What can I use while playing the bass guitar so that there is minimal burn on my fingers?

Is it your left or right hand that's bothering you? Right: learn to play with a pick. I play with fingers or pick depending on the style, and it's good to know both. While you're using the pick your right hand fingers get a rest. Left: make sure you don't press too hard. All beginners press too hard, and if you try to lighten up your strings will probably rattle, so this is not simple to remedy. Just be aware of it. And play fewer notes, so that you can lift your finger and relieve the pressure regularly. Playing fewer notes is always a good idea. Oh, let someone have a look at your instrument: you don't want your strings too be too high. But not too low either.

Until your fingers begin to get hardened callouses, try this tip that many musicians have used over the years: Use superglue on the tips of your left hand where the strings contact. Smear a drop to the fingertip with the glue's applicator, wait for it to harden, then repeat. These artificial callouses will generally last through most of the gig. If you are using your right-hand fingertips to pluck the strings (instead of a pick), wrap a layer of surgical tape around the fingertips you use most often. You will frequently see hand percussionists and upright bass players use this protection. Keep playing. The burning will usually decrease over time. If the progress seems too slow, switch to RotoSound's flat-wound strings for a while. You'll loose some of the piano-like ring of the bass, but they are much easier on the fingers, both left and right.

I agree with most of the other answers here. It's a physically demanding instrument.  You'll have to play thru the pain but eventually it gets better.  If you are planning to perform in clubs the gigs average four hours.  You will need to build up your stamina. I started playing bass as a teenager (I'm past 50 now) and my fingertips are tough as leather.  I started playing upright a few years ago and had to grow new callouses.  It was worth it.  Hang in there. You'll be glad that you did.

No easy answer to this one. It happened to me so long ago it's hard to remember what I did. The one thing I do know is that it will get better with time. Your fingertips will get calloused and hard, then after a while there will be no problem whatsoever. It's just that the first few months are a painful experience.

I'm afraid the answer is to practice more. You need to build up your calluses. You can also try changing your posture.

You're playing too hard. Learn to lighten your touch and let the amp do the work. Your technique will be better overall, too. The general principle is to play with the least force you need. Plucking less hard will improve your tone, too, in general. There's a lot of wasted energy in a really hard pluck that ends up being lost. If you still have problems you might want to try coated strings. I've got DR Black Beauties on my fretless. They have a pretty good tone and are a little easier on the fingers. (I don't want the muy $$$$ fingerboard chewed up by roundwounds.)  As to playing bass with a pick... well. ;p (I'm kidding. Some of the best bass players were pick players, most notably John Paul Jones and Carol Kaye.)

You could use a layer of hard glue that sticks properly to your fingers without causing any awkward posture. But i would recommend not using anything at all, it will be painful but your fingers will develop callus with time and you won't feel the burn any more, this is what all guitar and base players do. If it's burning too much take a break and then get back at it. It will only take a couple of weeks for the callus to show up. A tip from Eric Clapton supposedly: rub your fingertips with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol three (3) times a day for a week or two for a beginner or someone who hasn't played for a while.  This will dry out the skin and help calluses build very quickly.

Thanks for the A2A.  I actually play an acoustic guitar and i have a 6-string Fender Strat. I'm not a bass guitarist but based on my experience, i can tell you that although it does seem like a pretty big deal in the beginning, you will get used to it or rather your fingers with get conditioned to work in that environment. That's a part of learning that instrument. As most of the other answers suggest, it is a physically demanding instrument esp. the bass. Any product may provide temporary relief but in the long run , muscles develop only if you continue to stretch yourself continuously. Just be careful not to injure yourself in the process. Take breaks in between . Rest is equally important.

First, I'd take your bass to a guitar tech that knows his stuff. You could be playing on a poorly set up instrument. If your strings are a half inch off of the fretboard even the best bassist in the world is going to come away with burned out fingers. Each manufacturer has suggested tolerances for string height. A simple truss rod adjustment might make the axe play more comfortably. Secondly, playing a musical instrument is very difficult. That's why Guitar Center and the like sell hundreds of thousands of guitars every year while the list of stellar guitarist is pretty low in comparision. Most guitars sold are cheap junk that is difficult to play and ends up in the attic after a few months. If you love playing music and the feel of the bass in your hands you're going to get over the pain of playing until your skin thickens up or your technique gets better.