New to playing, cramped hand

[BluMunk]

Hey all.

 

I'm a keyboardist primarially, but have been playing bass this week in a theatrical production.

 

I'm finding that my hand gets pretty cramped, particularly the muscles that are keeping my thumb planted on the back of the neck. Maybe I'm pushing too hard on it, or holding my hand in a sub-optimal position?

 

I'm just looking for some basic technique tips so I don't wreck my hand, and so I can play for an hour without getting uncomfortable.

[Eric VB]

It's hard to diagnose these things without seeing you in person. It's best if you can find an instructor in your area to check out your technique. In a pinch you could ask one of your pro bass playing friends to watch you play and give pointers.

 

I remember when I started out I had some cramping problems similar to yours. Once the muscle between my thumb and first finger developed through hours of practice it stopped cramping.

 

But I do have a somewhat heavy-handed technique. This came from playing electric bass guitars with high action.

 

It should be easier to play with a lighter touch with low action. You can either set up your bass yourself or take it to a technician and have them set the action as low as possible. You'll notice it will be easier for notes to buzz until you develop that light touch.

 

Not sure the same thing applies if you're playing upright bass (URB).

[Phil W]

Hi BluMunk, welcome to the Low side.

I don't have much direct advice but I'll point you to a few threads and hope some more guys can be more helpful.

 

It's hard to know your hand position without seeing it but you should not be pressing too hard or overgripping.

 

What affects me more often is cramping due to not warming up properly, partciularly if I have to play a long time at the wide fretted end of the neck (first position). I would advise running your hands under warm water and rubbing them togther vigorously before you play. Then do some stretching and warm up activities away from the bass, followed by some fingerboard warm up exercises playing for a few minutes or so before the gig.

 

I might be wrong but if you're primarily not a bassist and then you play bass in a show every night, you're using different muscles than normal over an extended period so cramp is not that surprising. The warm-ups and using a gentler touch should help.

Finger crossed!

 

Useful thread, I've only managed to locate one:

 

Click here

 

 

 

[Brocko777]

Silly but, drinks lotsa water and even a sports drink for hydration. Something as simple as that might help out big time.

 

Brocko

[Rocky McDougall]

You are just using muscles and tendons that have not be used in that way. You probably are not doing anything wrong, it's just new to you. I think we all have had those pains and still get them from time to time. Usually, rest and heat will relax and heal it.

[kerk]

If you don't already, you might try wearing your bass a little higher. To me it is more comfortable on my fret hand wrist, which puts less strain on the thumb. I wear mine to where it will clear my belt buckle. That also lets me hang my right wrist on the body so I don't feel the need for a thumb rest.

[Rocky McDougall]

Kerk is right, position your bass so that your left hand is comfortable up and down the neck, especially your wrist. Many bass players have the bass at a high angle, headstock pointed to about 1:30 or 2:00 o'clock position.

Rocky

[Luke73]

You may not be doing anything wrong, and it may just be a case of new muscle usage and fatigue.

 

Having said that though, you may be pressing too hard on the back of the neck with the thumb, and causing the cramps unnesessarily.

 

Try this quick test:

 

Play your bass in the usual manner, but don't touch the back of the neck with the thumb. Just hover it in position.

 

Can you still play cleanly freted notes? If not, you're using too much thumb pressure to aid you.

 

try to just have the thumb lightly resting on the neck to aid you in position, rather than to add strength to your fretting technique.

 

[JaseTheSkies]

Apart from technique, that will obviously can't see. I would suggest taking Glucosamine and Cod Liver Oil tablets, these strengthen your joints and the tissue in between your joints. They got rid of a build of infected tissue in my wrist, I swear by them!

 

Hello all!

 

Jase

[Rocky McDougall]

Hello Jase, welcome to our little Forum. I hope you stick around for the big party.

Rocky

[Davo-London]

I find that if I'm playing predominately near the nut, then it is more comfortable to have the bass slightly lower. I predominately play around the 4th/9th fret and for this a slightly higher position is comfortable. If you are in a theatre production you will probably be sitting down. Make sure you still use a strap and look at your left hand: is the wrist straight or severely bent? If it is severely bent then this may be the cause of the problem. Playing with your hand at right angles to the neck with a relatively straight wrist and a light playing action should certainly help. But that can take a long time to perfect. Remember to relax, this is maybe the most important advice.

 

Davo

[Rocky McDougall]

I had my first bass lesson with my new teacher yesterday. I have been playing bass for over 40 years and his first comment was concerning my left (fretting) hand. He had me begin some excercises. Mostly warm up, streaching and strength building. He reminded me "NO PAIN no GAIN" so, the basics are still NO. 1 even after 40 years.

Rocky

[JaseTheSkies]

Thanks Rocky!

 

I actually was in the same position a couple of weeks ago but with the shoe on the other foot. I went to teach some guy in his 40's who's been playing since he was a kid (on and off). He just wanted some help learning songs for his covers band, and alot of the stuff he was making the basslines alot harder for himself through his technique. So if he had carried on the way he was playing he probably could have seriously hurt something.

 

There is often an easier way to play things, technique is great for that, but there are exercises you need to do to strengthen these muscles that you may initially thought you didnt use.

 

Its all up to the individual though really, you can only give suggestions. To the thread starter - try to have your thumb pointing vertically to the neck (ie not pointing in the same direction as the neck) and you should find you might not have to have so much pressure. It sounds as though you are gripping onto the neck too tight... dont forget to have regular breaks though! If it starts hurting after half an hour then have a break and go back to it!

 

Jase

[Randal]

If your action is set high this will dictate increased pressure from the fret hand. I have a '62 P-bass which is set fairly high, but I am used to it. My guess is that you are just using muscles in a new way and this will change after you get more practice time in.

[JonathanD]

Try an look up Jaco bass instruction on youtube. You will be able to see good hand posture. I second the "dont add too much preassure with your thumb" comment.

 

Best of luck

 

[BluMunk]

Thanks for the suggestions all!

 

Things did get easier after a few days, so certainly a lot of it was/is working muscles I'm not used to. However, I was using a vise-like grip on the neck with my thumb; whenever I could I tried to focus on loosening that; it'll take some practice, I suppose.