SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 I've been playing a lot more using fingers this week instead of a pick and my index finger tip is really sore now. I would just rest it or use a pick but I've got a jam session Friday where I'll need to play without a pick for probably a good couple hours (I was the only bassist last time). Is there anything I can do for a quick fix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Not really. You need to develop a callus. The traditional advice used to be to soak the fingertips in urine - your own, natch, although nothing to stop you from using an alternative supply - to help harden the skin. A piece of micropore plaster over the fingertip when you play may help ease things a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 I read ages ago that meths would help to toughen your fingertips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 Just now, ambient said: I read ages ago that meths would help to toughen your fingertips. Methylated spirit? Or the breaking bad sort? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, SteveXFR said: Methylated spirit? Or the breaking bad sort? Spirit, purple coloured stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Surgical spirit works well too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 Thanks. I think I've got some surgical spirit, I'll give it a bash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Witch hazel was an old remedy or you could put flats on and have at it A little blood though is very rock n roll 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 1 minute ago, Bunion said: Witch hazel was an old remedy or you could put flats on and have at it A little blood though is very rock n roll That looks like it got pretty gnarly. I normally play metal but this week it'll be some old motown classics, not really the right music for getting bloody and nasty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 25 minutes ago, ambient said: I read ages ago that meths would help to toughen your fingertips. I tried that when I had sore fingertips. I drank a couple of pints of the stuff. I didn't notice any change in my fingers but I had blurred vision for a week. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 16 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: I tried that when I had sore fingertips. I drank a couple of pints of the stuff. I didn't notice any change in my fingers but I had blurred vision for a week. I bet your finger didn’t hurt though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 39 minutes ago, SteveXFR said: That looks like it got pretty gnarly. I normally play metal but this week it'll be some old motown classics, not really the right music for getting bloody and nasty! Apparently from the doom metal band ‘Conan’ I’m sure though even if you bleed as long as you move those dancing feet no one will notice 🥳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 1 minute ago, Bunion said: Apparently from the doom metal band ‘Conan’ I’m sure though even if you bleed as long as you move those dancing feet no one will notice 🥳 I do like a bit of Conan. Good band. Nasty bass riffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Just now, SteveXFR said: I do like a bit of Conan. Good band. Nasty bass riffs. Play in drop F apparently 😯 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Super glue. A few drops of liquid ona piece of paper. Run the affected area on it. Let it dry. Enjoy the gig. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 8 minutes ago, Owen said: Super glue. A few drops of liquid ona piece of paper. Run the affected area on it. Let it dry. Enjoy the gig. Top tip. We used to do that for rock climbing, I forgot all about super glue. My climbing first aid kit contained super glue and duct tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Bass guitar = moderately painful. Double Bass = a whole world of pain. My wife is a harpist. She used to do the meths/white spirit things. I never saw it do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 My experience is that flats are worse and figure that it's because there's more surface area to flats than rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Super glue is great until you develop a sensitivity to cyanoacrylate and it buggers up your immune system causing all kinds of disturbances to your chi. Alcohol dries out blisters. A little bit often enough to have an effect is ok but if you wind up with cracks you'll be sorry! A couple of days rest should fix the soreness and it'll probably hurt less after the gig. Then you'll be done hardening up. Use plenty of gain and you won't have to pluck so hard. You can only pluck so softly with control as a beginner with the fingers so don't overdo the gain or you won't have any dynamics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teyeplayer Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Soaking them in vinegar should do a similar thing to alcohol. You also get to lick your fingers between songs and think about the chippy on the way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Why can't you just use a pick? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 31, 2022 Author Share Posted March 31, 2022 8 minutes ago, Mudpup said: Why can't you just use a pick? Because the Supremes song I've had to learn sounds like donkey with a pick on my Stingray with nickel rounds, unless I crank the gain and speed it up as a punk song, then it works. For what I'm playing though, I can only make it sound right with fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 9 hours ago, Owen said: She used to do the meths/white spirit things. I'd be cautious with white spirit. It dries out the skin too much and can cause very painful cracks/fissures to develop on the finger tips, which often become infected. Well documented occupational disease and causation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted March 31, 2022 Author Share Posted March 31, 2022 30 minutes ago, BlueMoon said: I'd be cautious with white spirit. It dries out the skin too much and can cause very painful cracks/fissures to develop on the finger tips, which often become infected. Well documented occupational disease and causation. That is true. I have seen this happen. It got ugly surprisingly fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Leave it for a few days to let it heal, then when you go back to using your fingers try to lighten your touch. Until then, if you normally play with a pick, just use a pick and let your fingers rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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