Excessive left hand thumb tension...

[secretdonkey]

Not long ago I took some lessons from a well known and well respected player, and he helped me clean up my technique quite a bit. My one continuing problem seems to be excessive tension in my left thumb. I've accounted for all the culprits I can think of -- hand position, needing to stretch, playing position/strap height, etc. My instructor told me to "just relax." Good advice, but I just can't seem to do it. Anyway, this problem manifests itself as pain/fatigue felt in the crotch between my left thumb and first finger, when playing repetitively in one position.

Any suggestions?

[Pacman]

Yes, I got this from Barry Green - the author of "The Inner Game of Music" and a bassist himself.

Work on a repetative pattern in one position, and take note of the tension in your hand. On a 1-10 scale, rate the tension. Now let's say you rate that tension a "6". Play the pattern again, and try to make the tension a "10". Play through this way a few times. Now, try to set the tension to a "3". Notice what happens. Keep practicing this way, and you'll eventually begin to relax while you're playing. You can't release tension that you're not concious of...

[secretdonkey]

Wow, that makes a huge amount of sense - thanks, Jon! Great avatar, btw!

[Pacman]

No problem.

And thanks!

[Stanley Design]

Wow, I really think that everybody should read this post. Really good information because I think that a lot of bassists have the same problem, I know I do and I just noticed it not too long ago. But I didn't know how to fix it. Now I do. Thanks.

[Thor]

Pacman's answer was much better than mine, which was 'take up the guitar'.

[NJL]

that was nice, Jon!

i need to clean the dust off that book and start to re-read (how do you my hy-phoneeee, Thor) it.