https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:40:47 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-339455 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:12:23 +0000
This will give you more strength to hold the strings down and will also dampen unwanted fret noise. Do what the others have suggested and put your last finger right up against the fret.

Watch how other bassists play. You will see them finger the strings different than guitarists. Guitar players push the strings down with their finger tips and bass players tend to hold the strings down with more of their finger (hard to explain, easy to see).]]> Bass Players Discussion Shake Your Bottom https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-339455 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-337113 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:19:57 +0000
And don't worry about the dead or sleepy feeling in your fingers, it's normal. Pretty soon you'll be able to flip bacon without tongs. :wink: +1, especially about pressing right behind the fret instead of right in the middle of the fret intervals. I have experienced the "sleeping" fingers before too... but if they are like that for an extended period of time, you might want to watch out for permanent nerve damage.

I would also recommend that you get a ruler with 1/32" increments and measure how high the bottoms of the E and G strings are from the top of the 12th fret. More than about 1/8" is pretty high action (though "high action" is a very relative term). If the action is that high on your friend's bass, you should be able to expect somewhat lower action on the bass that you purchase, especially if it is set up by an accomplished tech or luthier.

If you really want to build your calluses fast and deep (deeper than the bass will be able to wear away or tear through) start rock climbing outside (gym climbing will help, but not like real rock). I had been a climber for several years before I started playing bass and I didn't have to go through the "my fingers hurt" stage, thanks to all the callus-building from the granite, sandstone, limestone etc. Be warned though, do your bass playing before you go climbing, your fingers will be pretty sore and less responsive after the climb (and watch out for "flappers"). Also, your fingers may be quite raw during the first couple of week climbing depending on how much you go.]]> Bass Players Discussion XylemBassGuitar https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-337113 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-331832 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:40:36 +0000
And don't worry about the dead or sleepy feeling in your fingers, it's normal. Pretty soon you'll be able to flip bacon without tongs. :wink:]]> Bass Players Discussion Huffheinz https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-331832 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-328193 Fri, 08 May 2009 17:07:17 +0000 Bass Players Discussion jwmartin https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-328193 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-328149 Fri, 08 May 2009 00:37:48 +0000
Anyway, I wanted to check that it was in fact something to expect. Although, on a tangent, I have noticed the last couple days that my left index finger has this odd tingling feeling on the very edge of the bone/skin whenever I push down on something (including a string). It actually feels a little similar to the tingling you get when a body part has "fallen asleep" from being sat on. Anyone know about this?]]> Bass Players Discussion herecomesironman https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-328149 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327552 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:37:13 +0000 Bass Players Discussion jwmartin https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327552 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327514 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:28:00 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Elecktrablue https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327514 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327471 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:57:23 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Stargazer https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327471 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327431 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:11:54 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Gabba Gabba Hey https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327431 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327425 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:34:57 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Nuno https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/hurts-to-press-the-strings/#post-327425