Silly question

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:41 pm

Um, I've been wondering... How long does it usually take for a callus to form? I've been waiting 4 months and they just don't form right. I play with my fingers mostly... no pick for me. But when I started playing again in January, after a 6 month wait, I had two HUGE blisters. Those went away but I can't really use my middle finger much. The thing always splits open. Index finger is fine but that hurts playing Rush with one finger most of the time. Some songs it works perfect (Animate, Ceiling Unlimited), but others (YYZ, anything on Power Windows and anything I put Geddy's patened triplet into) just hurt like hell. I know I could just not play those songs but those songs are fun!

I have standard guage Warwick strings (45 to 105) on it right now and RIC stings on it before that. I think they are nickel plated, or something like that. Should I wait a few weeks before I play again or go back to a pick for a while?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:45 am

Start slow and easy, if a blister forms you lose the skin usually and have to start over again, but if it's not too bad leave the blister alone and the water will reabsorb. If you feel your fingers starting to hurt go to the pick. Once you get them they stay for ever as long as you continue to play regularly. When I played just electric bass I had very thin callouses but I could play all night with no problems at all, so they don't have to be big thick things.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:03 am

use the Entwistle typwriter method ... it is easy on the finger tips and you get a real aggressive sound ... also use your ring finger too nd use your thumb ... spread the work around ...

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:11 am

Just out of curiosity Jeff, what is the Entwistle typwriter method ?
Thanks
JL

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:06 am

it is a firm tapping/whacking method of playing ... have you ever opened up a piano and seen the felt hammer strike the strings ... use your first two fingers in a similar manner on your bass strings ...

the first type of playing I was taught back in the sixties was the Mel Bay thumb pluck ... then I picked up using a pick and finger plucking ... then years later I learned the typwriter method and thumb slapping ... I now use all of the above to play a bass ...

Also get a video of Entwistle playing bass ... and Geddy Lee too ... we can learn a lot from these guys ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:41 am

I think all these techniques are nice to know but a player should start out playing traditional at first, then pick up these fringe type things like tapping which is really just good for soloing and showing off. The thumb method is also a good way to play because it sounds really good, but is not a good way to play fast at least for me. Two finger plucking is really the techique used by most bass players for everyday playing, you can play just about anything that way.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:14 pm

you don't want to not play a certain way just because you don't know how or aren't good at it ... back in the 70's I didn't thumb slap because I was no good at it ... the same reason I didn't play basketball ... I was no good at it ...

get the Kids are alright and look at Entwistle playing "Won't get fooled again" and "Teenage wasteland" ... he puts on a clinic on the typwriter method ... he gets a ballsy aggressive sound ...

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:40 pm

The index finger for me is fine, but I once had a blister inside a broken blister on my middle. I have a callus on the middle finger but it got split open. I think it was from the bridge pickup surround. Sharp little thing.

I try to copy the way Geddy places his hand on the ric. Over the bass pickups for some parts. Like Red Barchetta on the ESL video. He does switch around alot between the two pickups. I havn't been able to find a Rush vid down here yet. I want "A Show Of Hands" and "Rio". You think those will help? I'll look for the Who vid.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:17 pm

Just play it the way it sounds best to you, don't worry about famous player's techniques, maybe someday you'll be the guy everyone's trying to copy. When I started playing in 1967 someone told me that they saw a good bassplayer using his fingers (I was using a pick as I was also a guitar player) and he "slapped" at it, so that's what I did. I keep my thumb on the E string so I don't have to anchor it any particular place and just take it off when I play the E. I will ocassionally anchor it on the treble ring but usually the E string so I can slide my hand as I play. You can get a wide variety of sounds going from very close to the bridge to very close to the neck. I very rarely play close to the neck except for slow bluesy stuff as it's not taut enough there for me, I like the snap you get over the treble pickup.
I'm not saying it's not good to learn all those techniques if you want to but most bass players had a certain basic technique they started with, and many stick with it their entire careers, some learn new techniques. It can be confusing to play a lot of techniques when you are new, it's easy to get the jack of all trades, master of none syndrome. I am primarily a finger player. I also ocassionally use a pick, I once in a while pull a string or whack it with my thumb, but 99% of the time I pluck with my fingers and I can get a wide range of sounds that way, I can even get a pick-like sound that way if I want.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:40 pm

Well what should I do about the finger then? Wait for it to heal before I destroy it again? Deal with it? Or use a pick?

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:27 pm

How long are you playing for each time? If you aren't gigging, then you might want to hold off for a few days and let it heal. Then ease back into it. Instead of playing three hours at a time, maybe break it up into twenty minute segments. And if it hurts, then take a break.

Also, how hard are you playing??? Are you playing with an amp, or headphones, or unplugged? If you're playing unplugged, then you might be overcompensating. But try playing the same way plugged in and it might not sound as good. Under some circumstances, you can let the amp do some of the work.

Do you play with a band? For me, I always play a bit harder when I'm playing amplified with drums.

I don't think you should push it - let it heal, try playing with a pick, or work on playing with your un-blistered finger - if you can't play along with recordings fast enough with just one finger, then you could try playing scales and patterns and bass lines with a metronome with just one finger...

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:55 pm

Let 'em heal or be ready for some clean-up the next day (spoken from experience)

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:00 pm

patience grasshopper...

lastbroadcast · Post by **lastbroadcast** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:01 pm

Brian, 'Rickenhorror' comes to mind.

Ouch!

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:19 pm

Nice mess Brian. Must of hurt like hell. Barts on it, eh?

"How long are you playing for each time?"
About three times a day 30-40 minutes each time.

"Also, how hard are you playing???"
I pound my stings. I broke an "E" one time. It uncoiled at the bridge. Quite funny. I have an amp but it's a piece of ****. Old arse tube amp. But that's all I have because I moved to another country with no equipment.

"Do you play with a band?"
Nope. Not to be bragging but I can never find anyone my age good enough to play with. I have to play with guys that are 30+. I've only played out twice but I got great receptions each time.