Help!

[eupharies]

Basically i have been playing 3 years, i use a pick! Had my
1st gig last monday and i got cramp half way through the set, down my thumb and lik the meaty bit under it.

Ive read a few posts about it, and maybe i am holding it wrong but, i have lots of gigs at the moment therefore, cannot simply just change my technique..

I was wondering if there are any stretches or warmup exercises i can do before a gig and even everyday to stop the pain happening, i literally could not hold on to the pick.

Never once happened before!

Thanks

[HeadyVan Halen]

Drink more Gatorade.
Jumpin' Jacks and windmills.

Don't get too jacked up for the pre-game speech. There's still 48 minutes to be played!

[tangentmusic]

You may be pinching it too tightly due to the adrenaline rush from live playing. It was your first gig right? Relax, remember to breathe deeply.
Do you worry about dropping your pick during a song?
Have you tried a thumb-pick?
Massaging the meaty area of the thumb before playing may help.

[stratovani]

How are you holding your bass? How hard are you holding your pick? Sounds to me like there's too much tension in your playing technique. Until you can address this I'd suggest you play with a thinner pick, if you're not already doing so. It'll provide less resistance so it should be easier on your hands.

[eupharies]

cool cheers guys, i play it fairly low, but i can reach the knobs easily, i play with a 1mm pick, but i think i play more with moving my actually thumb / index finger and the meaty bit mroe than with using just my wrist or elbow for instance... yeh i am afraid of dropping it but, ive been looking at the carol kaye technique but... it just doesnt feel right, i play down by the bridge

[hrodbert696]

Hydrate, stretch, and when you practice, try to be conscious of developing a loose, relaxed grip without getting so loose that you drop the pick. Try and have as much of your motion as possible come from your arm and shoulder rather than doing it all with your wrist and fingers. Also, I like to keep a thumb pick or two on my guitar strap so that if I am playing with a pick and fumble I can scoop it off quick as a backup.

[eupharies]

had band prac earlier, and considering my hand is sore from the previous cramp it went ok!

Holding the pick alot lighter, and i noticed i play completely with my thumb and index, so ive swapped to mainly wrist, and its fine.....

[Ian the bassist]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Hydrate, stretch, and when you practice, try to be conscious of developing a loose, relaxed grip without getting so loose that you drop the pick. Try and have as much of your motion as possible come from your arm and shoulder rather than doing it all with your wrist and fingers. Also, I like to keep a thumb pick or two on my guitar strap so that if I am playing with a pick and fumble I can scoop it off quick as a backup.

I'd disagree. Moving ur arm and shoulders I would consider bad technique. It's all in the wrist for using a pick(Again I know it's all opinion but using ur arm isn't practical). Best advice for using a pick is to hold it loose enough and to strum up and down to avoid tiredness.

[eupharies]

I hold the pick very light now, and mainly use my wrist, sometimes i have to still use my finger and thumb in the movement dependant on what im playing but, ill phase that out when i get more comfortable with new technique!