Hey all, I get this really bad blister on my index finger everytime i play my kit...which is usually only on fridays and saturdays. but i mean...it is horrible. ive tried super glue, and now i put athletic tape over it, and that keeps it down. but, does anyone know of anyways to keep the blister from happening? ive heard that it is my technique, but my orchestral drumming gives me no blister at all, and it is the same technique. does the lacquer on the wood keep me from getting them when i play orchestrally?








_________________
I love drums.

7-Piece Yamaha Stage Custom
Sabian Cymbals
Yamaha Hardware
Aquarian Drumheads
Pro-Mark 2B
LP Percussion

could be partly technique....
I get em bad when I haven't played for a couple weeks. The more I play the better it gets.
I've tried sanded sticks & laquered sticks, grip tape & all that.... nothing stopped it other than playing more.
Now I'll start off taping up my fingers ahead of time with first aid tape & that keeps it from getting bad til my fingers are back in shape








_________________
Sneaking into the lives of strangers and letting them fall apart to a new rhythm just to feel better

I've had this same exact problem. Right now I have a monstrous callous on my finger so I don't get blisters anymore. When you get a blister on your finger don't play as long as you can (if possible) If you have to play, try not to make contact with the blister and the stick. You'll have to wait until the blister forms a callous. Then you'll be able to play more on it and you'll get more blisters but you do the same thing until the callous gets bigger and thicker. That's just what I've experienced but I'd say give it a try.








_________________

You're squeezing your fulcrum too tight.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

SGarrett wrote:

You're squeezing your fulcrum too tight.

Good point.

The dynamics differences between orchestral drumming and popular drumming are huge - specially if we are talking about rock drumming. Maybe you are not noticing it, but you might be gripping you sticks tighter when at the drum set than when at band/orchestra. It happens to me too when I play with the comparsa/batucada ensemble – specially at outdoor gigs; actaully I have one right now from last night party gig. Also, are you using similar sized/weighted sticks for both applications, or are you switching for way too different drumsticks?








_________________
http://www.myspace.com/dannydrumperc

SGarrett wrote:

You're squeezing your fulcrum too tight.

Sweat too??

I remember reading somewhere to keep your hands & sticks dry, that's supposed to help cut down.








_________________
Sneaking into the lives of strangers and letting them fall apart to a new rhythm just to feel better

JAdrums2k wrote:

SGarrett wrote:

You're squeezing your fulcrum too tight.

Sweat too??

I remember reading somewhere to keep your hands & sticks dry, that's supposed to help cut down.

I sweat like a pig. I find that rubbing my hands and sticks down my pants legs between songs/takes does a good enough job. A more relaxed grip will let air in while you play because the still will "float" in your hand.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

I get them when I don't play as often. PLAY MORE!








_________________
Metal.
www.myspace.com/legionsofassyria
www.myspace.com/mrsmashdrum
www.smyspace.com/triggermetal

As dumb as it sounds, watch your breathing. If you focus on breathing appropriately, you wont strain as much and will be more relaxed. This in combination with using a looser grip (with all your fingers for control.... dont let your back fingers "fly" sideways off the stick, this tightens your fulcrum too much) and appropriately sized sticks will help to reduce blisters. I play alot and have big callouses but if i tighten up too much i still blister in spots, and when it happens when you have a lot of playing coming up (like say, the 2nd date of a tour I just returned from...) its really painful.... dont ask how I know....

Quote:

I get them when I don't play as often. PLAY MORE!

This is true. The more you play, the less blisters you get. I think if your devoted to drumming and play all the time, you will get blisters at first but then calases that don't really hurt. Mine have gone away but the'll be back!

oooo they sound nasty...
i used to get MASSIVE MASSIVE blisters on my index and rude finger when i first started cos i practiced so often...
but i kept practicing ...and i still practice every day..now after 3 years.....and ive also got much better technique and now! i got super sweet caluses that i like to show off... ahaha

so i guess you gotta fix ur technique and battle through the blisters, practice more and wait for the caluses!
bandaids are good and try not to moisturise that often...keep the skin hard... rough and gross but it works!








_________________
..." The Art of hitting things..."

well is there any kind of tape made for this purpose or gloves even?i dont think id like gloves, but it sure beats blisters

SGarrett wrote:

You're squeezing your fulcrum too tight.

I don't think that's what he's squeezing to tight








_________________
Life is too short to not make music.

sharp13 wrote:

well is there any kind of tape made for this purpose or gloves even?i dont think id like gloves, but it sure beats blisters

It's just like Guitar and Bass, you keep practicing until they callous over.

I've had some pretty epic blisters, just practicing hardened them and made them callous over.\

I've practiced every day I can since I started.








_________________
"A cult is a religion with no political power." - Tom Wolfe

Eventual Acoustic/Ambient/Stuff band

They will eventually callous over, but you are always vulnerable to them, don't knock gloves till ya try em.








_________________
I PROUDLY ENDORSE MEDICINE MAN DRUMS AND SALUDA CYMBALS, and Bud light.



www.drumroadtrip.com
www.myspace.com/newconceptpercussion
www.myspace.com/bngrzn