Unwanted notes via rough skin

**mandodebbie** · Oct-28-2004, 4:08pm

Does anybody else have this problem? I fret a note and my rough calluses stick to the string upon release, plucking the string - creating an unwanted note. Is there special mandolinist hand creame out there? (I don't like sanding my fingers down with an emery board too much.) On the other hand (pun) can I use this unintentional plucking for my advantage? Could there something bluegrassy in this?

**mandofiddle** · Oct-28-2004, 4:25pm

I don't like to sand mine either... So I peel em off with my teeth

I know, YUK!!! But nobody's lookin when I do it

**dtb** · Oct-28-2004, 4:43pm

yep, me too. I usually do it sitting at a stoplight, instead of picking my nose.

**Eugene** · Oct-28-2004, 5:06pm

I gleefully sand away calluses wherever they arise.

**JiminRussia** · Oct-28-2004, 5:06pm

Bag balm is the answer. You can gt a lifetime supplu for just a few dollars at the feed store. I'm sure that it is available somewhere on line a well. You could do a google search for it. Dairy Farmers use it on udders to keep them from getting chafed and sore. Country girls have known about this stuff for generations and now some city girls are catching on to it as well. Keeps things as soft as a...... well you know what I'm talking about.

**Eugene** · Oct-28-2004, 8:54pm

If you are looking to keep the fingertips soft and supple ad infinitum, this bit of advice came from lutenist Michel Cardin regarding the flesh of the right hand fingertips (lutenists pluck the strings with the flesh of their bare fingers):

Originally Posted by

The cream I use has Lanolin, magnesium and almond oil. These elements, especially the first two, make it efficient, contrarily to Vaseline or other kinds of oil. The right hand fingers slide correctly and pluck evenly the two strings of a course, and also the left hand fingers have less trouble doing the pulloffs, also with two strings. This kind of oil is among the women's beauty facial products in pharmacies. A known French brand is Effadiane. I have a Canadian brand but don't remember the name. Tell me if you don't find, I'll send you a sampling in a letter.

**fatt-dad** · Oct-28-2004, 8:56pm

What kind of hand cream did Bill Monroe use? Or did he use an emory board on his calloses?

f-d

**Rroyd** · Oct-28-2004, 9:28pm

Bag Balm works well, but some people have negative reactions to some of the ingredients.
Another dairy farm-related product which works very well, but is milder, is called Udder Cream, which should be available at most pharmacies. #It also soaks in far more quickly than the Bag Balm. #Both work well for dry and/or cracking skin. #Rough calluses should just be sanded smooth with an emery board. #One should be careful if you peel them, as your fingers sometimes will peel a bit like a banana, and it becomes a bit uncomfortable once you get down on the side of your finger. #(Gee, how would I know that???)

**GBG** · Oct-29-2004, 7:41am

dtb, I usually try to bite off the calluses before I pick my nose (with my left hand anyway).

**Jim Garber** · Oct-29-2004, 7:47am

Originally Posted by (fatt-dad @ Oct. 28 2004, 21:56)

What kind of hand cream did Bill Monroe use? #Or did he use an emory board on his calloses?

Bill Monroe was a real man and he used a belt sander to smooth his callouses. More important what emery board does Emory Lester use?

Jim

**Steven** · Oct-29-2004, 8:03am

YIKES!YIKES!YIKES!I think you all are.....well kookoo!The thought of bitting off these calouses that took me so long to build up creeps me out...sanding your fingertips,Oh come on !I like em rough,helps me with the hammers and pull offs and the dead skin flying off the strings looks cool!But hey have any of you folks ever had a calouse rip off while playing,hung up on the first fret E string after a MONSTER pull off?That would be bad.Of course these statements are all unintended to hurt anyones feelings as allways.

**GVD** · Oct-29-2004, 9:27am

Originally Posted by

I usually try to bite off the calluses before I pick my nose

Oh so now you tell me. #hack hack cough cough

GVD

**bjc** · Oct-29-2004, 9:58am

"Bleeding Calouses" would make an excellent name for a thrash bluegrass band

:-)

**green_leaf** · Oct-29-2004, 10:02am

I've found this tends to happen to me when I've missed a day or two of playing. The calloused area turns into a kind of scale, with a more defined border between the callous and the non-calloused skin. It's that edge that gets caught for me, particularly on notes where the finger is reaching farther across at an angle. The lesson for me is, don't miss any days! When I play every day, the strings act as a kind of rasp, and keep the callouses in shape.
If you do use skin creams, I'd recommend you do it right after you play, to avoid gumming up your strings.
If you do find something that works for you, please let us know!

Cheers, Will