pick playing pains?

[Dennis098]

So when playing with a pick for more agressive styles i get this bothersome pain in the index finger. Mostly an ache in the top little joint, but some pain down the finger as well.
I wear the bass around waist level, a bit low.
1mm pick
i hold the pick between the thumb and the side of the index like a guitar pick.
i see a lotta bassists that just pinch the pick between thumb and index though.
i often find my index hits the strings a lot but it doesnt bother me.
has anyone had similar problems?
maybe i just need to loosen up?

[ElvisBass]

Do you have a stretching routine that you do before playing? Any easy one for that muscle group: lay your hand out flat in front of you and pull your fingers back towards your body with the other hand until you can feel the stretch (not too much, you don't want any pain from this) and hold for 20 seconds. Then do the same thing but push your fingers down and pull towards your body for 20 seconds. Then alternate the hand. This should take the pain away and increase flexibility.

[lorenk]

you might just want to use a thinner pick, so your finger muscles arent having to work as much and as hard.

[Ampeg SVT]

I had the same problem, I try not to grip it to tightly unless i have to tremolo or chugging.

I do have the issue with my index finger hitting the strings, its at the part where the skin meets the nail, that plus stainless steel strings is not fun.

[Dennis098]

that stretch feels great.
i feel like a heavier pick reduces the pain (1.5 mm instead of 1mm) but i could be imagining it.
any solutions?

[Hiromakuta]

1mm isn´t a good pick for bass IMO. Get yourself some 3mm big stubbys, so that it´s the pick that gets punished, not your fingers. I also recommend checking out Carol Kaye´s picking method. There are several threads about that around here.

[Dennis098]

3mm sounds massive.
and does anyone have a link to this carol kaye method?
cause i remember i read it once and thought it was not that different from how i pick
the problem is definatley in my hand, maybe how i'm gripping it?

[Nick Kay]

Use a big pick and let the pick do the work. Just like fingerstyle, you don't have to play hard to get an aggressive tone. Drop your action a millimetre or two and play softer.

[JimmyM]

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

I see we've gone over this with you once before. Is there something we didn't make clear the last time?

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

I see we've gone over this with you once before. Is there something we didn't make clear the last time?

I'm glad this thread got started. Jimmy, I never saw your thread until now. Thanks for the heads up on the Carol Kaye method.

[Siegy]

Originally Posted by lorenk

you might just want to use a thinner pick, so your finger muscles arent having to work as much and as hard.

Nope, thinner picks = more work for the hands.

Originally Posted by Hiromakuta

1mm isn´t a good pick for bass IMO. Get yourself some 3mm big stubbys, so that it´s the pick that gets punished, not your fingers.

Not really necessary, I use a .6mm pick most of the time.

I've sort of developed a technique where I'm not really hurt at all, except when I'm using some serious (and I mean SERIOUS) attack, in that case the butt of my hand starts to get sore. I hold my pick using my thumb, index and middle fingers, and I sort of bend the pick to make it more rigid (less stress on the hand) while still getting the snap from thin picks. And I've been using most of the Carol Kaye method without even realizing it.