how low would you go?

[plasson]

hey j,
a question on the bass height (hopefully leaving out the "down is cool, up is gay" argument ).

I've always worn the bass so that the lower horn would be around the "belt level".
I've recently had some minor carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms on my right hand and decided to lower the bass so to not put any strain in my right arm by keeping it high with the bent elbow.
the bass is now on the "rock-n-roll" level and I feel WAY more comfortable playing some parts, especially with the pick.
it's like I'm way more free and I'm capable to put much more feel in my playing.
the downside is of course that I'm not able to reach some spots and play some bi-chords or stuff.
I don't slap so that's not a problem for me.

I noticed that your bass is definitely on the rock n roll level.
how do you deal with the downside of it? I've heard some not-so-easy bass lines you've play.
any parts you need to simplify?
any pain in the left wrist?

[afoolandaknave]

I've been meaning to post on here for a while to get a pro view on a similar issue. I'm more a guitarist than a bassist to be honest though I do dabble and have been lurking around here as a result of being a NIN fan.

I have an issue in both wrists/forearms that are carpal tunnel-like but I'm 99% certain I don't have carpal tunnel. What I do have is loss of grip, loss of sensation and loss of dexterity in the hands (left > right) and it is 100% activity related and can get really bad. If I don't play, don't type and so on everything is fine but quite quickly when I do the symptoms come on and get progressively worse. Following a whole lot of consultation (some good, lots not) I have got a best guess that it is a nerve irritation issue, likely in the neck region following poor posture (hence why guitar and typing makes it bad).

The question I was going to pitch at the resident pro was:

Is this a common occupational health issue among pro/semi pro musos in your experience and what can be/has been done to manage it?

I had aspirations of making music my living prior to this problem and it has been a real obstacle in respect to keeping a job never mind even playing for fun. The biggest issue for me is not knowing exactly what the problem is. God bless the NHS!

[JimmyM]

i get the same thing when i type. i had to modify my technique typing to keep it from happening. i'm thinking (in both cases) you are probably bending your wrists in some odd way. in my case, my left wrist would actually bend backwards when i type. no good. so now i have to concentrate on bending it forward or keeping it straight. same with playing bass.

got no idea what your problem is, but i would suspect your wrists are turned or cocked in some weird way. unlike a lot of the technique nerds on this forum, i don't believe you need to wear it up on your chest to have good technique, but i would recommend you go see a teacher who's got good technique and can straighten you out. in the meantime, always make sure your wrists are as straight as possible.

[RobertPaulson]

I generally wear it pretty low, I've just always found it more comfortable, my arms and wrists get sore when I wear it up high.

[jmjbassplayer]

Hey y'all.

It depends on the nature of the gig and the sound. I'm comfortable with either, but I inevitably play a bit better when it's higher. Though I'm used to it, so with NIN or Ima Robot, I could still play intricate things as needed. I had carpal maybe 15 years ago, but it is taken care of with a good chiropractor, at least in my case. For a time, it was really bad, but thankfully it's mellow these days.

JMJ

[afoolandaknave]

Cheers for the input gents.

When you say 'mellow' Justin, do you mean it's gone completely or it still has to be managed in some way?

I have pretty much ruled out carpal tunnel as I've had the nerve conduction tests and when i'm activity free for any period of time, everything feels perfectly normal. I haven't ruled out tendonitis causing nerve compression but it's the rheumatologist next so hopefully they will be of help.

A bit of wikipedia-ing has pointed me at thoracic outlet syndrome and helps to explain the numbness around my elbow too. I'm seeing an osteopath and a physio at the minute and they are giving me neck stretches. My posture has been mentioned as a contributing factor frequently but I'm finding it really difficult to alter especially as strapping a big piece of wood over the shoulder is not exactly what evolution prepared us for.

[jmjbassplayer]

Mine is gone, unless I do 8-12 hour sessions over a week, then it can flare up again. But it's gone by morning . Sounds like you're doing all kinds of good stuff to alleviate things, so that's great.

Good luck,
Best,
Justin

[stoneboy26]

Originally Posted by afoolandaknave

My posture has been mentioned as a contributing factor frequently but I'm finding it really difficult to alter especially as strapping a big piece of wood over the shoulder is not exactly what evolution prepared us for.

Best thing I did for my posture (I used to hunch even when walking) was to start strengthening my back muscles. Has straightened me up and now can play 3 x 45min sets no worries now.

I have been seeing a personal trainer for about 4 months to improve my general fitness and build up some strength and have noticed a massive difference in my endurance when it comes to playing a gig and even practising.

So maybe that might help...