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Hi guys. Sorry if I am committing some sort of awful faux pas, but is it ever acceptable to use lubricant on your hands a)to ease the pain!! -b) to experiment with the sound and how it affects playing technique. Sometimes I've found if I have hand cream on my fingers just kind of fly across the strings, in a good way! Also if I haven't practised for a while I sometimes put vaseline on my fingertips as it stops them from hurting! Is this bad? Will it rot the strings?? I looked online and find that there is actually a lubricant made for guitarists 'Fingerease'. I've seen videos of PDL puttingssome white stuff on his hands while playing but I always assumed it was powder to ward off the sweat or something.. Does anyone else use such a thing? Thanks.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Lubricating the fingers??? (in reply to Romanza)
Totally legit. Lots of pro players do this too. Yeah, it kills the bass strings FAST. I lets them collect dirt and oil fast and kills brightness. If you can afford to change strings everytime you play, grease up all the time. Otherwise it might be wise to save it up for performances. Can't tell you how many times I was passed some guy's guitar at a juerga, slide up the neck to a high position, and find my thumb touching some goo, yuk! But it works.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Lubricating the fingers??? (in reply to Ryan002)
Yes Ryan, not the fingering hand, the picking hand.
Although I am sure lubing up before fingering wouldn't hurt. Try this: Keep the nails fairly short and with finger tips lubed up, plant the RH fingers on the G string, then push in...you will get quick response. Florian probably doesn't need lubrication since he likes to play close to the hole.
RE: Lubricating the fingers??? (in reply to El Becko)
Sometimes i lubricate sometimes i just go dry, dont feel like getting it eveywhere and then have to clean up after. Lubrication is a good idea but it takes getting used too because it takes away some of the sensation, u dont get as much resistanceas u are normaly used to.
If u just playing at home by yourself i wouldnt lubricate because its not really worth the effort, but if its a special event i would...
RE: Lubricating the fingers??? (in reply to El Becko)
quote:
ORIGINAL: El Becko
Lubrication is an interesting subject indeed !
By the way, do you guys lubricate the tuning keys ?
I actually tried to lubricate mine with salad oil and it seems to be working fine, but I do not know if this is really a recommended thing to do...
Yes, I do. But no more than once or twice yearly. I'm pretty anal about maintaining my instruments. Salad oil?? I use a heavier oil designed for lubricating the action on pistols. I clean the tuners a little first with denatured alcohol on a q-tip. I apply one small drop only.
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