Sore fingetips on picking hand

[RadioElectric]

Is the only solution for this to switch to nails or fingerpicks? The 'tips on my fretting hand are nice and leathery and never give me any trouble at all but whenever I try to play a lot of acoustic one of the fingertips on my right hand always starts getting really sore and I know I have to stop playing otherwise I'll get a blister.

[Ash96]

Pretty sure its the same as on the fretting hand.
The more you play, the more the skin will toughen up so you'll end up not really feeling it.
Apparently white spirit is meant to toughen up the skin quicker? not sure though never tried it myself.

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by Ash96

Pretty sure its the same as on the fretting hand.
The more you play, the more the skin will toughen up so you'll end up not really feeling it.
Apparently white spirit is meant to toughen up the skin quicker? not sure though never tried it myself.

I think it's surgical spirit. I've got some on my desk now that I used on my fretting hand when I first moved away from 0.08s a few years ago.. White spirit will suck all of the moisture out of your skin and means you have to moisturise constantly for a few days.

[MrNis]

They will toughen up eventually but they will take longer than your left hand fingertips did. It's a totally different sort of abrasive effect going on.

I used to play a steel strung fingerstyle with fingertips for 3 - 4 years and they got there eventually. You can never get the bright sound that nails give you though. I now only play a nylon strung with fingernails, and my nails get shredded if I play an electric, let a one a steel strung.

[Ash96]

Originally Posted by RadioElectric

I think it's surgical spirit. I've got some on my desk now that I used on my fretting hand when I first moved away from 0.08s a few years ago.. White spirit will suck all of the moisture out of your skin and means you have to moisturise constantly for a few days.

Ah i knew it was something along those lines. Its late and I've probably had a beer too many to give advice about that!

I get the same type of thing everything i play finger picked bass. it does get better with time, its just getting through that initial stage! i spose it is either a case of using picks or nails, or just working through it. Maybe do a bit of both? play till it starts to hurt, then switch to thumb picks?

[jberra]

Yes, the skin will eventually thicken and just get used to what you're doing...

"But blisters can also be viewed as a badge of initiation, a sign of someone trying something new that's hopefully worth the added effort and pain."