cowboyplayindrummer Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Saturday, Mar 20, 2010 - 6:27 PM

Sometimes blisters are inevitable. I've tried liquid bandage or krazy glue.

guzz1 Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Saturday, Mar 20, 2010 - 4:14 PM

Try to loosen your grip First , see if that helps ,, Then you should try the other methods the other drummers are talking about,, all great ideas . I had the same problem years ago when I first started . I loosen the grip a bit , problem solved .. Good luck

ringochris Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Sunday, Jan 31, 2010 - 4:20 PM

Bad technique can cause blisters, it's true, but when I first started playing I used to rub my hands with surgical spirit every day. It helps harden your skin until you either improve your technique, or  develop segs on your hands. 

Dr. Technical Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Sunday, Jan 31, 2010 - 4:18 PM

I've been playing about 40 years. I hold my stick pretty loose and used to throw several a night. Then I started using Stick Wrap products. I held on to the sticks better but began getting blisters. I changed to using Surf Board Wax or Zildjan Stick Wax and I love it. I rarely drop a stick now. If you use too much though you will get blisters.
There have been plenty of good comments here about how to correct this long term. If I get a blister and need to finish a gig I will switch to holding a stick between my index and middle finger as much as possible for the rest of the night. I can't do it continuously though so I switch back and forth as necessary. Another thing that I have found helps to get through a gig with a blister or minor cut is using Liquid Bandage is Skin Shield on the affected area. There is not much worse than playing a gig in pain.

Marasco Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 - 10:51 AM

I've played for 50 years (35 as a pro & teacher). I only developed blisters from huge marching sticks in school, but I that was because I had to hold them so tight just to keep from throwing them at the back of the trombone players head. Keep working on your grip and technique. Believe me, it will enhance your overall playing. Ask for one on one help if you need to.

IasonEveritt Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Oct 7, 2009 - 10:52 PM

If you you get some methylated spirt (paint thinner) and apply to the blisters with a cotton ball your bilsters will harden much faster - also I have found that I only get blisters when practising something new, after a while though i find as my body becomes used to the technique i no longer get blisters:-Just play through the pain it will make you better in the long run!

rocksteady Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 - 10:30 AM

Kate...these are all good ideas...but I think you are holding your sticks to tight. Work on your style and grip....play more with your wrist not your arms...save your arms for power rolls...I'v been playing for many years and only had blisters a couple times, and it was because I was holding my sticks to tight..I really don't like gloves because I need to feel the stick, but I do like what Cash said about the Franklin Gloves if you need to go that way...practice wrist movement / RockSteady

inclineline606 Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Saturday, Sep 5, 2009 - 1:06 PM

I use some of the cheap bandage that sticks to itself, like Ace and whatnot. It also works as a light grip for my sticks. I cut off a piece or two and wrap it around my fingers.

Tam Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Saturday, Aug 29, 2009 - 11:25 PM

Just curious, how long have you been playing and how hard do ya play? I've never had blisters, and I've gigged pro for a couple years.

- - D - - Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Friday, Aug 21, 2009 - 9:31 AM

I dont know if you ever heard the "Pinch pal"?? This thing is kind of uncomfortable to play with at first but it will help you hold your sticks. Pretty much it is a cone shaped piece of wood attached to a wrist band that sits between your thumb and index finger so you have gap which prevents the stick from rubbing your skin (sorta). Helps your grip. http://www.pinchpal.com/

amungus Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 - 6:13 PM

Gloves were one of the first accessories that I took into consideration to prevent anymore blisters from forming on my fingers, but then when I got all these comments on how to grip the sticks.. then I thought "Oh, ok ... maybe that's what I need to focus on!"

Like ThatDrummerKid said, "The harder I held the stick, the more tension and friction there was" is most likely the reason why I get blisters. That being said, I'm definitely going to take all of your guys' advice on how to grip the sticks and try not to grab on them so hard.

Thanks so much for all the help! and thanks for the info ocin311 on what hard working drummers are at risk for! I've also heard that REALLY hard working drummers are also at risk for sprains and stress injury ... but carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis -- had no idea!

DecompProject Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 3:44 PM

lighten up your grip, or just embrace the blisters eventually they will become calloused and you will be fine. just means your a hard working drummer that's all.

ThatDrummerKid Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 9:12 AM

hmm, For me blisters used to come because of the amount tension I had my grip. The harder I held the stick, the more tension and friction there was. This created blisters like crazy! But I have now learn how to get maximum power and sound from a drum with minimal tension between the fingers and the stick. With this, you should feel less stress in your hand and you should be able to have a little more stamina in your hand also! Hope this helps =]

ocin311 Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - 9:58 PM

I'm anti-gloves!!! Some of my favorite drummers use gloves, but me personally, the gloves take away from the natural feel of the sticks.

if you try gloves and like it, go for it, but if you want some alternatives first think of WHY you have blisters.

Number one reason for blisters is poor technique, i.e. the sticks are moving in your hands. I say sit down with a pair of sticks and a practice pad. Everything counts, from comfortable sitting position, including how your arms fall, are you holding your elbows up? are you doing the chicken (elbows stick out and flap when you play!)? Are your shoulders shrugging? Everything should be in a comfortable relaxed position... then and only then can you pick up the sticks... believe it or not all those things help you concentrate on the more important aspect to good technique, which is how the stick rests in your hand, and how well you control it.

I'm not sure how you grip the stick, but one way to tell if the stick is moving in your hand is by having a guide to watch. For example if you use Vic Firth sticks... try holding the stick so that your thumb grips on the VF american flag logo... do 8 on each hand on the pad and without regripping or adjusting, take a look at your thumb... can you see the flag? did the stick rotate in your hand while you played?? did the stick slide out of or further into your hand?

Just a few things to keep in mind... try it out, let me know how it goes!

Cash Says Re: I got blisters on my fingers! any help?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - 5:25 PM

What works for me are the Franklin Baseball gloves with the Flex support. They are light weight and they don't make your hands sweat. I use them all the time! I've tried just every drumming glove out there but I've found that these work wonders for keeping my hands free of blisters.