They do hurt, but actually, because the tension is a bit lower in a bass guitar, it is more likely that you'd experience a lot more pain playing an acoustic guitar, for example. ... The pain most people experience is simply soreness on the fingertips.
Why do my hands hurt when I play bass?
There is a great chance that you are squeezing the string too hard as well, which takes away speed, hurts your fingers and pulls the note sharp. There is no good to fretting too hard.
Is it normal for your fingers to hurt after playing bass?
When first playing a string instrument, the relatively soft tissue on the tips of your fingers experiences repeated blunt trauma , according to a 2011 study. The trauma results from making constant, repetitive contact with the harsh material of the strings.