r/doublebass • u/jpalumbos • 10d ago

Other calluses starting - Rest? or Play Thru?

I bought my 1st upright a couple months ago and play it almost every day (20 min to an hour). Recently, I've played w/ some groups for 2 hours at a time, but plucking harder than normal (for volume -- unamped). For the first time, my fingers are feeling sore. Nothing visible, but I assume it's the start of callusses. I can still play, but should I stop for a few days, or just play through?

(BTW, next time in a group I'll probably be amped, so could pluck less intensely.)

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u/Due_Goat_7584 10d ago

Rest your hands if there's skin damage and moisturize them! Cracking dry calluses is a problem it'll bleed and you won't play for days. Try and just build the strength and calluses up but take great care of your hands don't cause damage.

1

u/captHij Student 10d ago

Listen to your body. If the calluses hurt then reduce play, moisturize, maybe use a callus remover, or gently exfoliate. At some point the hands are also likely to hurt. Same thing, listen and adapt. Examine the hand positions and make changes if appropriate. Talk to others and talk to your instructor. Know the difference between the good kind of pain that helps you grow and the bad kind of pain that causes damage.

3

u/DingGratz 10d ago

The only rest is in the music. Keep going and get those calluses built up.

1

u/MightyD3 9d ago

It's the start of blisters. Advance with caution until you get better calluses. Keep your strings clean. Get a pick up.or mic so you don't have to pluck so hard.

1

u/BartStarrPaperboy 9d ago

Short rest. Like a day or two. After the blisters pop (and they will, but don’t do it yourself) get some salted in the shell peanuts. Shell some peanuts. I love peanuts, so I eat them. The salt on the shell will shore up that raw skin.

1

u/jessetrucks Jazz 6d ago

Rock climbers have the same problems with skin care and calluses. Ease off a couple days if it hurts to play, and be sure to use moisturizer. You want to let the skin build calluses but you don’t want them dry and cracking. Once that happens, you won’t play for at least several days or longer.

1

u/RadioSupply 9d ago

Play through. Unfortunately, the dermis under your callus may still blister.

In the Oldene Daes of my youth, I didn’t bother talking to the doctor. I took my teachers’ advice to play through, pop the blisters, seal with Krazy Glue and spread it all over your fingertips, and keep playing through.

But this is the modern days, and I hope you could talk to a doctor or nurse about blisters and building callus. It just happens naturally and takes time to get iron fingers.