels and I bet it gets better. As long as you let it heal first.

[bassmachine2112]

It,s been said,awfully like nickel strings are the problem