DC Ross Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 So... at our debut gig the other night, my index finger cramped up on the first song. It was a major struggle to get it to do anything. I'm not sure if "cramp" is the right word. It was like it was physically tied to my middle finger and wouldn't obey my commands. Has anyone experienced anything similar? What did you do to combat this? It's not simple to be simple. -H. Matisse Ross Precision Guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I don't know. I have had it happen but usually after or during certain songs. We arrange set lists so that certain songs are not back to back, at my request. On occasion I have switched to picking style (with finger, no pick) until "cramps" subside. Sounds like crap but better than stopping. Honestly it is not really a recurring problem. Are you eating your bananas? ie could be a dietary issue, etc. "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...
Big Red 67 Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 My fingers take solo careers all the time. I just look at the guitarist and the drummer and smile! They always seem to come back soon, cold cruel world. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I get cramps occasionally in my left hand, particularly if we start with something repetitive in F minor. The only answer is a proper warmup routine. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Sorry, I rush-read your original post - that doesn;t really sound like cramp - but the problem might be related. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanD Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I have noticed that 90% of my students dont breathe when they play. If you are nervous before a gig, you might be standing there waiting to start and not be breathing. I did the same thing for a while and noticed that after playing for 20-20 min. I would get tired... I wasn't breathing. So I started making myself take breaths with the measures of the song. I later got into breathing techniques, and you can get some fairly wierd states of mind by just changing you breathing cycle for prolonged periods of time. try breathing in for 10-15 seconds, holding it for 5, breathing out for 20-30(double the intake time) and hold for 5. The most important being the doubled length of time for the out breath. DO this for at least 30 min and dont move the whole time. I promise it will be an experience to remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moot Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Warm up for sure! did you do a search DC? This malady has affected many of us and there is a lot of useful information in past threads - everything from cramps to Carpal Tunnel. Good Luck "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...
Rowbee Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 What dnkritr suggests is a well known meditation technique, it really does relax and might be a good idea to try but practice it before the big night. I would suggest that to me it does sound like you weren't sufficiently warmed up, I had a similar experience earlier this year when I walked in off the street straight onto the stage. It took me about ½ hour to get over it, I was having to simplify my basslines to survive the first set. Now theres three of you in a band, youre like a proper band. Youre like the policemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdepelteau Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Calcium deficiency causes muscles to cramp. Rolaids or Tums, 1000mg, before playing should take care of this problem. ;^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruuve Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 I have that "it won't cooperate" feeling sometimes, usually if I tear into something challenging without a decent warm-up. Try doing a long, slow, warmup. Nothing too fast or challenging...just get the finger muscle's active and ready to go. That helps me a lot! Dave Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs. - Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottomgottem Posted June 13, 2006 Share Posted June 13, 2006 Which hand, DC? Plucking or fretting? My whole trick is to keep the tune well out in front. If I play Tchaikovsky, I play his melodies and skip his spiritual struggle. ~Liberace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Oh, Oh, wait! Just stop playin' with that thing! hehehe Oh, oh, oh, wait! Get up off that thing, and dance till you feel better! Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Ross Posted June 14, 2006 Author Share Posted June 14, 2006 Thanks for the great advice & suggestions. Like bottomgottem pointed out, I neglected to mention that it's my fretting hand. Most of our songs are in D and I also use the low C quite a bit on the 5er, so I'm constantly way low on the 5th string. Being our first gig (and my first in over 12 years), I was probably a bit tense & over excited, and was strangling the neck. Last night at rehearsal the same thing happened, but not nearly as bad. I think the warm up suggestions are a great idea & will definitely be taking it to heart. I have a pair of those Chinese balls of steel that I may try playing around with, too We've got another gig on July 1st, so I'll try all the other suggestions as well & report back. Thanks! -d It's not simple to be simple. -H. Matisse Ross Precision Guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArwinH Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Originally