Building up Callouses

[MistyTehMoose]

Hello Explosmy music people.

I have recently acquired a new bass (Fender Squier, its pretty :shobon:). I haven't played in about three years, so needless to say my callouses are completely gone. Are there any tricks to build them up again?

Also, I need some songs that are easy/moderate, as I can't play for shit anymore. What songs did you play to learn the bass?

[Commodity]

The only way to build callouses is to play. If you really want to build them up quickly, play consistently. Like, if you were to play for 8 hours over two days, you should play 4 hours both days instead of 6/2 or 8/0 or something. Don't give your fingers any rest.
As for songs, I'd suggest some punk, just to work on your finger speed and dexterity. Most isn't technically hard by any means, but it's good if you have the basic experience but lack the skills to play well. Stuff like Amoeba by The Adolescents, American Jesus by Bad Religion, Give It All or maybe Prayer of the Refugee, both by Rise Against, or maybe Tearing Down the Borders by Anti-Flag. Really, any punk song would work, but I'm just listing my preferences.

[MistyTehMoose]

Yeah. Back in my hey-day, Punk is what led me to play bass. NOFX has some really fucking hard basslines but also some pretty simple ones. Same with Blink 182.

Playing consistently is the best idea of course. Eh.

[gizzalove]

I'm just starting to learn bass for the first time. I've played on my friends and I was going to buy my own today but I forgot. The first/only song I ever played was mary had a little lamb.

[Pelican Man]

I reckon try For Whom the Bell Tolls and My Friend of Misery by Metallica. They're what got me started.

Also; a lot of Green Day stuff. Mike Dirnt is a mad cunt.

As for callouses, playing consistently, obviously. But try to make sure you play with bowed fingers, not flat fingers. The tips of your fingers should be holding the strings down, not the face.

[Kenneh]

Keep playing even after your fingers start to hurt.

[BassBastard]

Very precise walking jazz bass lines. Royal Crown Revue also has a ton of good, straight forward walking lines. this will also work on good fret hand strength.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

I'm currently learning Iron Man and Paranoid, both by Black Sabbath. Really simple metal bass lines and Paranoid has a very consistant line.

[Alcoholic]

This method is a little crazy sounding, but helped me. If you have a decent tolerance for pain and are feeling a little masochistic, it works.

Heat up a stove or whatever you have - preferrably something with larger heating coils. Don't do it to the point where it causes nerve damage, but have it hot enough that you can put your fingertips on it. It should hurt. Hold it for a bit, and take your hand off. Rapid cooling with cold water helps. Do this every so often.

My callouses got to the point where, with my left hand, I can only give blood for blood tests with my right hand, because the needle won't draw from my left fingertips. It doesn't mutilate your hands as bad as you would think.

It hurts like hell, but combined with consistent playing, you get shells instead of fingertips.

[InTransit]

Wow that is a stupid idea. Just play lots. Damn.

[Kenneh]

This method is a little crazy sounding, but helped me. If you have a decent tolerance for pain and are feeling a little masochistic, it works.

Heat up a stove or whatever you have - preferrably something with larger heating coils. Don't do it to the point where it causes nerve damage, but have it hot enough that you can put your fingertips on it. It should hurt. Hold it for a bit, and take your hand off. Rapid cooling with cold water helps. Do this every so often.

My callouses got to the point where, with my left hand, I can only give blood for blood tests with my right hand, because the needle won't draw from my left fingertips. It doesn't mutilate your hands as bad as you would think.

It hurts like hell, but combined with consistent playing, you get shells instead of fingertips.

Excuse me, WHAT THE FUCK?

[Pelican Man]

I don't think you need callouses THAT hard. Consistent playing should create sufficient callouses.

[Android]

G|------------------------4-5-6-7-----------------------------------|
D|----------------3-4-5-6---------5-6-7-8---------------------------|
A|--------2-3-4-5-------------------------6-7-8-9---------8-9-10-11|
E|1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------7-8-9-10----------|

G|----------10-11-12-13|
D|9-10-11-12-----------|
A|----------------------|
E|----------------------|

After you play this whole thing play it in reverse. I like this little warmup because it will help you build callouses while working on your speed (you can play this at any tempo but the idea is to gradually get faster as you become familiar) and dexterity and familiarizes you with playing up and down the neck. I got into the habit of playing this a few times a day and noticed a considerable difference in my playing. If you want to make it even more in depth of an exercise, after completing one round move the first root note up one fret, rinse and repeat.

[MistyTehMoose]

Awesome :) Thanks for all your suggestions (except for Alcho, what the fuck, man?)

I'll give those tabs and some of those songs a go.

