Playing with double jointed fingers

humpdebump · #1 08-26-2008, 02:20 AM

I am just curious as how ppl deal with (or take advantage of) the fact that they have double jointed fingers? My ring finger gets kinda locked up when I'm playing and its kinda annoying, anyone have any techniques they developed around this?

megadan · #2 08-26-2008, 07:31 AM

I have a double jointed thumb, and I can rest my palm flat against the back of the bass with the thumb at a 90 degree angle.

I'm trying to learn how to play with my arm as straight as possible since I've been having a lot of pain lately.

Slax · #3 08-26-2008, 12:08 PM

I have hitch hiker's thumbs and they help me be comfortable on the back of the neck and resting my hand.

...as for double jointed fingers, I don't have that. I have a friend that does and he gets annoyed when his fingers "collapse" (not sure how to explain it) while trying to play with his fingertips. I'm thinking he's probably just pressing too hard though.

Ocin · #4 08-26-2008, 01:41 PM

Aye, that's a familiar problem. I have very flexible fingers that I can bend almost 90 degrees backward and that have double joints as well.

The main problem for me is with my little finger when playing in one-finger-per-fret mode. My pinky is still very underdeveloped, lacking in speed, strength and control. So when I quickly need to press down on a fret, it often tends to bend backwards and lock into that position, after which I need to sort of 'snap' it back to get it off the fret again.

I don't know any sure-fire remedies against this yet. I'm currently trying to develop the strength and agility in my hands using a pair of handgrips, hoping that increased muscle strength will make it harder for my fingers to bend backward. Other than that, I'm just keeping a good eye on what my fretting fingers are doing to make sure they stay upright, and hoping that it'll become second nature after a while.

WhiteKnuckles · #5 08-26-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocin

So when I quickly need to press down on a fret, it often tends to bend backwards and lock into that position, after which I need to sort of 'snap' it back to get it off the fret again.

Try playing more with the tips of your fingers rather than the pad...this should leave your fingers slightly curved when fretting and not in a position to 'lock'.

P-Bass Fanatic · #6 08-26-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

Try playing more with the tips of your fingers rather than the pad...this should leave your fingers slightly curved when fretting and not in a position to 'lock'.

+1

Thats how I've delt with it always try to keep the curved rather than straight works fine for me when playing. Play lightly as well btw.

Elouisme · #7 02-02-2011, 07:40 AM

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to this site. Actually I'm new to the bass period I've been playin for about 6 months. I must say I am learning pretty quickly though. I have really good dexterity and a keen ear. Anyways, I have this problem with my pinky where every morning when I wake up it locks up. As I move the pinky knuckle back and forth, it sort of pops in and out. I've never been double jointed so i figured maybe this is just my hands adapting to rigorous fingering. I practice everyday for a few hours. Theirs no real pain or anything, it doesn't hinder progress neither. I'm just curious, I wanna know if this is common. Any advice is greatly appreciated

Fergie Fulton · #8 02-02-2011, 01:13 PM

Being double jointed is anther name for Hypermobility.
This is a flaw in a joint and the surrounding tissues that support it( or in this case do not). There are many reasons to be double jointed so search using " double jointed " or " Hypermobility ".

As i said it is a flaw so its use in bass playing needs to be a close to what are recognised playing techniques. Problems in later life are common with Hypermobility so you have to be extra careful in your technique that you do not bring on the on set of such problems, weaken the joints, or cause permanent damage.

As has been said, keep the natural curl of the hand and fingers to line up the joints and tissue structures. Try to play more on the tips, not the pads of the fingers. If the fingers get to straight, they will collapse back against the joint, not support it.
Look around you and you will notice arches. An arch is one of the strongest and most stable shapes we know of to add support. you will see it in nature and you will see it in architecture from the very beginnings of construction in Egyptian, Greek and Roman buildings. The natural curl of the hand is the same...it is an arch, and as such as there as as many different styles and variations of the arch...so can there be in the hand.
It is to the person using it to work out what is the best and correct amount curl to use......and that's where the conflict of
opinion will occur. Hypermobility thou a general condition its effects are very individual to the user.

Always develop techniques to be safe and remember your hands are needed for life not just for playing bass.

Mayers · #9 02-08-2011, 10:01 PM

I have double joined and I never had any problem with it. I play with the hand in a relaxed position. All fingers curled naturaly. Like my teacher said I should and I don't have any problem at all, never had and never will be I think.

I also never had any pain in my arm or hands by playing bass, I just think it is a matter to know how to have a proper position.

Fergie Fulton · #10 02-09-2011, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayers

I have double joined and I never had any problem with it. I play with the hand in a relaxed position. All fingers curled naturaly. Like my teacher said I should and I don't have any problem at all, never had and never will be I think.

I also never had any pain in my arm or hands by playing bass, I just think it is a matter to know how to have a proper position.

Great to hear your well, but as it is considered a genetic flaw, there is no real basis in comparisons, but in playing there may be points to avoid and points to use. It will cause problems in life because it is a flaw, especially as you get older and the hand structure changes ...bass or no bass playing involved.

It would be great if you could add your views on what you do for practice and playing and give a short account of age, what you play, (instrument and genre), bass setup, and how you practice in the Health Sticky that is on the top of techniques page as a reference for others, as i feel there are lots of players that have it, so the more good info posted the better....especially from a player like yourself that handles it with ease.

DLESSING · #11 02-09-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elouisme

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to this site. Actually I'm new to the bass period I've been playin for about 6 months. I must say I am learning pretty quickly though. I have really good dexterity and a keen ear. Anyways, I have this problem with my pinky where every morning when I wake up it locks up. As I move the pinky knuckle back and forth, it sort of pops in and out. I've never been double jointed so i figured maybe this is just my hands adapting to rigorous fingering. I practice everyday for a few hours. Theirs no real pain or anything, it doesn't hinder progress neither. I'm just curious, I wanna know if this is common. Any advice is greatly appreciated

Sounds more like "trigger finger" than ligament laxity ("double jointed"). Trigger finger is an inflamation of the tendon that bends the finger into a fist. It is often caused by over use. Such as intensive bass practice? Treatment ranges from rest, medication, cortisone injections, and even surgery. If scaling back your practice sessions (rest) doesn't help, you will need to see a doctor to find out for sure what you have.

Mayers · #12 02-11-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Great to hear your well, but as it is considered a genetic flaw, there is no real basis in comparisons, but in playing there may be points to avoid and points to use. It will cause problems in life because it is a flaw, especially as you get older and the hand structure changes ...bass or no bass playing involved.

It would be great if you could add your views on what you do for practice and playing and give a short account of age, what you play, (instrument and genre), bass setup, and how you practice in the Health Sticky that is on the top of techniques page as a reference for others, as i feel there are lots of players that have it, so the more good info posted the better....especially from a player like yourself that handles it with ease.

Sorry to be late

I'm 27 and I played bass for almost 12 years. I started on bass, I quickly bought a 5 strings and now I play 6 strings basses. I tried drums and guitar and finaly quit. Then, 4 years in learning bass, I when to college in musique. I played classical upright bass and jazz on the electric. I also learned to sing in a classical context and jazz context.

Well now how I learn ??? I did one year of only woodshed at start. Like only play arpeggios, patterns 1234, 1423, 1324 etc every where on the neck. Very slowy. I worked on always having my fingers curled. When I'm relaxe I don't have to think about it but when I'm stressed I may have problems.

So the key for me when a potentially stressing moment I have to go through ( like an audition, a show ) is to know inside out what I'll have to play and telling to my self to play like I play during rehalsal.