A huge debate with myself concerning wrist angle technique...!!!

MistaMarko · #1 12-04-2007, 01:27 PM

Ever since I began playing bass, my right wrist has been at a 90 degree angle. I've become fairly good as a player, but after researching bass technique a bit more, I've come to find that playing with a bend wrist can lead to wrist problems. I wouldn't say my wrist is at a complete 90 degree angle, but it's pretty bent, especially when playing on the low B string obviously.

I recently have been trying to change my technique to that of players such as John Myung, and other players with considerable 'proper' technique, but I find that it feels extremely un-natural and I absolutely CANNOT do octave jumps as quickly as I can when I play with a bend wrist.

I guess my question is, should I change my technique and completely re-learn right hand technique or stick with a bend wrist but do lots of stretching..

Also..how would octave jumps be easier with a straight wrist..as in..how should I anchor or position my thumb to achieve maximum leverage to reach those higher strings easier?

Thanks

Proton Lenny · #2 12-04-2007, 03:45 PM

I used to play with my wrist bent like that and I got tendonitis (spelling?) because of it. I had to change my playing style completing. I wore a wrist brace to make myself keep a straight wrist. I have actually found that I relax a lot more with my wrist straight, and my speed has increased dramatically. I use the "floating thumb" technique as well. When ever I move from string to string I try to move my whole hand which keeps the tone, speed, and wrist angle consistant from string to string.

lemur821 · #3 12-04-2007, 04:02 PM

I'm currently reworking my technique to be floating thumb with free strokes, since I was having trouble getting a wrist position I was happy with, and I felt that rest strokes were giving me too much noise.

The funny thing is that I'm having to re-form my calluses in a new spot on my fingertip.

Sarah5string · #4 12-04-2007, 04:29 PM

To be fair I've never thought about it.. I've always played how I've felt comfortable.. but now you've got me thinking!

MistaMarko · #5 12-05-2007, 09:32 PM

Here's my wrist angle...might be hard to see directly in front, but its pretty bent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi3XyM2VsdU

elpelotero · #6 12-06-2007, 09:22 AM

My speed and endurance has increased tenfold ever since I adopted a straight wrist. I have some very slight bend, but for the most part I try to keep it straight.

stabbicus · #7 12-06-2007, 09:25 AM

It's sort of a tough transition, but going from floating anchor (what you're using) to floating thumb is definitely worth the effort, especially if you play more than four strings. Check the sticky on the top of the page. FWIW, I still haven't got it down completely.

tswd · #8 12-06-2007, 01:10 PM

I find octaves to be easier with a straight wrist because you can move your arm to get in better position.

Rest your thumb on the B string, but have the first knuckles of your right hand almost even with the B or E string (your hand might be a bit further away from the bass body). Your index finger can easily play the B or E string with your middle finger easily reaching the D or G string. Doesn't require much of a stretch at all.

Valerus · #9 12-06-2007, 01:17 PM

My wrist problems have come out of my left hand, and not my right.
That's the weird part.

stabbicus · #10 12-06-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerus

My wrist problems have come out of my left hand, and not my right.
That's the weird part.

Where do you wear your bass?

MistaMarko · #11 12-06-2007, 04:44 PM

Wo..wait..floating anchor? I thought I was using floating thumb the entire time..I might have to give that sticky a read.

I too, have noticed when I play with a straight wrist my speed and endurance increase.

Only downsides with trying to play with a straight wrist..It's tough for me to have a good control and like I said, string skipping such as quick octaves and stuff..I'm not sure if I should move my whole arm or just stretch my fingers...I'm really confused on how to properly have right hand techinique because mine is so screwed up.

Thing about this is...

Look at Victor's wrist angle at 0:27...almost worse than mine..yet he's as good as he is.
I just don't understand if I should put in the time and effort to change my wrist angle unless I truly need to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWb-aCWR8U

Valerus · #12 12-06-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stabbicus

Where do you wear your bass?

About the right spot. Not too high, not too low.

tswd · #13 12-07-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistaMarko

Look at Victor's wrist angle at 0:27...almost worse than mine..yet he's as good as he is.
I just don't understand if I should put in the time and effort to change my wrist angle unless I truly need to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWb-aCWR8U

With how high he wears his strap, it's impractical to try to keep a straight wrist when doing normal strumming. However, normal two finger strumming isn't what he tends to do. He does his thumbing, tapping stuff most of the time. His wrist position for those is perfectly flat.

If you only play finger style, then having your wrist bent that much could give you problems eventually. It's not guaranteed, though. Some people play that way their entire career without much problem (I've seen a lot of country bass players that play like that). It increases the chances of problems, but it doesn't guarantee them.

stabbicus · #14 12-07-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistaMarko

Only downsides with trying to play with a straight wrist..It's tough for me to have a good control and like I said, string skipping such as quick octaves and stuff..I'm not sure if I should move my whole arm or just stretch my fingers...I'm really confused on how to properly have right hand techinique because mine is so screwed up.

You need to move your entire arm to stay true to the floating thumb. It's tough (for me) to get used to, but I think it will benefit me in the long run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU

This should help.

MistaMarko · #15 12-07-2007, 02:31 PM

I wear my bass really high too, so I see what you mean.

I've been playing with bent wrist for 4 years, and I practice a good 2-3 hours a day, and I've never had one ounce of pain or any other related problem, so that's why I was wondering.

I also just find it hard to move my whole arm instead when I have a bent wrist I can just move my hand slightly foward because bending the wrist makes it already in position.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Anyone here play with a bent wrist?

HaVIC5 · #16 12-07-2007, 03:31 PM

Having a bent wrist actually can work for some people safely, so I've found, as long as they don't tense up when they play, and play with a relatively light touch. With others, like myself for example, it really does lead to trouble. What I've been playing with straight wrist and floating thumb for about a year now, and I've never looked back.

MistaMarko · #17 12-07-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Having a bent wrist actually can work for some people safely, so I've found, as long as they don't tense up when they play, and play with a relatively light touch. With others, like myself for example, it really does lead to trouble. What I've been playing with straight wrist and floating thumb for about a year now, and I've never looked back.

Yeah. I just have a lot of gigs and concerts in the near future and I'm just so on edge about trying to change technique, because I don't want to start doing the whole "Ok, I'm changing my technique, meaning, I'm never using the old one" and then try to play all the hard stuff and just completely suck it all up because I haven't had time to master the technique..and the technique feels SOOO awkward and strange to me, and I can't even play half the normal stuff I have..

And you nailed my exacts thoughts...I was wondering if playing with a relaxed, lighter touch would reduce the risk of wrist problems..because I don't play forcefully, although bending my wrist, I've never had any problems. I started out playing with a bent wrist, and I'm just finding it extremely difficult to change techniques. I've been practicing for a really long time off and on with it, and it's just really hard. Hard habit to break, if you can consider the bent wrist a habit.