posted by Dave Sisk: I have that "it won't cooperate" feeling sometimes, usually if I tear into something challenging without a decent warm-up. Try doing a long, slow, warmup. Nothing too fast or challenging...just get the finger muscle's active and ready to go. That helps me a lot! Dave same here. www.myspace.com/movementwithoutmotion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 If the problem is your left hand, you may be playing with too much tension in that hand. Try this exercise...play a C major scale (starting on the B string) through two octaves with your thumb NOT touching the back of your neck. If it's really hard, then you'll know you're using too much tension in your left hand. Most of the force for pressing the strings down on the fretboard should come from your shoulder, not from your thumb. Double bassists know this all too well. There's almost no way that they can push their strings down onto the fingerboard using just the tendons in their arm and get a good sound without being injured. The weight of your arm and your shoulder should work FOR you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 One thing that might be overlooked is diet like RossBrown stated... did you set up and rusharound forgetting to eat? and more importantly...drink! no no... not the hoochie juice. I'm talking about water WATER h2o! Beif a cyclist....if you think you needater or a drink is to late. hydrate yourself regularly to avoid cramps of most kind.. (even helps if you are hungry). I think that a little bit of nerves and if you didn't warm up could have cause the rig-a-mortis in the digit. Watch what you do for the next gig to make a effort to see if the condition gets better. Good Luck. Peace, BROCKO Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpedebass Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Another thing that I do is stretch my fingers before playing. The muscles in your fingers need to be stretched just as the muscles in a runner's legs. Just slowly and gently push one finger back at a time. Just give them a good stretch. Not so far as to cause pain, but I think you will notice a vast improvement. Love God...Love People! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Originally posted by Brocko777: One thing that might be overlooked is diet like RossBrown stated... did you set up and rusharound forgetting to eat? and more importantly...drink! no no... not the hoochie juice. I'm talking about water WATER h2o! Beif a cyclist....if you think you needater or a drink is to late. hydrate yourself regularly to avoid cramps of most kind.. (even helps if you are hungry). I think that a little bit of nerves and if you didn't warm up could have cause the rig-a-mortis in the digit. Watch what you do for the next gig to make a effort to see if the condition gets better. Good Luck. Peace, BROCKO How about a new term "Gig-a-mortis". ... better new term than "woot" "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...
EddiePlaysBass Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Originally posted by DC Ross: I have a pair of those Chinese balls of steel that I may try playing around with, too Talk about bragging Someone should use this as a signature line *ROTFLMAO* Seriously now, it's been said before but it's too true not to repeat it: warming up helps considerably. "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted June 14, 2006 Share Posted June 14, 2006 Drinking water will help, but it is generally the salts that you will be missing. Not salt as in table salt but the potasium ones. Bananas help and try Indian Tonic Water, ginger ale, or a sports drink. I've found I stop breathing. Sometimes at work when I am stressed I find I'm sitting holding my breath. Don't underestimate the amount of water you lose when you exhale either, so even if you are breathing properly you will be loseing water that way too. Feel the groove internally within your own creativity. - fingertalkin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SavedByJaco Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I'm assuming that you mean your left hand, one thing that I know really helps stretch out your hand and prevents further cramps is doing cello excersises, really improves your reading and speed, go Dotzaur, start on e'tude 15, I'm sure alot of Bass teachers can back me up on this response to someone saying the bass was a spinoff of the g***r SavedByJaco:the bass is not a spin off of anything, it's a hybrid. Like on Underworld, the guy becomes a mix between the Vampire (G***r) and Werewolf (Upright Bass) and totally kicks ass! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubby Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 It sounds to me like you could use a tennis ball to build up your hand. ricky payne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotInAZ Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I never have problems with my right hand, but on occasion I get a cramp between my thumb and fingers on my left.. It only happens when I'm playing a lot of repeating pentatonic scales with in a piece over and over.. the repetition is what seems to bring it out.. If I stop for only a few minutes it goes away.. so now I avoid this type of playing as much as possible. Don't forget.. it all started with men like Bach, Vivaldi, and Gluck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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