[Alcoholic]

Haha, I told you it sounds crazy, but I swear to God it works. It's called intense dedication and possible mental retardation, both of which I subscribe to.

[Desert]

Holy shit Alc, that sounds painful.

Yeah when I started playing, it hurt me. I'd keep playing even though it hurt, and the pain went away the next couple of day.s

[BassBastard]

G|------------------------4-5-6-7-----------------------------------|
D|----------------3-4-5-6---------5-6-7-8---------------------------|
A|--------2-3-4-5-------------------------6-7-8-9---------8-9-10-11|
E|1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------7-8-9-10----------|

G|----------10-11-12-13|
D|9-10-11-12-----------|
A|----------------------|
E|----------------------|

After you play this whole thing play it in reverse. I like this little warmup because it will help you build callouses while working on your speed (you can play this at any tempo but the idea is to gradually get faster as you become familiar) and dexterity and familiarizes you with playing up and down the neck. I got into the habit of playing this a few times a day and noticed a considerable difference in my playing. If you want to make it even more in depth of an exercise, after completing one round move the first root note up one fret, rinse and repeat.

In addition to this, make sure you use all four fingers to play. Seems obvious to me, but the number of bassists I see in local bands who never use their pinkie is astounding.

[Pelican Man]

I'm surprised every time I find out one of my musician buddies doesn't use their pinkie, whether it be bass or guitar. It just seems like such an obvious thing. Everything's just so much easier that way, and some riffs are just plain impossible without it.

[Ercoledi]

It seems obvious, but unless you've been taught otherwise, you tend to stay away from your pinky. It's naturally weaker and rather awkwardly placed (ergonomically, that is) - uncomfortable to use if you haven't trained it up. It's absolutely the same with piano.

[Alcoholic]

I broke my arm playing high school sports, which completely tore a muscle on the inside of my left arm, crushed a ligament in the elbow, and broke the radial headbone. The way it healed wasn't quite right, so as a effect my entire forearm will lock up if I use my pinky in many ways.

I can chord with it no problem, and position my wrist so my arm doesn't lock, as people tend to adapt to problems or abnormalities. That being said, I generally try to stay away from using my pinky as much as possible.

[Kenneh]

If you don't train with your pinkie, more complex chords and scales would be harder to master and play correctly.

[javaD]

The way I did it was playing for like 8 hours daily(five days a week, from monday to friday), Of course...I didn't do my homework and I got into a lot of trouble, but I learned to play guitar really fast and it was worth it.

[The_Solipsist]

Personally, I just did a lot of scale run downs and chord stretches, helps you learn theory while building callouses.

Also, make sure you play with your fingers(right hand) and not a pick.

Picks are nice for garnering a certain tone, but fingers are the way to go.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

Personally, I just did a lot of scale run downs and chord stretches, helps you learn theory while building callouses.

Also, make sure you play with your fingers(right hand) and not a pick.

Picks are nice for garnering a certain tone, but fingers are the way to go.

Fingers also feel much more natural and give a much better sound. Also, learn the names of the notes and go through them as a warm up.

[Greger]

There's nothing wrong with playing with a pick, I for one like the sound (but I do not play with them since I feel sort of handicaped, certain techniques are impossible to do with a pick.

But still, nothing wrong with playing with a pick, if you want the sound it gives you.

[Pelican Man]

When playing with my band, I normally play with fingers, and if I do play with a pick, I throw it away halfway through the song. Last time we played I started every song with a pick, too, haha. In almost every song I chucked the pick away.

Greger, what techniques are you talking about?

[duhx99]

I know this has already been said, but play consistently. When I first picked up bass I did around 4 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, and let my fingers recover over the weekend.

I first started playing bass after listening to Schism by Tool. If you're looking for a challenge, try playing Rush songs. I found those fairly difficult, especially the runs in YYZ.

[The_Solipsist]

When playing with my band, I normally play with fingers, and if I do play with a pick, I throw it away halfway through the song. Last time we played I started every song with a pick, too, haha. In almost every song I chucked the pick away.

Greger, what techniques are you talking about?

Slap picking, for one.

[Pelican Man]

Oh yeah, that's a given. Completely slipped my mind, I thought Greger meant certain aspects of tapping or something.

[The_Solipsist]

Oh yeah, that's a given. Completely slipped my mind, I thought Greger meant certain aspects of tapping or something.

I tried hitting my pick against the low E.

[Pelican Man]

Uh, sorry? What do you mean?

[The_Solipsist]

Uh, sorry? What do you mean?

I literally mean, hitting the low E with the side of the pick. Not picking it, but hitting it. Like a stabbing sort of motion. It was supposed to be funny, but I just failed.

