Having a great time learning to play this instrument.

Anyone else ever notice that with freshly washed hands the fingertips can tend to not want to grip as well on the top of a tapped string, and sometimes slide off? Mostly on the bass side, with the larger strings (their higher action probably also contributes). Sometimes puts the tapping finger into unwanted contact with adjacent strings. The effect tends to lessen after 10 or 15 minutes, likely as a temporary grove gets worn into the fingertip or the skin roughs up a little.

Give it a few months and I'm thinking the fingertips will wear in properly to reduce the occurrence, plus there's that little thing called technique development.

chicken fat solves that problem

Potato chips are also an option...

I might eat lots of chips, I had to loosen my belt this morning, but I'm borderline OCD on washing my hands before picking up any instrument.

Why wash!? I can just have the dogs lick my fingers. Food!? I vote for a 14 day old cheese from the Italian (they just talk funny) part of Switzerland.

Haha. i usually go for the laf. but seriously, i use Tone Fingerease, it keeps the strings un-gunked, fresh, slippery. but i spray it only occasionally on the neck/strings. i spray it on my fingertips every time i grab the instrument-it actually dries out the fingers. im a chef, so my fingers are almost allways wet and mushy. im like so totally addicted to it, i buy two at a time so i don't run out. and it seems to make the strings last waaay longer...