valentine Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 ive just started few weeks ago on how to pop and slap the bass,ive mastered the right technique i think anyway at least,sound right and looks right only on the top string though i ent tryed doing orther strings yet until i get even better,problem is though,ive been playing bass now with fingers for over 2 months and only recently has my finger finally startedmto stand up to the 2/4 hours per day of a pounding i give them,but one of my fingers has started busting up again now ive strated the popping,its the finger i pop the string with,keeps getting skinned,not sure weather thats cause im doing it wrong or cause my skin on the fingers ent strong enough yet i dont know but as of above sounds right is there anything you can buy to give your fingers some rest bite or een any tips on how to make the skin on my fingers go rock hard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean.Robinson Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 [quote name='valentine' post='249272' date='Jul 28 2008, 12:04 AM']ive just started few weeks ago on how to pop and slap the bass,ive mastered the right technique i think anyway at least,sound right and looks right only on the top string though i ent tryed doing orther strings yet until i get even better,problem is though,ive been playing bass now with fingers for over 2 months and only recently has my finger finally startedmto stand up to the 2/4 hours per day of a pounding i give them,but one of my fingers has started busting up again now ive started the popping,its the finger i pop the string with,keeps getting skinned,not sure weather thats cause im doing it wrong or cause my skin on the fingers ent strong enough yet i dont know but as of above sounds right is there anything you can buy to give your fingers some rest bite or een any tips on how to make the skin on my fingers go rock hard?[/quote] Hi, i had this when i started, its perfectly normal as when you pop your using the side of your finger primarily as apposed to the center which you use when finger picking, it will harden up in time like when you started. As for a quick fix, surgical spirit. Not something ive done myself as id rather my finger hardened naturally, but thats just me and its perfectly fine, put some in a cup or dish and let your fingers rest in it for about 10-20 minutes while watching TV and you finger tips will harden rapidly. Hope this helps Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Yeah it's perfectly normal, mine do it occasionally when i haven't slapped much for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valentine Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 would turps be any good? ie white spirits,the stuff you use for getting paint off your hands or clothes etc etc,its has a very high alcohol level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 STOOOOP before it tooo late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Yeah your fingers need to get used to the impact/abrasion, eventually they'll toughen up a bit, but until then just take it easy and stop when if hurts, let it heal and go for it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Yep, just got to get through the pain dude. I've got a bastard blister on my right index from hours of playing harmonics over the weekend. Your fingers will harden up over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Mark King used to tape his thumb IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='bass_ferret' post='249703' date='Jul 28 2008, 04:04 PM']Mark King used to tape his thumb IIRC.[/quote] Please don't do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bay Splayer Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 wear thick gloves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I've seen... Flea super glue up his thumb Mark King use tape (or a Bass Hammer anyone remember them?) and Steve Vie Pisses on his own fingers to toughen them up - but he'd probably do that anyway. I wouldn't reccomend any of these, unless you have a fetish. But your fingers will eventually toughen up. I know a lot of players that when learning to slap and pop alomst want to tear the strings off the bass, but you don't have to play that hard, not saying you are of course, but wother bearing in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitchy64 Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Hi, as a paint sprayer i would defenatly NOT use any solvents or turps as susgested on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Quite a few people use superglue, guitarists too, in fact seems more common amongst them. I would however just keep doing it, it won't do any permanent damage and your fingers will eventually toughen up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillespie_SBFAC Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 i,ve been playing bass for 4 years now. after a couple of months my fingertips were toughened up and everythinh was going well. now i,m in a band and whenever i finish a long gig or practice where i play the strings hard, my fingers blister and the blister then opens. this can make it quite hard to play well. there is a lot of speculation of whether to use spirit or not. you have to use surgical spirit when using it, it works better than superglue or wating for your fingers to heal themselves as they may not harden again. soak your fingers in the spirit for a minute (or more) they should soon harden up and allow you to play like you would regardless of the blist CORT C4H FTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 My fingers are soft and woman like but then I have my action so low that I put more strain on them by stroking Nellie. (she's my staffie btw, not a nickname for my 3rd leg!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Um yes so what I meant to say is that I would be careful - if your fingers hurt that much then perhaps you need to look at your technique first, keep the movement minimal and smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 [quote name='ped' post='486377' date='May 12 2009, 10:12 PM']My fingers are soft and woman like but then I have my action so low that I put more strain on them by stroking Nellie. (she's my staffie btw, not a nickname for my 3rd leg!)[/quote] It's one of those things that everyone seems to go through. I'd advise against using paint/vinegar/superglue/piss though, like conkers you're better off without. just persevere, it'll come right eventually. [quote name='Machines' post='249622' date='Jul 28 2008, 03:36 PM']Yeah your fingers need to get used to the impact/abrasion, eventually they'll toughen up a bit, but until then just take it easy and stop when if hurts, let it heal and go for it again.[/quote] The man know's what he's on about. One thing i did when learning to slap was to use my 2nd finger for the pops. when it got all painful and blistery I swapped to using my 3rd finger, swapping back when neccessary (and occasionaly having to use the 1st while the other 2 fingers were recovering). I dunno if this helped ambi-digit-ousness (if that's even a word?) or not, but now I pop with all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Its mainly a technique thing IMO. To pop properly you only have to lift the string off the board far enough for it to hit the last fret when it bounces back. If you are digging in more than this then you are wasting effort, damaging your fingers more than you need to and slowing yourself down. You are also making the difference in volume between slapping popping and fingerstyle greater in all probability. If when you lessen the volume of popping by laying off like this, you thumping is too loud, then give yourself a break and do that more quietly too. Really never ceases to amaze me how hard people think they have to bash their bass to sound good. Way back in the day when people started doing this stuff they had some valid excuses for beating on their gear: (amps were rubbish, paasive electronics werent as good as they are now, strings were flats or tapecore or whatever. Nowadays a very average rig, with a £250 bass will come out of the shop set up better than the vinatge guys gear was, it will be far more sensitive and way easier to play. So make your life easier by playing it 'properly'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I think a common misconception with slapping is that it needs to be done aggressively or with force, but if you check out Marchs Miller or Alain Caron they slap gently, really controlling each stroke, you might want to lower your action so there's more give in the strings. Also try and keep your hand in a rigid fist shape, thumb extended, and use your wrist and forearm for movement. Hope that helps M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 [quote name='urb' post='486701' date='May 13 2009, 10:24 AM']I think a common misconception with slapping is that it needs to be done aggressively or with force, but if you check out Marchs Miller or Alain Caron they slap gently[/quote] Agree 100%! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Solo from 4:38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 [quote name='ped' post='486377' date='May 12 2009, 09:12 PM']My fingers are soft and woman like but then I have my action so low that I put more strain on them by stroking Nellie. (she's my staffie btw, not a nickname for my 3rd leg!)[/quote] Having played a number of Ped's basses I can confirm this. The action that is. Not his fingers. Or the dog. Or... Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.