[Pelican Man]

Oohh, I getcha. I'd like to see how you pop with that technique, haha.

[Alcoholic]

Oohh, I getcha. I'd like to see how you pop with that technique, haha.

A lot of people play bass and angle a pick flat and downward to slide under a string, between the pick and their finger, then pull to pop it. It's pretty cool, but I've only met a couple people who can do it efficiently!

Like someone said with the stabbing technique, depending on the tone I'm looking for, I stab with the rounded side of my pick for the highest note wile tapping too. It can sound nice, if you're accurate with it!

[SourChicken]

I suck with picks.
I probably play faster fingering (sounds sexual) right by the bridge.
Although sometimes I can get going pretty fast slapping (kind of sexual).

...Stand up basses have f-holes and g-strings.

[SpamMeHarder]

The only way I know is to play your fingers off every day. They sometimes bleed.

[The_Solipsist]

Picks are nice for heavy riffs, maybe more for aggressive 'lead' playing(Justin Chancellor), but fingers just make you feel so accomplished. It helps as I play fingerstyle guitar too.

As for the callouses, don't play with your hands wet. You'll just lose the calloused skin.

[SourChicken]

The best warm up songs I know are "So Much I" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (for a good all-over-the-fretboard-workout) and "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz. It's a really simple line, but allows you to do some improvising in between the licks.

A very tedious way to make your fingers hurt really bad is to slide up from F# on the E string up to the octave on the same string. Start with your index, then when that starts hurting, switch to your middle finger, etc. After your pinky starts hurting, switch back to your index, and repeat the process. Do this until you get bored (which probably shouldn't take long). By the way, I think that this is an actual song, but I forget what it's called.

This doesn't have a whole lot to do with callouses, but a good warm up before gigs and the like is to play chromatic scales, starting on the low F and going up the neck, probably to the 12 fret or past if you want. The catch here is starting painfully slow (40 bpm or less) and getting faster as you move up frets. Also, using open notes kind of ruins the whole idea.
I would tab this but I suck at it.

Edit:
I just tried Alcoholic's burnt-fingers method and my fingertips hurt like a bitch. If this doesn't work I'm going to be pretty steamed (get it?)

[lollercaust]

The best warm up songs I know are "So Much I" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Play anything by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I guarantee you'll build up callouses from playing it so much just to get it right. Flea is insane.

[TheHighwaySong]

Not to drown you with more RHCP suggestions, but if you wanna start practicing slapping/popping, a good first riff would be the first line line from RHCP's cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground
:04-:11
2IMyj_-_A2I

[Rob]

First time guitar player checking into the callous crew. I played about twelve hours over the course of three days and blistered the hell out of my right fingers. I'm calling it quits for a day or two while it heals a little, which is kind of frustrating since I was making good progress.

I'm coming from cello so my left hand can take it, but my right hand is being a complete sissy because it's used to delicately holding a wooden bow instead of plucking extensively.

The only way I know is to play your fingers off every day. They sometimes bleed.

This seems like a terrible idea, and would only lengthen the callousing process.

[Chrisso]

If you're fingers are bleeding, you should stop intentionally trying to cut them on the strings. Just play every day. The callouses come over time. You don't need to shed blood to be able to hold your fingers down on a fret.

I'm gonna assume you're fingerpicking, so I guess the answer I would give to that is grow your nails out so they are gross and disgusting like most fingerpick guitarists. Otherwise, just try not to play too much with them.

However, if you are using a pick, don't squeeze so hard to the point where a blister would form over time. My picking hand doesn't have any battle marks from playing guitar so unless I'm doing something wrong, I'm pretty sure there should be no harm done to that hand.

[koots]

First time guitar player checking into the callous crew. I played about twelve hours over the course of three days and blistered the hell out of my right fingers. I'm calling it quits for a day or two while it heals a little, which is kind of frustrating since I was making good progress.

I'm coming from cello so my left hand can take it, but my right hand is being a complete sissy because it's used to delicately holding a wooden bow instead of plucking extensively.

I didn't think of you as being the kind of person to play cello.

[Derelict]

Isn't the healing process what creates callouses?

[The_Solipsist]

First time guitar player checking into the callous crew. I played about twelve hours over the course of three days and blistered the hell out of my right fingers. I'm calling it quits for a day or two while it heals a little, which is kind of frustrating since I was making good progress.

I'm coming from cello so my left hand can take it, but my right hand is being a complete sissy because it's used to delicately holding a wooden bow instead of plucking extensively.


What exactly are you trying to play? As long as I've played fingerstyle, I've never gotten blisters of any kind, even when I first started.

Unless you're doing an ass load of right handed tapping, I don't see how you'd blister the hell out of your right fingers.

