thabottomend Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I have noticed over the last three months I am getting more frequent and more fierce wrist/arm cramps when I play. I have had the neck at the same height for about three years now. Is there any hard proof of the correlation of playing height to cramps? Or is there any way to know whether raising or lowering the bass would be better? Or am I just getting older? Do not be deceived by, nor take lightly, this particular bit of musicianship one simply describes as "bass". - Lowell George "The music moves me, it just moves me ugly." William H. Macy in "Wild Hogs" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 There's no rule to it. Everybody's body is different. Try different things and if you can't make heads or tails of it, see an occupational therapist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moot Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Most of my cramps come from nerves and are gone by the second/third song. Try some stretched before you play. "He is to music what Stevie Wonder is to photography." getz76 I have nothing nice to say so . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Also try a small change to your bass height to experiment. Try lowering a bit. Where were you on the Tater scale? Davo "We will make you bob your head whether you want to or not". - David Sisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Most of my cramps come from nerves and are gone by the second/third song. Try some stretched before you play. Well, those are the ones he can deal with. Then there are the ones that come every month whether he's gigging or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamy ALB Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Check the breathing, you could be holding your breath while playing. http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 What about dehydration? Are you drinking more coffee lately? As Seamy says, breathing is a good thing. And yes, we're all getting older, it beats the alternative. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I changed basses in third set last night. got cramps foe a few songs. different height=yes. For that... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danoftheriot Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Check your posture as well. Do you hunch your shoulders down to get that "cool bass dude" look? I had big problems a few years ago but I saw a physio and he addressed things like flat feet, posture and relaxation techniques when playing. When you start to feel a cramp coming on try to visualise yourself being overly relaxed. Drop your shoulders. Imagine weights hanging off your elbows. Get a mental image of yourself playing relaxed and take a few big deep breathes. Also try practising with your amp turned up louder than normal and try to play as quiet as possible. You will develop a lighter touch and you wont be gripping the neck so tightly on the gig. Status 6 String Fender Jazz V 24 Fender Jazz Deluxe V (Mex) Trace Elliot RAH400SMX Gallien Kreuger MB2 Epifani 210 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I need more info. Which hand/wrist is giving you problems? Is there anything different about your bass like higher action or heavier gage strings? Are you bending the wrist that gets cramped quite a bit? Are you warming up before shows? Are you going for periods of time without playing your bass? From what I've heard and experienced, a change in bass height can cause physical problems but it's mostly due to bad habbits developed by the change in height. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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