forearm and bicep gets sore?

[xxfaux_punkxx]

I play with a pick (I've treid with my fingers and slap but I just don't dig the sounds) anyway after a while of playing my forearm and bicep will start to get sore. I normally just play through it but it really does slow me down and throws off my rythm. I'm curious if this is normal and my body just needs to get over it or if there is something wrong with my technique?

I rest the heal of my hand above the bridge pickup and play between the neck and bridge pickups. I also rest my forarm along the body of the bass.

[stflbn]

Deathgripping the pick? Likely definitely something with how you're playing. Pain is an indicator of your body not liking what you're doing to it.

I'd say learning to relax when playing would be a good goal.

[xxfaux_punkxx]

that would make sense but wouldn't that be more of a pain in my thumb as opposed to my arm?

Also I play pretty fast so I'm thinking it might be that my arm is getting an excesive work out... idk.

[fearceol]

Have you read this thread ?

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

[xxfaux_punkxx]

Originally Posted by fearceol

Have you read this thread ?

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

CTS affects the wrist. When I play my wrist is never soar (been playing about a year now) only my forearm and my bicep.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by xxfaux_punkxx

CTS affects the wrist. When I play my wrist is never soar (been playing about a year now) only my forearm and my bicep.

i replied to your post on the carol kaye pick method thread, so apologies if this is duplication but i'm answering this post just for completion...

if you learn carol kaye's method TO THE LETTER, you will never suffer another pain in your hand, forearm, bicep, or whatever. you may not look quite as cool as dee dee ramone, but you'll be able to use a pick all night long and never be in pain. even though you may not get pains in the wrist, it's all interconnected, and if something else goes in your arm, your wrist will eventually try to pick up the slack. and that's where the cts starts. so learn carol's method and don't deviate at all.

btw, it's "sore," not "soar"

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by xxfaux_punkxx

I play with a pick (I've treid with my fingers and slap but I just don't dig the sounds) anyway after a while of playing my forearm and bicep will start to get sore. I normally just play through it but it really does slow me down and throws off my rythm. I'm curious if this is normal and my body just needs to get over it or if there is something wrong with my technique?

I rest the heal of my hand above the bridge pickup and play between the neck and bridge pickups. I also rest my forarm along the body of the bass.

From what you write i'd have to say bad technique.
Correct me if i'm wrong but it sound like your technique can be compared to the action of using a saw. The short restricted motion of moving up and down to produce the movement at the end of the hand is generated from the middle of the action,(your forearm and bicep) not from the end of the action your (fingers and wrist).
If you lead from the fingers and wrist you create a chain effect of movement that supports each other, when you lead from the forearm or bicep you create an-supported actions, ith some working harde to support the ones that are not.

Easiest way to describe this is its a bit like pulling a piece of string across a table away from you from the leading end, the string moves straight and holds its shape and form (like an action from using the fingers and wrist) and then repeat trying it from the middle of the string, when only part of it holds its shape and form( like an action of using the forearm or bicep)
In the second one it is pushing the string and pulling the string so the part that is not supporting fails, in the first one it is all pull so the motion is supported all the way.

The Carol Kaye meathod will cure any problems that a pick player would encounter, so read it again, and understand where it is coming from and why it works.

I am basing this on the sawing action i think you are using, and like people who cannot use a saw properly they tire in the same way, where as if you let the saw lead you can saw all day with no problems, simple mechanics. If that is wrong then fill me in, or show me what you do and i'll tell you why.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by xxfaux_punkxx

CTS affects the wrist. When I play my wrist is never soar (been playing about a year now) only my forearm and my bicep.

Correct. But it might be RTS: http://www.handuniversity.com/topics.asp?Topic_ID=1

I'm currently suffering from this. As you, I've been playing for about 18 months now. I think I've put in too many hours in the first year. All I can say is: properly warm up your hands & arms before excercise, and properly cool them down afterwards.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by tobie

Correct. But it might be RTS: http://www.handuniversity.com/topics.asp?Topic_ID=1

I'm currently suffering from this. As you, I've been playing for about 18 months now. I think I've put in too many hours in the first year. All I can say is: properly warm up your hands & arms before excercise, and properly cool them down afterwards.

I would doubt it as the bicep is involved, easy checked though just squeeze the area near the elbow when the pain occurs with the other hand and it will quickly lessen, or use a tennis elbow band to find out.
But that will not account for the bicep unless it is in conjunction with bad technique, like i said i would have to see the motion in action.
Take it to a physio if you can and show them the action they will set you straight, sooner rather than later though.

[AltGrendel]

Try low weight wrist curls, like 5 to 10 lbs max. Ten reps up and ten down three times a week. Worked for me.

[chokeslam512]

S---T---R---E---T---C---H Before every show and in between sets!

Where does your bass hang while you're standing? I have found that I strain a lot more if my bass is lower... although the higher I go my shoulder starts to get sore. You have to find that happy medium as far as playing position goes for sure.

[xxfaux_punkxx]

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

S---T---R---E---T---C---H Before every show and in between sets!

Where does your bass hang while you're standing? I have found that I strain a lot more if my bass is lower... although the higher I go my shoulder starts to get sore. You have to find that happy medium as far as playing position goes for sure.

Thanks for all the advice. Stretching should help as well as not gripping my pick to tightly, and using up strokes as well as down strokes.

My bass hangs at about my hip, but I tilt it up almost vertically. when I play (at least a 75 degree angle)

I read the ck method and then looked at my usual method. Very little needed to change (pick grip and upstrokes mainly).

As far as the pain location i've been really paying attention to myself play to see what needed to be changed and I noticed I twist my forearm when I pick so not all the movement is just in my wrist but I use my forearm as well.

[JimmyM]

use your wrist in a side to side motion. try not to use the forearm. that's where your problem lies. i know punk bands like to get the forearm going but it's horrible for your arm.

[xxfaux_punkxx]

thanks for the advice Jimmy. I've been practicing like crazy trying to break that habit. It's taking some effort but I think i'm making progress. I've also been playing closer to the neck ( i have a long scale 24 fret bass. The finger board goes past the neck almost to the first p-up)

As far as loosening my grip on the pick, that's going to be harder then I thought...

anyway. Thanks for all the advice everyone, espeacially you jimmy.