Members Thumper Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 I play finger style, and I've been busy lately--3 hour rehearsal Thursday, and then 5 hour gigs Friday and Saturday nights. I'm a bit out of shape. I was soaking my plucking fingers in a double-shot glass of 151 rum toward the end of the gig last night (hey, it helped ). I've got rehearsal again this week, with another weekend gig to follow. Does anyone have any tips on avoiding post-gig blisters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Suck it up old man! When I get out of the groove, I'll switch fingers more (only use "the Hook") or use a pick more often. I'm not sure if there is any cure other than keep rolling with it. Maybe you should try drinking the rum instead of soaking in it. Good luck. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Super glue and paper towel, as a second skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bass8987 Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 I've got rehearsal again this week, with another weekend gig to follow. Does anyone have any tips on avoiding post-gig blisters? Make friends with a pick. Seriously. Rehearsals are to make sure everyone knows the material, and you can do that playing pick style while your hands toughen up from the blisters, and not worsen them up before your next gig. Save the real work for the gig, and pick away during the week. Once you get a blister let it heal naturally without any further aggravation, and that will help develop a good callous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rikshaw Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 no suggestions for you except to try to use your other fingers more. what i do is use multiple fingers at once. it makes it a little easier. i have just switched back to flats this last week and after the 2 gigs this weekend, 3 of my fingers are bruised under the calluses. i always dig in a lot harder when i am playing flats. i'm not going to play for a few days. good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Superglue works for me. Rehearse lightly? Pick suggestion is a good one, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Scary Bill Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 I only get blisters when I dig in too hard. I found it helps to set the volume higher and play lighter. With as much as your playing I would also suggest a pick (and I hate picks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Make friends with a pick. Seriously. Yep. When it's been a while, I'll always bring a few pics with me when I know that I'm going to be playing for more than an hour or so. I'll play as long as I can stand it and then take out the pick -- not messing your fingers up too badly makes the process of toughening them again up much more pleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xanaducomplex Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Make friends with a pick. Seriously. Rehearsals are to make sure everyone knows the material, and you can do that playing pick style while your hands toughen up from the blisters, and not worsen them up before your next gig. Save the real work for the gig, and pick away during the week. Once you get a blister let it heal naturally without any further aggravation, and that will help develop a good callous. Toughen up soldier. DO NOT RESORT TO A PICK. Picks are for guitarists and the occasional studio effect. Put some scotch tape over the blister, or do a few shots of scotch before rehearsal. I used to have this problem every year after my band would take a month off for the summer. Super glue never worked for me, but give it a try. Something you might consider is boosting your volume so you can pluck more lightly. However, the faster you dig in and play through the pain the quicker you will build up the calluses that won't wussy up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 pop the blisters, drain/squeeze them out and then soak in warm to almost hot salt water. cover the blisters when you're not playing for the next day or so. they should be "sealed" back up soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonjohn Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 im with turning your amp up so you don't have to play so hard that you fingers blister. picks on occasion are a good thing too . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NeonVomit Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Superglue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mytola Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Superglue might work, allthough it can be harmful if you use it a lot. As for avoiding the problem alltogether: If you find that you dig in too hard, both turning up the volume of your amp, and using a compressor is highly reccomended. I've noticed that I play much harder now these couple of months I've been without a compressor, and it is a lot tougher on the fingers. I'm actually going to pick up a EBS MultiComp in a couple of hours, and I am pretty sure I will notice the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonjohn Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Superglue...... ......will get you wasted and you wont feel a thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted April 14, 2008 Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 There is this stuff in the climbing world called moleskin. It's basically designed to cover up blisters or prevent them from happening in the first place. I'm not sure if it'd work on your fingers, as you might lose too much feeling, but it is guaranteed to help you out. I put it on my heels before a long hike. You should be able to get it in the aisle that sells foot care stuff at your local store. Otherwise, they should have it at most outdoor stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted April 14, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 14, 2008 Thanks, all. I just need to man up and get my calluses back. I'm not much of a pick guy. The Traynor is plenty loud enough (I haven't had the master volume past 5 lately), so I really don't need to hit the strings as hard as I do. I have a tendency to pound them a bit as the night goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bdwgml@gMail.com Posted December 10, 2013 Members Share Posted December 10, 2013 I've got a blister developing in the strangest place, right where my thumb bends, halfway up it.Not sure if I should lay off playing or just play all the harder and turn it into a callus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PRSJim Posted December 11, 2013 Members Share Posted December 11, 2013 Others have probably said this already, but liquid skin (or super glue). Gotta break the skin to make the callouses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bdwgml@gMail.com Posted December 11, 2013 Members Share Posted December 11, 2013 "Gotta break the skin to make the callouses" Sounds painful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassandgolf Posted December 16, 2013 Members Share Posted December 16, 2013 Dunlop Big Stubby 3.0 mm - soft sound... no click... no blisters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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