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My band practiced for four hours tonight and I got a blister on my right middle finger, popped it (as I was playing), got another one, and got one on my index finger. We're performing twice tomorrow (I'm also playing with another group so three times, total) and I have the last lead in the last song and don't want to ruin it.

As it is, I'm not sure I'll be able to play as well as I normally can due to the blisters so my question is if there's some way I can get rid of them, make them stop hurting, etc. by the time we play tomorrow.

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    Ah yes, the joy of playing music... When we played three gigs in a row and I already had blisters on both my index in middle finger before the last one, I would usually switch to playing as much as possible with the bow, or the ring finger, the index finger in very angled position (so it's more the knuckle than the tips that get rubbed off), or the thumb. Strangely enough, there's also a kind of slap technique that puts considerably less strain on the fingers' skin than normal fingerstyle: not the usual pull-upwards&let-snap-down, rather a very brief hit from above&only slightly sidewards.
    – leftaroundabout
    Sep 2, 2017 at 10:02
  • (My instrument is actually a 5-string cello though, not a proper double bass, so somewhat less torturous...)
    – leftaroundabout
    Sep 2, 2017 at 10:07
  • I try to alternate fingers, rather than favour a couple. That way, if there's a finger problem, there's usually a finger or two that haven't been worn out. Mind you, that's on EBG, so not exactly the same. As lefta says, a slap technique is another option, and can alleviate wear and tear on certain well used digits.
    – Tim
    Sep 2, 2017 at 11:23
  • I would also suggest that 4 hrs is too long for a rehearsal. In a lot of cases, everyone should go in having prepared their own parts. If you did the best part of that 4 hrs actually playing - and it seems that way with the blisters - that's a heck of a lot of songs/tunes. Or did the same ones get played over and over? There wouldn't be that much playing at a lot of gigs! Just a thought for next rehearsal...
    – Tim
    Sep 2, 2017 at 16:50

2 Answers 2

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I play 5 string EBG. Sometimes if I get a new bass or change strings, I'll get blisters.

I use this stuff - it works pretty well. Protects the tender area but you still have flexibility to play.

Just spray it on and let it dry. It smarts a bit at first. New-Skin® Liquid Spray Bandage .

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Bandage them up, or use a bandage substitute. Then do what you have to do. It'll hurt a bit. You'll get through.

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    I'd rather play with cotton gloves than bandages!
    – Tim
    Sep 2, 2017 at 11:24
  • OK, cotton gloves then. Whatever gets you through it. Won't be perfect, but you'll cope. Or, if you really can't cope, dep out the gigs. No-one's THAT irreplacable.
    – Laurence
    Sep 2, 2017 at 11:31

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