Should I quit licking my fingers?

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 16 Oct 2014 10:46 am

For a long time, I've licked my pick fingers and thumb, to help keep the picks on tight. It works, and I never thought much about it. I've noticed several times recently that I've came down with a cold a few days after a gig. Seems like the cold will hit about Tuesday after a Saturday gig. My wife blames it on me licking my fingers after being in contact with germs at a gig. Anyone else observe something like this? The wife suggested using hand sanitizer just before I play. What do you think?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Oct 2014 11:06 am

Keep licking!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 16 Oct 2014 11:13 am

Bill, expecting your wife to be full of beans, I looked up the time from exposure to onset of symptoms of the cold.
Oops. Approximately 48 hours, so you'd start developing symptoms after you go to bed Monday night.
You could wash your hands before you lick them, as washing isn't as harsh as jellied Everclear (that's what hand sanitizer is) and is as effective.
I paint the insides of my picks with clear nail polish.

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 16 Oct 2014 11:53 am

Plumbers have a rule against it.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 16 Oct 2014 12:01 pm

Touching your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes is one way for germs to enter your body. On your next gig, before you lick your fingers, think about that door knob you just turned to get into (and out of} the men's room. And think about the 50 other guys who just used that door knob. Think about the toilet handle you and the other 50 guys just pushed on. Think about the guitar cords you just handled, that may have been laying on the floor earlier. "Licking fingers" is a bad idea.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 16 Oct 2014 12:05 pm

You can lick yours but don't even think of licking mine.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 16 Oct 2014 12:12 pm

what else have you been licking?

Edward Rhea · Post by **Edward Rhea** » 16 Oct 2014 12:53 pm

I say keep licking them...keeps the bugars off your pics!

John Peay · Post by **John Peay** » 16 Oct 2014 1:41 pm

Spit on them instead, like I do!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Oct 2014 1:52 pm

Lick your picks but quit picking your nose!

Lee Dassow · Post by **Lee Dassow** » 16 Oct 2014 2:24 pm

I do it before I put the picks on. Helps them stay
on. T.L.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 16 Oct 2014 2:38 pm

Before I lick em , I dip em in my cocktail.. works even better

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 16 Oct 2014 3:44 pm

Been doing it for years with no apparent problems.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 16 Oct 2014 4:58 pm

Yep I'm a long time licker

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 16 Oct 2014 8:16 pm

I use hand sanitizer first. Keep it my pack seat. I'm a germ freak. Don't like shaking hands due all the things Doug mentioned. But licking my fingers works for keeping my picks on. Just wash up good first.

Richard Alderson · Post by **Richard Alderson** » 16 Oct 2014 8:49 pm

Sounds like you need some Pro-Picks (and maybe a little Vitamin C), throw away those rock hard Nationals. I won't make any other suggestions.

Sandy Inglis · Post by **Sandy Inglis** » 16 Oct 2014 8:55 pm

I notice that most men don't wash their hands after visiting the toilet, so I wash mine and have to use my little finger to open the doors to get back to the Bar.
I always lick my fingers, but am concerned about bugs. I might try hand sanitiser. I could always install a small finger bowl of water to go on my drink-holder attached to my steel, but I'm sure it'll get spilt.
I also notice that I get recurring colds from my Blues Harps and Chromatic. I would think that by now my immune system would be used to all these bugs!

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 16 Oct 2014 11:22 pm

Get your annual flu injection.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 17 Oct 2014 2:01 am

This is all good food for thought. I often lick the index finger and thumb on my left hand to make them a little tacky and keep the bar from slipping around. Maybe I should start putting some hand sanitizer in my seat...

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 17 Oct 2014 5:21 am

Licking them often builds up your immune system!

Erich Meisberger · Post by **Erich Meisberger** » 17 Oct 2014 5:57 am

I just breathe on the picks before putting them on.

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 17 Oct 2014 7:24 am

My ol friend Bobby Bowman used to use hairspray have been meaning to try it myself but not got round to it yet.......

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 17 Oct 2014 7:39 am

Back in 1978, Jeff Newman showed me how to shape my picks so they didn't fall off and didn't hurt. The idea is to have a maximum amount of pick touch a maximum amount of skin. It's hard to describe, but it has worked for me for 35 years or so. You can flip your hand, and the picks won't fall off, but you can easily remove them. It beats licking your fingers, using hairspray, glue, or whatever.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Oct 2014 7:44 am

Try this:
From the makers of Gorilla Snot.

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 17 Oct 2014 7:50 am

Been using a shot of hairspray on finger tips only, let it flash off nearly dry, and then put on the finger picks to where you wear them and get with it. Done this for years and works great for me! They stay on. Jack