Left and right hand technique(I know, you're all like 'not again')

[IanIan]

I have been playing for almost 3 years now and I think I have developed an average technique, I know little slap or tapping, but I have practiced mostly using my fingers.

approx two summers ago just as I had been playing for a year or so I began to practice the three finger plucking technique (I play metal so need to play fast sequences), but I started to develop a lot of pain in both of my wrists(I had had Carpal tunnel a couple of years before from playing video games)

Now, by the end of last summer and the begginning of fall the pain kept on getting worse and I started looking for different methods of playing without pain. I read into a lot of threads here in talkbass and a video in youtube and began learning the floating thumb technique. At times I still find it a little hard to get a good and consistent attack on my plucks with the ring finger using the floating thumb, but I'm slowly building consistency. Never the less the pain in my right hand is gone.

I also began looking into how to make my left hand faster and how to be able to play as smooth as possible. Well I watched a video from the same guy I learnt the right hand technique from and it turned out quite fine... Lately tho my left hand has started to build some pain again. Now the pain isn't so much in the wrist tho as it is in the upper part of my fore-arm.

Here are the links to the videos I imitated the technique from
RH YouTube - Developing Safe Right Hand Technique for Bass Guitar

LH YouTube - Developing Safe Left Hand Technique for Bass Guitar


Also the upper part of my arm is very tight when I'm streching to the 1st-4rd frets and it begins to feel exhausted and it start to hurt if I play for a prolonged time.

Can anyone help me to resolve this?

I hold my bass quite high and there is about 4 inches from the upper horn of my bass to my chin.

[NCD]

Depending on the size of your hand that 1-4 stretch may be behind your issue. I have bear paws, not hands, and have to stretch slightly to reach 1-3. For me, 1-4 is a fantasy that's never going to happen and I feel the stress in the whole lower arm if I even start to try.

If your upper arm is getting fatigued that sounds like something with the angle of your shoulder. You may want to see a physical therapist about that because looking at how the body moves and the issues associated with bad form / posture are all solidly withing the specialty and training of a PT.

[fearceol]

Have you considered that your problem may not be bass related ? Perhaps the type work you do, or the sport you play etc may be a contributing factor, which is just made worse by playing the bass. If you are adopting the technique shown in the L/H video, I fail to see where the problem could be.

The point NCD makes about the 1-4 stretch ( as in one finger per fret), is a valid one. I know people have different opinions on this, but I prefer to "err" on the side of caution, and I only use the 1-4 stretch above the fifth fret.

You could try experimenting with the height you wear the bass. Might make a difference.

[IanIan]

Thanks for the input.
NCD I think you got the stretching a bit wrong, I mean I can stretch from 1st to the 5th fret easily(I have awesome big hands)

But maybe I used the wrong word, I mean it starts to hurt when I reach for the 1st all the way to the 4th frets on the neck and trying to play the octave of the F on the 3rd fret of the D string hurts, cause I somehow make a nasty angle on my left wrist.
My headstock is at about the height of my eyes, 'cause thats how I was advised to hold my bass by a more experienced player when I began playing.

Also fearceol I'm pretty sure it is bass realted, as the only thing that I do at the moment are studying and computer.

I'll try changing the strap height. The problem is that this is the best position for my right hand I could find:O

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by IanIan

Now the pain isn't so much in the wrist tho as it is in the upper part of my fore-arm.



Also the upper part of my arm is very tight when I'm streching to the 1st-4rd frets and it begins to feel exhausted and it start to hurt if I play for a prolonged time.

Can anyone help me to resolve this?

I hold my bass quite high and there is about 4 inches from the upper horn of my bass to my chin.

3 simple questions
Is the pain in the forearm on the front ( the side that lines up with the palm) or the back? ( the opposite side).

Is the pain,

Cold?

Hot?

Sharp?

Crushing?

Burning?

dull?

Do you have any issues with the fingers on the affected hand?

[IanIan]

No there is no pain in the fingers. The pain on the forearm is on the side facing away from me when I hold the bass(Hope that clears it up) I just feel stiffness in the forearm. If I have to pick one of those you listed I would describe it as dull.

[Ben Mitchell]

I am actually experiencing the same sort of pain. I was about to get around to making a new thread about it till I found yours.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by IanIan

No there is no pain in the fingers. The pain on the forearm is on the side facing away from me when I hold the bass(Hope that clears it up) I just feel stiffness in the forearm. If I have to pick one of those you listed I would describe it as dull.

I have to conclude that all you have is muscle ache frmm using muscle groups that you have not being using fully or correctly.
The fact you have no issues in your fingers can rule out any link to possible nerve impingements such as your CTS issue.

The fact you have a dull ache on the outside of you forearm indicates that it is in the muscle groups that deal with certain aspects of bass playing. That is in the fore arm extention area, the flexing and extending of the wrist and certain forearm moments to do with the arm being away from the side of the body (adduction). In adduction that is the movement of the arm back to the side of the body, in other words you are using tension to hold the arm in a position. Muscle work using tensions to much, to little or the wrong kind is always a problem in new players or in learning new techniques. You say you have being learning three finger, this may be the end result of that time spent.

The stiffness is just muscle use ( or under use) the same as anybody wold get when the under take a new activity. Say you played Badminton for the first time, you would be stiff and sore in the legs the next day as a result. The same can be said for any new physical activity or change in body function.

The one thing about Adams videos is you cannot see tension, it is an un-seen force. Adam does encourage the right arm to be in a postion that some might struggle with if the tension side is not properly addressed. Adam talks of being relaxed and tension free and places some emphisis on this. He gives you a choice by stating that this is not for all.

In all i would suggest you get your plucking arm in a suitable position for you and work from that, then blend in Adams ideas, especially about the wrist.

For me i talk about shoulders being down, in a relaxed position, the shoulder being dropped, this means no tension. Movement as i see it does not come from the shoulder, the shoulder is support. Movement comes from the finger, i the finger need to move it is the forearm that does it. For the forearm to move the elbow needs to be involved, not the shoulder, the shoulder can stay down and relaxed tension free.

The arm is a wonderfull thing in design (arm being from the shoulder to the finger tip) there are many ways to use it and mis-use it. What works for some may not work for others and the reason are to may to list because personal use and medical history come in to it.

Try a few of the ideas suggested and see if improvement or relief comes. If not see a qualified instructor to get a personal hands on approach to what you are doing. If it still persists see a doctor or medical specialist to rule out any physical problems.

Good luck