[Derelict]

Finger picking is pretty intense when you haven't been playing for a while. I began learning when I was barely old enough to comprehend music, so I don't have a memory of building any callouses, but even now if I finger pick for too long it gets painful.

[Rob]

What exactly are you trying to play? As long as I've played fingerstyle, I've never gotten blisters of any kind, even when I first started.

Unless you're doing an ass load of right handed tapping, I don't see how you'd blister the hell out of your right fingers.

Classical technique. My fingers just really dislike the constant rubbing against thin metal wires I guess.

[The_Solipsist]

Classical technique. My fingers just really dislike the constant rubbing against thin metal wires I guess.

I see.

I never had issues like that, mainly because I played with my nails more than anything. Also, playing bass probably helped with that, too.

You may be be plucking too hard, or maybe you're just literally playing too much.

[Rob]

Playing with your nails produces a very thin sound which I'm not a fan of.

[Alcoholic]

Rob, try switching to catgut strings. Even if you accidentally hit a note with a fingernail, it'll sound better than copper-wound strings. Generally, people use them for classical technique too. Sounds kinda like you'd be verging on flamenco territory?

[Rob]

That's kind of a leap.

[Alcoholic]

You're bound to run into the influence though, especially playing classical. Anyway, if you play with the catgut strings, you're still playing with strings that are wound, unlike the nylons, so you're helping build your non-cello hand callouses.

[Rob]

So are catgut strings pretty much a must if you're playing classical/fingerstyle technique?

[Alcoholic]

No, you'll hear a lot of folks that prefer nylon, but they're too easy on your fingers.
Catgut will break more often sense the oil-buildup has a place to go between the winding, but it gets, in my opinion, a much fuller sound. Sense they're softer than steel or copper strings, you can use a heavier gauge and still maneuver nice and easy, while keeping most of the functionality.

It'll really depend on your guitar, since I believe there is less string tension with both catgut and nylon. If you're playing an actual classical acoustic, there ought to be no problem.

[lollercaust]

To hear you play cello makes me happy, Rob. How many years or practice do you have?

[Rob]

I haven't played in like three years, but before that I played about eight. So from age 10 to 18.

[InTransit]

Rob are you playing on a classical or an acoustic guitar? And what kind of strings are you currently using?

If you're using an acoustic guitar with steel strings, buy Elixirs. They're a lot more expensive but they don't break easily, last heaps longer than any other strings, and are easier on your fingers. But yeah just keep playing. If your fingers hurt too much, or you're starting to get blisters just give your fingers some time to recover. I know it sucks that you won't be able to play but learning isn't supposed to be a super fast process.

[Rob]

It's an acoustic. I'm not gonna change the strings to nylons just yet, I'll wait and see how the callousing goes. A lot of guitar forums I've checked say that you can finger play steel strings just fine, you just need the thick skin.

[InTransit]

Yeah that's why I'm suggesting Elixirs. They're ordinary steel strings, just top of the range and are a lot smoother so they're not going to tear your fingers up.

When I first started playing guitar I learnt classical & spanish on a nylon classical, and you can do all those techniques just as well on a steel acoustic, you just get a different sound and it's slightly rougher on your fingers until you're used to it.

[The_Solipsist]

Yeah that's why I'm suggesting Elixirs. They're ordinary steel strings, just top of the range and are a lot smoother so they're not going to tear your fingers up.

When I first started playing guitar I learnt classical & spanish on a nylon classical, and you can do all those techniques just as well on a steel acoustic, you just get a different sound and it's slightly rougher on your fingers until you're used to it.

Elixirs are pretty pricey though, but worth the extra bucks if you have it. Forty bucks for bass strings is just ridiculous.

[SourChicken]

Forty clams for bass strings is a bit ridiculous. Fortunately the store I go to sells them two for one, but it's still ridiculous compared to guitar strings. And stand-up strings cost about eighty bucks (they, however, last about six years).

I think one of the problems with this thread is the idea that callouses can be attained quickly. Those suckers take a while to build up, and can't just be whipped out in a week (well, maybe they can, if you play a shitload of guitar/bass).

[yellersamick23]

I used to get huge blisters on my hands from playing base.
Mainly on my index finger that I plucked with.

Don't pick them.
It makes your callouses go away cause you pick the skin off.
But yeah consistently playing is the best and only way to get good and have callouses.

[SpamMeHarder]

This seems like a terrible idea, and would only lengthen the callousing process.
If you're fingers are bleeding, you should stop intentionally trying to cut them on the strings. Just play every day. The callouses come over time. You don't need to shed blood to be able to hold your fingers down on a fret.Pain gets me off.