Fretting hand technique: general cramping and accessing the higher range

[coltranius]

I am playing a 4 string Fender Aerodyne J. It is extremely lightweight, and has a very small jazz neck. I use high tension Rotosound flats. I am primarily a jazz/funk/motown player, and I pick up the occasional blues gig.
I have to problems:

1)Left hand fatigue, numbness, and cramping. I have arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and I think it contributes to my problems. I try not to use too much pressure on the strings when I fret, but sometimes it just hits me. Once it hits, I can't get it to go away until I really stop playing for a couple minutes and shake my hand out. Any technique pointers (thumb position, etc.) would be appreciated.

2)The upper register of the bass. I want to gain access to the high register (frets 18+) and I can't seem to reach the E or A string with my 3rd and 4th fingers (without lifting my bass away from my body). I wear the bass so that the top of the cutaway is right below my pectoral, pushing up on it just a bit.

I'm pretty much self taught when it comes to bass technique. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

[fearceol]

Here is a link to some yoga exercises that might help with your carpel tunnell problems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4QOC...eature=channel

Do you warm up and down when practicing ? If not, some gentle stretches would be helpful. There is no "correct" technique, as everyone is different. However, there is a generally accepted, tried and trusted L/H technique. Here is a link : http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_03.shtml

Hope this helps.

[Hiromakuta]

Make sure your left shoulder is relaxed and that it doesn't "lift" when you transition from playing the G string to playing the E string.

[coltranius]

Thanks for the links; I can really use some guided practice!

As for the left shoulder lift, now that you mention it, I believe I do raise my shoulder some when I am around the 8-12th fret on the E and A string. I'll definitely start being aware of my overall posture. I guess I should be moving my wrist/hand/fingers only with no arm or shoulder mov't?

I also wonder if I should be holding my bass higher to facilitate the highest register.

[dmabe]

Originally Posted by coltranius

I am playing a 4 string Fender Aerodyne J. It is extremely lightweight, and has a very small jazz neck. I use high tension Rotosound flats. I am primarily a jazz/funk/motown player, and I pick up the occasional blues gig.
I have to problems:

1)Left hand fatigue, numbness, and cramping. I have arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and I think it contributes to my problems. I try not to use too much pressure on the strings when I fret, but sometimes it just hits me. Once it hits, I can't get it to go away until I really stop playing for a couple minutes and shake my hand out. Any technique pointers (thumb position, etc.) would be appreciated.

2)The upper register of the bass. I want to gain access to the high register (frets 18+) and I can't seem to reach the E or A string with my 3rd and 4th fingers (without lifting my bass away from my body). I wear the bass so that the top of the cutaway is right below my pectoral, pushing up on it just a bit.

I'm pretty much self taught when it comes to bass technique. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Most bass players started out on guitar as I did and that can present a problem. The cramping may be caused by trying to squeeze the string between your fingers and thumb as most guitarists do. Double technique is to use the arm and shoulder to do the work with the thumb merely an anchor point. Try this: Put a finger on the fretboard somewhere. Now starting with the shoulder and elbow, push the string to the fretboard without using the thumb. You should find the it far easier to do if the above is the root of your problem. Now place the thumb on the back of the neck somewhere between the 1st finger and the 3rd. This should be more comfortable. This can be a difficult problem to diagnose without seeing exactly how your fretting hand is working.

[JimmyM]

you need a teacher versed in proper technique who can straighten you out. it's cheaper than cts surgery.

and yes, the higher your bass is, the easier it is to get around the upper reaches of the fretboard.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by dmabe

This can be a difficult problem to diagnose without seeing exactly how your fretting hand is working.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you need a teacher versed in proper technique who can straighten you out. it's cheaper than cts surgery.

Indeed. It is difficult to advise you via the Internet, based on your description of your playing technique alone.

That said, wearing the instrument relatively high on the strap definitely takes some of the strain off. Also, if you've learned the bad habit on tensing up your fretting hand while you play, you must learn to open up that clenched claw and relax. It's amazing to me how many bassists play as if they're engaged in mortal combat with their instrument...

This relaxation will be greatly facilitated with a precision set-up and relatively low action (I know there are some who swear by their high-off-the-board action, but the truth is that it forces your hand to work harder), which requires you to lighten up your technique in order to avoid "choking" the tone. Think about it...

MM

[coltranius]

I have gotten a precision setup, and I also got an impromptu bass lesson from a very talented friend. I believe the problem is squeezing the neck. He told me to use my right arm as the control point for the whole bass, and let all of the pressure be going away from my body instead of towards it. More like pushing the bass into the fretting hand instead of grabbing the neck and squeezing. He gave me some finger exercises and suggested I do them with my thumb completely off the neck for a while to get used to the feeling of controlling the bass with my right arm.

Thanks to all posters, you've been very helpful.

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by coltranius

I also wonder if I should be holding my bass higher to facilitate the highest register.

Yes. Most bassists I see playing out are wearing their basses too low. Check out a video or photo of Victor Wooten... he's got that sucker right up under his chin!

Also, +1 on the suggestion not to use your thumb as a squeezer. I used to have the same numbness problem you're describing, and the way I cured it was by taking up fretless. I wanted to do all kinds of cool glissandos and sliding vibrato, and discovered that I could not if I was grabbing like I did with my fretted bass. So I trained myself to lighten up the thumb pressure... and my fretless and fretted playing improved, plus the numbness problem went away.