Anti-pronating tips?

[jarop]

hi talkbass,
i've been trying to furthur refine my left hand techinque and i've stumbled upon a real pain of a problem - Keeping my wrist straight. I'm just not sure what to adjust, the height of the strap is the only thing i really can do and i've tried just about every possibility for that. I always play with this ugly bent wrist with no strength to my fingers meaning my hand gets tired fast and i dont sound as good as i should.

anybody know tips / things to experiment with around this?

[Jake of Bass]

Try lifting the headstock from fully horizontal to a 45 degree angle, and point the head stock from directly to your side towards a 45 degree angle in front of you. This allows you to adopt a much more natural wrist position.

[JimmyM]

Are you keeping your thumb in the back of the neck and not letting it overhang over the fretboard? If not, that will help a lot. Check out pics of some good jazz players and you'll see their thumbs never hang over. It will also help you get a better idea of how to position your hands to be comfortable and not put strain on your wrists.

[Jake of Bass]

Oh yes, thumb position is crucial. Good one Jimmy.

[Fergie Fulton]

Try a total finger technique.
As you apply you hand on the neck, have from the base of the fingers in line with the underside of the neck you will find that a bit of pronation is desirable, if not essential when fingering, as well as keeping the wrist straight it take a lot of presure of the wrist if you point your thumb at the head stock that will keep your carpal tunnel open. A over bent wrist is a weak position, lots of police forces and self defence experts use it to disarm or control suspects or assailents.

If not, as Jimmy say look at some great players for inspiration.

[jarop]

thanks a lot for those tips

any other good electric players i should be looking for besides wooten and jaco?