Pain in my shoulder when playing with a pick

[Twistad]

I recently started playing with a pick, and while I'm getting there learning the technique, when I try playing standing up I get pain in my right shoulder.

When I play with my fingers, I rest my arm on the bass so I don't have to hold my arm in the air. When I play with a pick though, I have nowhere to rest my arm so it hurts after a short while.

Here's a picture of my posture.



I don't really want to lower my bass as I often switch between pick and fingers and this is the height I'm used to when I play fingerstyle.

Thanks

[Thaos627]

well if u dont want to lower your bass playing up at the neck instead of by the bridge should help a little. also a drummer method i learned back in MB posture is odd, turn ur hand inward instead of havin the pick out the side of ur hand. point ur index and middle finger toward strings without bending. play using only thumb (not slap) it'll help get ur hand in that posistion.

[Rockmusician]

Why can't you rest your arm on the bass? I play with fingers most of the time but sometimes use a pick. I never seem to have a problem finding a comfortable position.

Where is the pain in your shoulder located? Is it at the top in the acromioclavicular joint where the collar bone meets the shoulder or is it in the socket where your upper arm meets the shoulder? Either way, you might have want to have your shoulder examined.

In addition to playing bass, I also play ice hockey. I have had pain in both shoulders for several years. I was recently diagnosed with two labral tears, torn rotator cuff, bone spurs, impingment of the bicep tendon and ligament and arthritis. That was just in the right shoulder. I haven't had an MRI on the left one yet. I go for surgery on April 22 and will not be able to play for 3 close to 3 months. Don't wait until you have more serious problems. Get it checked. You might just need some physical therapy to strengthen your shoulder or improve your mechanics.

[TOOL460002]

ive retyped this a few times; mixed thoughts.

1. when i do a picking motion (use nail reinforced with thumb... same mechanics) my pinky sticks out and makes contact with the pick guard to relieve tension.

2. when i slap i have no right hand anchor... so maybe its not the anchor (but thats the only technique where i dont anchor somewhere).

3. i never ever rest my right hand on my bass. it feels odd. this might be dumb or it may have some anatomical basis: perhaps you are used to one arm position. if youve been doing it one way for a long time without problems, and then switch with problems, then i blame the switch.

my elbow is at a 90 degree angle 100% of the time. i tend to move my wrist from straight with the arm to maybe 30ish degree when i move to play on the neck. your elbow is a much more effective lever than your wrist. without extreme bends that could cause carpal tunnel syndrome, i would think bending the wrist back and forth with a set shoulder and elbow position would be the most effective.

[Nomadskills]

I know you don't want to lower your bass but it really looks as if you need to...

Because of the songs I play I use a pick more often then fingers. When I need to raise the bass for fingers I just use the extra hole on the strap. Then I put it back down once it's done. It only takes a little longer then grabbing a pick.

Otherwise try playing closer to the neck as Thaos has said...

[DeclanG]

Play with a pick alot. The higher the bass, the more you have to use your arm when you should really only use your wrist. Looking at your stance, your gonna have to use your arm alot to play there. I would think you would have to play around the 14th fret to take the weight off the arm going by the pic. Im certainly no expert but i would say you should lower it a bit if you can and play close to the neck which should take the strain off the upper arm. Could be very wrong tho!

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I was picturing in my mind a bass down by your ankles, so I was shocked to see the bass as high as it is... should be just a tad lower playing with a pic IMHO... not much... maybe an inch or two... will be better for finger playing as well...

[richtea]

I started playing at medium to low then switched to the silly Mark King under the armpit thing (the 80's, sheeeesh!). Eventually I found that setting the stap at the same hight as a sitting position works best for me, and real easy to set for differnt basses. To me you look a fair bit too high.

[sidez81]

May sound alittle strange but i like the pick hittin the "j p'up" area for a tighter sound. so when im usin pick i rest the side of my palm down the edge of the pinky finger across the back of the bridge behind the strings so to not mute them and the roll my thumb and index forward with the pick. it keeps inward pressure on the bass and no strain in my arm at all.

[Fergie Fulton]

Great picture, all that is happening is you have an ache because you are using muscles you don't normaly use. Now the back and shoulder area is a mix of muscle groups so it is hard to pin point the problem...so try this as it will work for all groups.
When you are ready to play, shrug your shoulders a few times and drop them and feel what dropped shoulders feels like, do it in between songs, but get to feel what dropped shoulders feel like. Dropped shoulders are tension free, as it need muscle tension to lift them, if they are not dropped and relaxed then you are holding them there whether you realise it or not.

Then try this stretch, great for the upper back/shouder area plus the use of your guitar strap can be used in the second one.

YouTube - Military Stretch - Upper Back Stretch Rehab Exercise

If the problem persists see a medical profesional, but this should alleviate any tension you carry. If you have a specific area to comment on i may be able to pin point a specific stretch or exercise to try.

[chokeslam512]

+1 on lowering your bass. I pick a lot and cannot practice sitting down due to the pain in my shoulder when I do.

[Twistad]

Thanks a lot for the comments,

I tried everything suggested and lowering has, so far, been the best alternative.

I did band practice yesterday and tried picking near the neck (helped but not really the sound I want). I tried lowering my left arm so the neck went parallel to the ground but then my left arm started hurting.

I finally tried lowering the bass and it helps, I get a little bit of pain in my left arm playing that way, but I'm hoping it will just go away as it's pretty minor compared to what I was feeling before.

Playing with my fingers that way is not so much harder. I think I'll just bring a different strap on gigs where I have to play solos and stuff up the neck.

Here's where I have my bass now, I may even go lower after tonight's gig. I'll see if I still get the same pain. I'll also definitely warm up and stretch before going on stage.

[Martin-nl]

I play fingers mostly. When I play slap, the bass is in a different angle then when I play normal. Maybe you can raise the neck more when playing with a pick, or try some other angles. Anyway be carefull for forcing too much. You might get some serious damage in your shoulder or arms. And also try to loosen up your own neck. On the picture it seems there is some tension there also. This can affect also your shoulder, arms and hands.

[ishouldbeking]

Someone pointed it out above, but the pain you're experiencing is most likely muscle burn, which comes from exercising muscles that are weak. Muscle burn, as opposed to joint pain or pain caused by repetitive motion, is actually a good sign... it indicates that your muscles are being exercised and that they are strengthening themselves to endure more of whatever activity caused the pain to begin with.

Now, if it doesn't feel like the muscles themselves aching, you might be doing something wrong. Often its as simple as loosening up a bit... if you find yourself gripping the pick too tight, you can cause stress pain throughout your fingers, hand or arm. Try to focus on loosening up, and just practice playing with a pick until it begins to feel more natural.