Picking hand cramps?

[IPA]

I play both fingers and picks depending on what I'm playing. After a short while m picking hand cramps up right in the palm meat below the thumb. I've played guitar for a long time and never had this happen--assuming it must be something with the resistance of the strings? I switched to a thinner pick, switched to a thicker pick, no discernable difference. My guess is this will get better with time and is just a temporary weakness?

[insain]

probably just need to get muscles built up, also make sure you stretch your hands before you play

[Chowowbus]

I went through a short period of hand cramping when I started to use a pick on a bass.
Google Carole Kay pick technique. This was helpful to me and many others. She is a recognized pro who has a lot to say about using a pick.
Also, dont use a crush grip on the pick. I found that I have to monitor how hard I hold the pick. I found myself white knuckleing the pick often, which tired my hand out.
I use at least a 1mm pick. Flexible picks make me work harder to get the attack I want.
Good luck

[pasta4lnch]

I've been playing guitar for 20 years and bass for a few and I can barely get through a song w/ a pick (on bass) for the same reason. in fact it hurts so bad sometimes I usually throw the pick down and finish w/ my fingers.

I notice a lighter pick sometimes helps . . .

[fearceol]

+1 for the Carol Kaye pick method. There is a thread about it here somewhere. You could also go to her web site www.carolkaye.com and take a look through the playing tips.

[Fergie Fulton]

I would say you have to much pinch pressure. You say you never had this problem when playing guitar, then you really should not have it now.
Excess pinch pressure between the thumb and the fingers show up where you are feeling it Pinch pressure is different from grip pressure in that grip is a response from the forearms, where as pinch is a response from the thumb, the base of the thumb in particular where there are five groups of muscles to control the thumb.
Yes the thumb movement is supported in the forearm, but this is a laymens terms explanation, it is the control of pinch pressure that causes problems not the action source.
Anyone can make a tight fist or grip, you will feel it in your forearms, because of the ulnar side involvement, but make a tight pinch....now you feel it at the source of pressure the finger involved and the thumb with the thumb pad taking the stain, not the forearm as a whole just the radial side.

So relax that pressure on the pick, find one with a shape that suits you, maybe a bigger one to cover more surface area and make it hold rather than a pinch action.
Sometimes a lighter pick means you try harder to control it and get the sound, so try a heaver one to see if that makes you lighten up the touch, the heaver one requires less effort. I also say look at the Carole Kaye method, way way ahead of its time when you consider when it was written.

If all else fails see a doctor it maybe something un-related to bass but the task just shows it up.

[g&lplayer]

So yea I had the same problem, and it sucked because if you can't play a three hour gig because of cramps, your band gets angry. ANYWAYS, I have a friend who is a physical therapist and apparantly a streach which should really help is actually with your wrist. Try this before you play with a pick for long periods of time:

-Keeping your hand straight out, without moving your fingers move your wrist in tiny circles. Do this slowly!! Gradually get wider and wider until your wrist is making the biggest circles possible. Do htis for about 30 seconds at a time.

P.S. I know it sounds like this has nothing to do with the muscles that are hurting but she went to school for this kind of thing. Apparantly it's all connected and considering where you have been hurting, like me, this is the muscle that is causing the problem.
P.P.S. Really...just try it. This worked wonders for me. Went from cramping up after 20-30 minutes to playing 3 hour gigs no problem thanks to this!

[JoeVictim]

Ease up on your pick. I have the same problem when I get really into it. The tighter you hold the pick, the more it's going to hurt. Try a tumb pick. This will reduce your subconscious need to pinch the pick and will reduce your pain dramatically.

[JimmyM]

carol kaye method is the solution to your problem. you can play all night with her method and never have any pain. sounds like you're trying to play bass like a guitarist, down by the bridge, using the same hand position as most guitarists...but it doesn't work because bass strings are super thick and put up a lot more resistance, especially at the bridge.

[IPA]

I found this thread and has some very useful advice:

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

I am doing a lot of things against this trusted technique, I am most definitely as you say playing like a guitarist... palm muting a lot, moving my thumb instead of my wrist.

From my guitar junk bin I dug up a 2MM Gator Grip pick and am going to practice with it, and the techniques outlined to me. Thanks to all.

[JimmyM]

hey, 2mm gators is what i use! small world!

glad you found that thread, bro...go watch videos of carol kaye as well. there are others who use that style, but nobody does it more consistently or as easy to see what's doing on video as carol.

[IPA]

Definitely seeing an improvement so far-- I am moving the wrist/arm, not the thumb, and trying to stay parallel. Also picking closer to the neck which is giving me the sort of woody deep tone I try for-- Takes some practice--I'm so used to keeping my handmeat on the bridge from my guitar playing days.

[JimmyM]

keep it up...took me a couple weeks to nail it...you're doing better than me

[XtheDeadPawn]

I find too relieve tension all you need to do is shake your hand try it it works just put your pick down first.

[MattyBass]

Or you could just Play with your fingers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omFFeLEXFE

I kid I kid...