Blister on right hand finger

[richh]

I've been learning for a while, but have recently had more time to practise, and now have a blister on my right hand index finger from plucking / activating the string (sorry, not sure of the correct terminology)!

 

I don't want to stop playing, if anything, I'd like to step it up as I have more free time over the next couple of weeks.

 

Any suggestions please?  Lay off, continue and ignore?  Or even use another finger / fingers - currently just using right hand index finger.

 

Thanks wise ones, I hope there are some ideas?

[Owen]

When I blister, I put a couple of drops of superglue (liquid, not gel) on a piece of paper, rub the blister and the areas around it in it and carry on playing. I am not joking. 

[petebassist]

No need to lay off. I'd wrap decorators' masking tape round my finger, just enough to protect it but allowing the feel of the string to come through. I've used this on both hands occasionally when necessary. 

Also you might want to play sometimes with two fingers, i.e. change the angle of your fingers to be at a diagonal to the strings, might give your index finger a rest. 

[JapanAxe]

I play guitar in a rockabilly band where the double bass player wraps sticking plaster around each of his plucking fingers before playing. I don’t play double bass so I’ll leave it to others to comment on the pros and cons of this approach!

[NickA]

Taped fingers changes the sound, but that's not an issue for practicing.

 

I used to get blisters, but no longer do and I don't think my right hand is significantly more calloused than it was.  Some things I've learned over 30 odd years:

 

Let the amp take the strain, you don't need to pluck that hard.

 

Share the load, use index and middle finger. I used to use just my middle finger but now use both, some sequences of notes fall easier if you alternate between fingers.

 

Play little and often if you can, building up to those three hour gigs!

 

Pluck diagonally across the strings, it sounds better and spreads the load across more skin.

 

Some people recommend wiping your finger down the side of your nose to apply a little natural lubricant. Sounds a bit gross, but works actually.

 

Keep playing!

[Rosie C]

It's a long time since I've had blisters, but electrician's tape was my usual remedy. I think Mark King did similar, if so I'm in good company!

 

[pete.young]

Before my hands toughened up , I used to put surgical spirit on the blisters. I have Presto Lights on now, which seem to be a lot kinder than the Lycon I started off with.

[Huge Hands]

I could never get on with taped fingers, so superglue was always the one for me. 

 

There is also something out there called Liquid skin, but I don't think it was as concentrated/thick as Superglue, so wouldn't last as long for me. 

 

I remember doing a DB gig where the new skin from a burst blister was still tender, so would paint superglue over it between every 2 or 3 songs - making sure I had blown it dry enough while the singer was waffling to not stick to the strings!

 

It certainly got me through that gig.....

 

This is all IME of course!

 

[PaulThePlug]

Skin will firm up in time, don't over do it, a dab of isoprop alcohol, to keep the area clean.

 

Swap for a Pick while the skin heals 😉

 

This is good stuff seals a cut or burst blister, without the bulk of a plaster, and skin going soggy underneath. But will wear off when playing again.

micro pore... always worth having a roll - sticks to itself more than sticking to things.

Edited December 22, 2025 by PaulThePlug

[Owen]

If you use super glue you can spend happy hours picking it off afterwards!

Edited December 22, 2025 by Owen

[StingRayBoy42]

10 hours ago, pete.young said:

Before my hands toughened up , I used to put surgical spirit on the blisters. I have Presto Lights on now, which seem to be a lot kinder than the Lycon I started off with.

+1 for Surgical Spirit.

I slather it on before playing, it really helps.

Or there's this
http://doublebassfingertape.com/
I bought some but have yet to use it!

Edited December 22, 2025 by StingRayBoy42

[haruki]

+1 for micropore tape..

 

[blisters on my fingers]

Take no notice of the above advice

 

There is no cure

[Paddy Morris]

On 22/12/2025 at 00:00, Owen said:

When I blister, I put a couple of drops of superglue (liquid, not gel) on a piece of paper, rub the blister and the areas around it in it and carry on playing. I am not joking. 

Exactly this.  Superglue.  You might have to re-apply it a few times.  Interestingly our guitarist is a former NHS burns specialist and says Superglue (or something very similar) is used to repair skin quite frequently now.

[Huge Hands]

7 hours ago, Paddy Morris said:

 Interestingly our guitarist is a former NHS burns specialist and says Superglue (or something very similar) is used to repair skin quite frequently now.

I understand that is what it was originally designed for - holding open wounds closed.

[fretless]

Can confirm tape, as mentioned by stringray boy, works fine - you just need to be careful how you wrape it around the finger/s so that the end does not catch on strings when playing. One careful application will last a two hour gig and avoid 

blisters. Has saved me some sore digits many times when over rehearsing too close to gig or had daily gigs .

 

After application, take a few minutes to get used to the "new" feel of the wrapped fingers on the strings - then it won't feel quite so odd when the gig starts.

 

Also second advice above re volume - try and let the amp do the amplifying !

[richh]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions!

 

Not sure if the guy who suggested 'swapping for a pick' is clear that this is double bass we are talking about?

 

Anyway thanks, and best wishes for Christmas!

[PaulThePlug]

4 minutes ago, richh said:

Not sure if the guy who suggested 'swapping for a pick' is clear that this is double bass we are talking about?

I did put a 😉...