98HondaCivic Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I've been playing for 3 years, exclusively fingerstyle, and I'm having issues with my right hand calluses. I play with my thumb anchored on the bridge pickup, about 3 inches up from the saddle, where the strings are very taut. I also play extreme metal, so I strike through the strings very hard to get an aggressive tone. What damage this causes my fingertips is apparently too much to maintain calluses, because what has happened every few months is that a gnarly callus builds up, to the point of it making a clear tak tak noise if I tap on a hard surface, and then a blister forms under the callus, the callus comes off, and I'm back to square one. Has anyone else had this problem? I've done a fair bit of googling, but most posts are about building initial calluses. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 hmmmm... initial callouses = good. what you describe... I don't know. I don;t have that issue... but I play like a P*ss... How about a pick?... I know, I know... I am sure you thought of that... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Wear gloves? Put adhesive tape on your fingers? Coat your fingertips with superglue? Use an overdrive pedal to make the sound more aggressive? Switch to country music? Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 What Ross said: Use a pick. Or just crank your amp and play normal. (Ha! Switch to Country Music! Ha! You slay me, Mr. C!) Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 You can't have your underpants ... er ... callouses and eat them, too. Yeah. Anyway ... Seems to me you've got exactly three choices ... build the callouses the hard way, use a pick or play closer to the neck. I guess there's a fourth ... Moises Alou of the Chicago Cubs used to pee on his hands to toughen them. I think that might be a little extreme. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I guess there's a fourth ... Moises Alou of the Chicago Cubs used to pee on his hands to toughen them. I think that might be a little extreme. A lot of conga drummers do that. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I should forward this thread to my percussionist. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98HondaCivic Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Wear gloves? Put adhesive tape on your fingers? Coat your fingertips with superglue? Use an overdrive pedal to make the sound more aggressive? Switch to country music? I use a Darkglass B3K for overdrive, I've found if I play lighter on it I get fuzz... which I despise. I don't think my band would appreciate it if I just played staccato 4ths Marshall Grant style to their death metal riffs. However, the tape is not a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard W Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Seems to me what you're describing is not a "problem:" it's probably your body's natural response to having thick calluses on your fingertips. Let's face it, having them there isn't natural--your fingertips were designed for sensitivity. After a while, your body wants to revert to its normal state. "Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." Leo Tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98HondaCivic Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 I would still describe it as a problem. Dying horribly is your body's natural response to suffering multiple stab-wounds to the face, and I think most people would consider that a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I guess you can take the approach of avoiding callouses all together. (Everyone: "I guess you can take the approach of avoiding callouses") I don't exactly know how you would do this without stopping often to moisturize, grab a piece of greasy chicken for instance, but it may be worth researching. I once had to use a plantar wart remover for a stubborn callus that was giving me a problem on my foot. Roundwounds may ease the issue a bit, you can also try lighter strings or ones with less tension. I think a technique change (hand position) may be an option as well. Although you may notice sonic differences in equipment or technique, they may be lost on your bandmates and audience. On your next round of fresh skin, I would definitely try the superglue. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I would still describe it as a problem. Dying horribly is your body's natural response to suffering multiple stab-wounds to the face, and I think most people would consider that a problem. stab wounds to the face....... holy sh*t!! hahahahahahaha... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I would still describe it as a problem. Dying horribly is your body's natural response to suffering multiple stab-wounds to the face, and I think most people would consider that a problem. Where I grew up in Philly, we called that "Natural Causes". Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I'm not sure why you are getting blisters under your calluses. But whenever, I've had a blister, I use the adhesive tape method. It still hurts to play, but the blister doesn't get worse and it doesn't break. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 And who is that guy on the list who uses the grease from the side of his nose to slick things up a bit? Don't do that. But seriously, maybe lighter strings that will over-excite with less pressure? Maybe play soft and regular for the verse and only go bananas on the chorus? That would add depth and texture to the song in a good way without making you bleed to death by the second break. I've played gigs where I had to use my thumb for the last set. I've since just cranked the volume control instead. When someone says I'm too loud, I just back off on my fingers.... but I still have to pretend to lower the volume to keep the stink-eye at bay. Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Nolan Ryan would soak his fingers in pickle juice to toughen the callouses. I personally would experiment with different overdrive pedals to grouch up your sound. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98HondaCivic Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 But seriously, maybe lighter strings that will over-excite with less pressure? Maybe play soft and regular for the verse and only go bananas on the chorus? That would add depth and texture to the song in a good way without making you bleed to death by the second break. A little background, I play in a death metal band... so... what's a chorus? I recently switched from extra heavy (115-55) to heavy (110-50), so I might try going for medium. I'm a little afraid of too much clicking, but whatever. I'll definitely try the tape and report back. Thanks for the help guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamy ALB Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I would lighten the touch of your playing a little. Turn your amp up a little more. Your digging in so hard probably cause you can't hear yourself, common enough in a metal scenario. You will be able to play faster if you lighten your touch which is normally fairly desirable in Death Metal. Any links to your stuff?? http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98HondaCivic Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 We have one guitar, so I can hear myself really well. The only thing I can link you is two of our slower songs, but our stuff goes into the 180-200 bpm range. Please ignore the singer going "WOOO!!" during my bass solo in Guilty (2:40). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLroomtempJ Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I should forward this thread to my percussionist. absolutely hilarious 2cor5:21 Soli Deo Gloria "it's the beauty of a community. it takes a village to raise a[n] [LLroomtempJ]." -robb My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 1) I'm trying to watch and listen to videos, but the sound is very, very distorted and I can't hear the bass and barely can hear the drums. 2) The "bridge" of a song is a common part of the song structure. Often songs have verses and choruses and then a contrasting part called the bridge. The bridge is often in different key and has a different feel than the verses and the choruses. 3) I am now using a Zvex Distortorn pedal to give edge to my sound on heavier tunes. It's part of the new Vexter series of pedals so wasn't as pricey as other Zvex pedals. If I use a lighter touch when using the pedal, there is no distortion at all and when I play harder, the sound resembles an overdriven SVT. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98HondaCivic Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 Yeah, the camera we have was not made to record a heavy metal concert, sorry about that. I was joking about not knowing what a chorus is, but your definition of a bridge was comprehensive. The bridge in Guilty changes from C# Aeolian to C# Blues Pentatonic, which I think is pretty nifty, but you probably can't tell because of the mic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 The Purple Tortex pick would fit right in, baby. Does Lemmy use a pick? Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Lemmy very definitely uses a pick and gets a great sound. I've seen and heard him while standing right in front of the stage. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 And who is that guy on the list who uses the grease from the side of his nose to slick things up a bit? That be me, don't need to do it often these days but have had periods in my life of playing where it worked good for me. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 I recently switched from extra heavy (115-55) to heavy (110-50), so I might try going for medium. I'm a little afraid of too much clicking, but whatever. If you play lighter gauge just as hared, they likely will click. But the idea is to NOT have to play as hard to get the tone you're after. I tend to dig in pretty good, but nothing like that. You need to adjust your playing to not have that happen and make adjustments elsewhere to accommodate. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Let the amp do more of the work -- turn up and play with a lighter touch. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Let the amp do more of the work -- turn up and play with a lighter touch. ... until the guitar starts to complain. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Maybe this is a solution: liquid callus builder I've never used this stuff, just found the ad by chance. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 p.s. a callus is on your fingers or toes. A callous person has no regard for the feelings of others. So a callous person may have calluses. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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