Pain in Fretting hand/fingers

[BCinU]

Anyone else experience this problem? Some have told me I'm fretting too hard. Others say I need more practice to build up strength.

My hands are quite strong, but I still experience cramping in the hand, and tendinitis in my fingers (especially my index finger).

Any comments or commiserations?

[christle]

Where are you wearing your bass? If you have it hanging low that could add pressure to your wrist and cause pain as well. If you can post more information about how you hold your bass, how you wear it and the way you fret the bass I think you will get some very good answers here. Heck, if you have a picture of you playing the bass that would also help.

Dan

[ryuujin]

stretch your fingers and wrists before playing. Also make sure you don't put your thumb flat against the neck and put it with the tip against instead. its hard to do that if you don't already do that but it helped me with the exact same problems you are having.

[bryan bailey]

*belongs in technique*

[BCinU]

Thanks for the tips, guys.

[Treena Foster]

Originally Posted by BCinU

Anyone else experience this problem? Some have told me I'm fretting too hard. Others say I need more practice to build up strength.

My hands are quite strong, but I still experience cramping in the hand, and tendinitis in my fingers (especially my index finger).

Any comments or commiserations?

Remember that your pinky finger and index finger share the same ligament, if you stretch to much you can cause damage when you are playing. The term no pain no gain isn't true in this case.

Learn proepr fingering technique and pivot your hand correct while moving up and down the neck, you shouldn't have that type of pain when palying.........technique is key!

PM me and I'll send you a word doc.on this subject if you are interested in learning the proper technique!


Treena

[SuperSluggard]

It takes years and years to get rid of this problem. Hell, some even experience it throught their whole dang careers, they just play throught the pain, tough suckas.

Ha, kidding. Just excersise your fretting hand by practicing. Lower your action, or keep it how it is, then just practice.

Also, lighter gauge strings would really help.

[Stephen Soto]

it could be you building up strength. don't wear it to low either, but you could also lower your action a lot, and user lighter guage strings.