Black Finger Tips? Options

[Lizzy violin]

Do all string instruments make your finger tips go balck when you play them for any length of time?

Or is it just that my finger board on my violin has been painted with some dodgy stuff?

Just wondering..........

I seem to have permanent black lnes on my fingers!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[AmandaL]

More likely to be the acidic sweat in your skin that's reacting with the strings. What strings are you using?

If they are steel or steel wound, then there's every likelyhood that there is a permanent reaction going on - steel strings can rust eventually. If they are aluminium wound then there's always a small amount of oxide powder that will form on the windings and leave blackish marks on your fingers when you play. Silver windings similarly develop a oxidised layer (tarnish) that will also rub off on the fingers.

If however your entire finger tips are turning black after playing, then you've either got very acidic sweat, or perhaps your fingerboard is stained black rather than made of ebony.

[Lizzy violin]

Oh no I'm acidic!!

They're dominant strings.

It is more the whole tip, that's why I suspect the finger board, it is quite shiney.

I was given the violin so don't know the history of it's refurb

[willobie]

Oh no I'm acidic!!

They're dominant strings.

It is more the whole tip, that's why I suspect the finger board, it is quite shiney.

I was given the violin so don't know the history of it's refurb

It might be worth trying a different sort of strings... I've found this problem to be far worse with Dominant strings than with any other!

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[musicalmel]

Or is it just that my finger board on my violin has been painted with some dodgy stuff?
I seem to have permanent black lnes on my fingers!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My fingertips always turn black while playing, and the paint has worn off my violin's fingerboard at the places most touched by my fingers. This tends to happen most strikingly on hot days (of which we have had too few lately). Probably a combination of sweaty fingertips and softened paint contribute.

Sometimes I also notice a metallic sheen on my fingertips too, but I think that was when I had a Dominant A string. Those are aluminium wound, so the soft metal probably wears off quickly. My A string didn't seem to last long before it broke.

(IMG:http://mellanby.com/images/wornfingerboard.jpg)

[LDW]

My experience is that this happens when the strings are old and have oxidised.

How old are the strings? Do you leave the instrument out of its case, or the case open?

There used to be some string-cleaning tissues you could buy, but honestly I think you'd be better off buying a new set.

All this assumes that it's the strings causing the problem of course!

[AmandaL]

My experience is that this happens when the strings are old and have oxidised.

Aluminium (and silver) windings on strings oxidise regardless of age. It's a natural reaction with the atmosphere.